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Homemade Photosniper

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Printed on: 5/7/2026 2:41:13 PM


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Topic author: Luiz Paracampo

Posted on: 20080503111134

Vlad
Great acquisition! The FotoRujie are always fascinating pieces!
there are lots of those hand built cameras around those Industar 51 or 37 lenses.
There were some articles at Sovetskoe Foto describing hand built units.
The pictures intrigued me specially in two points:
1- the screw and nuts in the tripod camera mount seems to force the need of a double camera mount. A ring coupling the camera and the lens.
2- obviuosly the firing system is operated by the trigger- How it works? is it removable for body change? Or is it permanently mounted?
An extra question- Why did the owner (or builder) choose a rare XX Congress camera?
Note: it seems that you can't fix fhe focus in a pre chosen position.
My best regards.
LP

Replies

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080504172336

Hi Luiz, thank you!

This is first time I saw one with large format lens. Would be interested to see more examples!

The bolt and nuts I added since it had one missing, I had to put two nuts on it because the only fitting one was too long, I will replace it with shorter bolt. Firing system is not removable, it's a bracket that connects to the trigger piece that comes out from the back of the rifle. It seems to be machined to fit only Zenit E height. The camera itself (Zenit E Olympic) is mine, I bought it without the camera. Yes you cannot fix the focus, but it's quite efficient when you need to focus fast on something, I really like how fast it handles.

Vlad

Reply author: okynek

Replied on: 20080504222830

Yes this is a great set!!!
I sow "photosnipers" made using Industar 51 and micro belows. It was pretty funny contraption [:)]

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20080505181444

Ok Vlad
Very interesting!
Regards LP

Reply author: mermoz37

Replied on: 20080506063435

remarquable !!! [^]...may be one day i try to make such a model (something like old Novoflex ?)!

by the way ....i made in the past an assembly between snaiper lens and a rollei 3003 ..very efficient and comfortable because the viewfinder not in axle but on the side of camera.(I also do it whith a Nikon 801, whith electric switch and using focus assist.)



Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20081020121311

An interesting page that I've found on flicker as a trackback to this entry on the web [:D]. Also features this particular camera in it.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/photosniper/discuss/72157605767579057/

Vlad

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20170512112500

Huh, there's another one like this for sale. Seems to be a small serial production of a small workshop possibly?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/handmade-Historical-RUSSIAN-PHOTOSNIPER-PHOTOGRAPHIC-/272668500533?hash=item3f7c4f2235:g:4vYAAOSwnHZYSovE

Cheers,
Vlad

Reply author: Moxies

Replied on: 20170513044451

Here is one I found for sale in Ukraine some years ago. Built like a swiss watch [:D]

https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/226827/18405597.8d/0_1711af_27d45618_XXL



https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/241199/18405597.8d/0_1711b0_5ce395a3_XXL

Reply author: RCCCUK

Replied on: 20170520051222

Here's another homemade Photosniper. This one is based on a Zenit-3M camera, fitted with an MTO 500mm mirror lens. It weighs over three kilos, but is extremely well balanced. Focussing is achieved by rotating the handle below the front of the lens, which in turn, helps support the whole Photosniper. The quality of construction is exceptional. The camera was manufactured in 1963 and the lens in 1965, so I would imagine that the Photosniper dates from around that time.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/2052017_Sniper 1.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2052017_Sniper 1.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/2052017_Sniper 2.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2052017_Sniper 2.jpg



David.