FAI-3 Snejinka - Unknown technical camer

I came across this rather strange technical camera on eBay. It was offered by the wellknown Biggerby2002:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-russian-technical-camera-FAI-3-snejinka-FED-Zorki_W0QQitemZ400038843663QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d242c550f&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Can't find anything about the FAI-3 in the Camera-wiki, so do anybody know what this was used for? It does not look like an aircraft camera, but have sure seen some action.. The objective looks like Industar 58 (like used on the Iskra?), and seems like it uses ordinary 35mm film. What does the Soviet text read?

Hi Christian!

This is a medical camera -
http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=81&ParentID=1&ContentID=142&Item=Snezhinka

Used for taking pictures of osciloscopes.

Cheers,
Vlad.

We have a Russian manual for it too:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=82&ParentID=4&ContentID=781&Item=Snezhinka+Manual+%28Russian%29

Vlad.

quote:

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Originally posted by chrgod
It does not look like an aircraft camera, but have sure seen some action..

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It was sure under some heavy artillery fire taking some secret pictures of the enemy oscilloscope screens

Vlad

Ah! So it was in the Wiki after all. Just could not find either FAI-3 or "Snejinka". Cool camera. The wear adds to the caracter, I guess it has been used documenting some nuclear testing.

new pictures
http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/FAI-3-INDUSTAR-58-3-5-75-COLLECTIBLE-VERY-RARE-CAMERA-USSR-SOVIET-USSR-/221483126528

this one is a little better shape.. wow they really went up in price or this person is asking too much for it...

Snezhinka (Snowflake) What a funny name for such an ugly and heavy camera. Someone had a wicked sense of humor.

I somehow doubt it was intended for taking pictures from oscilloscopes.

Funny thing - before reading this post I took a picture of an oscilloscope. With a smartphone.

It is a motorized camera that is clearly intended for remote operation and based on its appearance - in a pretty harsh environment

The one in the manual and on eBay are not the same.

Looks like it was designed to be plugged into something, and then used remotely. Also, the manual mentions two modes - a usual one (on a regular film) and on a special film that can be developed inside the camera, for which it is loaded with some developing paste and fixer film.

So not only they were afraid to come close to this camera during operation, but also to remove the film from it, so it was developed inside.

A nuclear reactor or nuclear explosion would be good "oscilloscopes" to take pictures of.

LOL thanks Yuri! Now I have to go check that shelf for radiation!

I think it was indeed used to take pictures of some sort of CRT display, probably not a scope as we know it, but some other type - radar screen, radar rangefinder screen, a small TV screen or some other scientific or military device.

The focusing is done by the ground glass and a loupe (they are included in the kit) and if fixed for a particular installation and a particular lens. I see that the lenses varied on different versions.

I think it was operated by a person, someone had to look at the lamps on the back - '"ready to shoot" and "end of film"

Maybe installed on a vehicle - tank or something similar. It is too heavy and crude to be used on an aircraft.

And the one in this thread - I do not see Snezhinka engraving on it.
Maybe Snezhinka was a civilian version?

A dash cam for a tank? Or a version of a "photo machine gun", to shoot practice