Kristall-2

It just so happens that a friend of mine had a relative die. And I was offered to come to the garage to sort out all kinds of junk, in case there was anything I could use. So guys, these two cameras were put in a bag for garbage, and if I came on another day.....
The "Sport" camera is rare, but still found on the Internet auctions. But "Kristall-2" I have never held in my hands before, and saw it only in catalogs.

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_7.jpg

Excuse me for my English, but I write as I know how.
The following is about it. The camera was battered by time, but in good enough condition. One of the curtains was torn off. Everything that passes through my hands is subject to reasonable restoration, so I decided to disassemble it.

What is interesting is that the camera has no serial number. Looking ahead, there is no number on the shutter frame either.
The back of the top cover has the number "94" and the inscription “Defective”.

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_6.jpg

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_3.jpg

I have the "Zenit E" and "Zenit ET" carcasses in stock, since the "Kristall-2" is believed to be their progenitor, I will further compare with them.

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_5.jpg

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_1.jpg

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_4.jpg

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_2.jpg

It took about a week to recover the unit. Camera operation is fully restored. Cosmetic interventions are minimal.

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http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1212025_8.jpg

What a work! And what a rare camera!
Many thanks for the photos, your comparison and your comments...
Your Kristall II is the prototype with an instant mirror. By the Princelle, there was too a Kristall II with a cell...

Amitiés. Jacques.

Oh my god, what a story!
Thanks for posting all the pics.

This is most interesting. The instant return mirror lift mechanism later used in the Zenit E. The early Zenit E/B models also had a M39 mount. Which makes me wonder if there is a Zenit 3M like model (prototype) that also has a similar mirror lift mechanism.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Valkir1987</i>
<br />The instant return mirror lift mechanism later used in the Zenit E. The early Zenit E/B models also had a M39 mount.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Right. Early Zenith E are very similar to Kristall-2. The only big differences are the case and the top cover. Everything else is almost completely identical.
By the way, some sources say that the viewfinder had Doden wedges. In this device there are no such wedges, but there is a microraster, which will be later transferred to Zenit ET/EM.

Thanks for posting this info, Denn. Rather interesting, although the technical stuff is over my head, lol.

I don't know about anyone else, but the design of the prism housing on top of the camera reminds me of the silent film "Metropolis".

Good to remember, that Kristall design is also because of costs, not looks:
"It body was made using pressure molding what make it much more technological (and cheaper) to make"
https://ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=69&ParentID=1&ContentID=490&Item=Kristall

Best regards,
Juhani

Denn,

what a great find! Congratulations that you have saved it from being throwed away.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Hi Denn,
very nice find and story. Congratulations!
I have also such Kristall-2 and also without any serial number (KMZ sign missing as well [:)]). I think there was made a small amount of prototypes witout any plans for production. For the production was already planned Zenit-3m.

Regards, Alexander