Special USSRPhoto Camera...?

Well.. I am not sure if Vileika can be of any help to us though... what is Sergey's name here on our forum? I thought he only partipated on ZCG....

I can always have a batch of custom Smena 8M cameras manufactured directly at LOMO too, since I have contacts there, but they require minimum 100 pieces order....

Vlad

I liked the zorki 4...

like this... may be or better (too bad it had a nick on the finder) found in Belgium he paint finish is quite high quality, and it has been used (it's rubed at the serial number... where you put your fingers)...


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/zorki black1.jpg




http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/zorki black2.jpg



Stephan

Got a reply from Moscow:

- Cameras can either be painted any color, top and bottom can be black or gold
- All will come with caps
- Shutter curtains will be replaced so cameras will be like new
- Leather cases for them are all very old, so probably no cases
- Paint job is factory quality and very good
- Cameras will cost around 115EU each

I sent a request about us wanting Zorki 4/4K cameras and whether sending in our own cameras is an option and if we wait longer if he can find Zorkis for us.

Will keep you informed.

Vlad.

Got another reply from them. Regarding Zorkis: he says that he has more than 100 Zorkis but they are all non-working and need major overhaul.. also they need to be painted and he says it is very hard to get someone to do that - takes a very long time and shortage of specialists.. he says that Zorkis maybe take a year or more to get fixed and painted.. he also says he has about 20 FEDs ready to go, all painted black, he was going to make something out of them and if we want to make these cameras this would be good time to do so since he has them all prepped and ready... we just need to give him designs and mockups.

Sending our own Zorkis is the same problem, painting so many will take a long time because of shortage of people and time to do so...

No one else that I sent request to at this time is available to make these cameras for us so far, except for making them ourselves here, I do have the engraver but no one to paint them, unless we find already painted cameras, like Bill said - black FED 5's.

Ok, so let's vote here... tell me who is fine with FED-2, who is still in on this? Consider Zorki is not being an option at this point as much as we wanted them. I personally am OK with FED-2. (These cameras are already modified, CLAed and have replaced curtains, just need our custom engravings).

Vlad

Hello Vlad

I'm voting for Zorki. If they have a problem with the delivery let's wait this year and say it's a 3 year USSRphoto collectors model ... ;->

Best wishes - Guido

I'm still in and I'm fine with FED-2 model. I think this would be a good opportunity to have 20 cameras made if we have that many folks who one one or more of them.

However, of course some members, like Guido, have a special interest in special models, so I would say that the logo and style of engraving should also be made available in some way, so that if Guido or someone else wants to have a USSRPhoto.com Zorki, or maybe say a USSRPhoto.com Smena (for Juhani;-) then that would be possible and could be sanctioned and registered by Vlad and USSRPhoto.com officially.

I wouldn't mind having a black Zorki-1 with the commemorative engraving also!

But count me in on any model that everyone else agrees on.



Regards, Bill

Hi, Vlad
Count me in for Fed, Zorki is the nice option, what if we go with Fed and preorder few Zorki cameras for the 3rd addition? As far as logo
it seems fine although it feels a little bit wide, can we do some engravings on the bottom?

I'm a little bit late for this post.....
I have very good friends who hand built in they garage real CNC router. And they use it for engraving.
(for Russian lovers could be interesting they web side: http://www.redstarrc.com/main.html)
They never did engraving on cameras yet, but they are willing to try. The advantages are they are local (to me:), from Baltimore(US) and that we can supply individual CAD or COBALT drawing for each camera. Not only different models they can work on, but even personal names or slogans can be engraved. Quantity also not much matter price vice. The disadvantages are that they do not work on cameras or painting. They only can make engravings. We have to send exact drawings in requested format and camera's parts what have to be engraved. We have to put this parts back ourselves. But they should be way less expensive then $150/camera (115E).
Considering what camera to use, I think that Zorki 4 is a great camera, but from historical view it's not first or last rangefinder produced by USSR (like FED), and it's not the most beloved camera like Zenit E or Smena 8. And it's not unique Russian design like Start or Droug. And it's not the cheapest or more available on the market today. By my humble opinion FED 5 could be a better choice. It has historic name, it was last produced rangefinder in USSR, it has all the fixtures what Zorki 4K has, it has as much engraving space, it easy to find, it cheep, it available in black and chrome, FED 5 are pretty fresh, some can be found brand new in a box (which also can be customized), no scratches or damages and no need to wait for SLA. And what is important to me I will not blame myself thinking that I forever kill such historic camera like FED 1 or Zorki 1 by repainting and re engraving it.
But it's only my modest opinion.

Yea we may do Zorki next year then or something since they are not available.. the logo is just a sample, it's going to have to be fitted on a FED-2.. By the way if anyone has a black FED-2, I would greatly appreciate if you could post pictures of it directly from front, top and back so I can try to superimpose engravings on it for the people who will be making these.

So for now we're going to do a batch of FED-2's. I need to know how many people are in again please. So far it's:

Myself,
Bill,
Igor,
Steve,
Jacques,
Stephan(Please confirm??)
Alain(Please confirm??)
Juhani(please confirm??)
Zhang (he was saying something about FED-2 but not sure if he wanted one or not.. please confirm)

Anyone else?

Hi Okynek.. I do also have an inexpensive engraver locally, I don't think that's a problem, the problem is painting these cameras... it's up to everyone I'm up for anything..

Vlad.

I must say that I don't like the FED-2 at all, one camera that I don't have in my collection at all as it is so dull! Zorki-4/4K yes, FED-5 yes, but FED-2 no thanks...

I do understand that there is not many possibilities and if others want it fast then it has to be FED-2. But would like to ask about Bill's idea for the possibility to use the logo on other cameras. Just had a fast look in my vitrine, and from "Smenas" it would be very easy to do on a Vilia. It has a metal band on top, which can be taken off, painted & engraved very easily. And Vilia is available everywhere.

Best regards,
Juhani

ok for fed 2... but let's start thinking about zorki or others for next year... this year is a trial version...



Stephan

Viliya could be indeed a good candidate. Viliya is really easy to modify, even name can be change really easy.

Juhani, Okynek,

if you are planning to have your own versions made, as long as it uses exactly the same logo and a number issued by me, I will provide you with an official certificate for it, that's not a problem.

Vlad

Got some more info from Moscow:

- Deposit needs to be around 15% in order for them to make the camera
- Special box is possible but needs to be also custom made. If you need one it's about 30EUR additional
- Lenses - we have a choice for FED-2 of collapsible or rigid - that is I-22/I-50 collapsible or I-26. It is unclear whether it's possible to paint the lenses, but it may be additional expense. He told me to look at the FED Zarya Sputnik when I receive it to see how lens is done.

All right. Now I need some photos of black FED-2 so I can make some mockups.. doesn't anyone have a black FED-2 here?

Vlad.

Sorry, Vlad, no black Fed 2 here...
Thanks for all that: it's not so easy to adjust different points of view.

My personal position is simple: I wish there is (for this year?)only one type of camera chosen for all the members, according to prices and possibilities. Never mind if it's a Smena, a Zenit or anything else that I don't collect: this special USSRphoto camera would be our common bond and in my collection it would represent all the members, all I have learned this last year thanks to you.

To be more precise, I wouldn't have the idea of proposing my "no name" Fed NKVD 1d to be re engraved, for example. That would be only my camera, not the symbol I wish.
But it's only my opinion.

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Thanks Jacques, it is hard for everyone agree on just one type of camera since everyone likes different things, but I do agree with you.

In coming week I will try then to at least superimpose the design on any kind of FED-2 just so we can approve the layout, unfortunately I've been really busy with work this week to do so.. I will try to have this done ASAP and then I will ask everyone to PayPal the 15% deposit to the seller and let me know so I can count you in. This way they can start making these.

Vlad.

Ok, so I've received the Zarya Sputnik camera made by the people who will be making our special cameras. The camera is of really good quality, it is very smooth, the curtains are replaced, overall feel is like new. The engravings seem very nice quality as well to me. Look at pictures yourselves.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/IMG_1239.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/IMG_1240.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/IMG_1241.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/IMG_1242.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/IMG_1243.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/IMG_1244.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/IMG_1245.JPG

OK, here are some mockups for the special camera.. I did not have a black FED-2 to work with so imagine it's black .. These are just for design layout purposes only. Let me know your thoughts.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/top.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/bottom.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/front.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/cap.jpg
Nevermind the Zarya in the background, I just need black cap image to overlay upon.

Again please excuse the raw and rough images, this is just to give you an idea..

Vlad.

Hi Vlad,

I like it ... I will want one and I'm ready to make the Paypal payment whenever necessary.

Please ask for an extra nice engraving job since we will be ordering again in the future! Also, maybe they may need to move the top design over a little to the rewind knob side so that our logo can be a little bigger, which may be necessary to have the details show clearly (Hammer and Sickle design will be hard to do so tiny).

Regards, Bill