Chaika Cameras

Hei all !

I`m working on a book about the Chaika cameras. As Iwant this to be a non-profit project it will be presented on the internet for free as pdf-files.

I`ve started with the first 7 chapters - in beta version - and you can download from my homepage:

http://www.triskell-online.de/index.php?id=239

This projectb is estimated for completion for end of 2012 / early 2013 - if anybody has information, hints or information of any interest please drop me a line.
I will update whenever there is enough news or a finished chapter.
In the end there will be more picture material aswell.

Again: this is a non-profit project - so I hope people won`t mind that a lot of info is taken from other web-sites.

best regards
Peter

Very nice!!!

Peter, this is excellent work! Thank you for sharing that! Can't wait for final book, I'll be first in line to buy it if you decide to publish it on paper!

Cheers,
Vlad.

Hei Vlad and Okynek,

thank you for your replies.
I`ve made 3 updates and added 2 files.
The "support sheet" is for feedback of the people who have Chaikas and can help with the serials overview.

best, Peter

Hi all !

after having had a total computer crash it took me a while to restore data. Now everything is working fine and I`m back with new infos and updates.

The part 1 - Chaika has an update with info on the prototype and pre-series Chaika.

I also startet with the repair section. First upload is about the lightmeter and lightleaks - hope it will be usefull.

Coming soon are the repair instructions on all Chaika models and an update on the Chaika 3 pre-series.

You can download everything for free on my websiite:

http://www.triskell-online.de/index.php?id=239

best regards
Peter

Hi Peter,
thank you for posting here. Very interesting!

Regards, Alexander

Thanks Peter,

Excellent information.

David.

Photoman
My best congratulations! an excelent work!
Two points to better it yet:
Chaika camera in Vilia case.
Really Chaika camera in Vesna case!
Good overall approach but large lenses as Jъpiter 11
do not cover the entire picture once the shutter hole
blocks the light path.

You touched the Jъpiter lenses from Selena Police Camera.
Selena has the same shutter assembly from Chaikas
Chaika shutters are excelent and extremely reliable.
Why not to include a similar study to the rare Selena?
My best Regards
LP

I don't own any Chaika, but I really enjoyed your PDF files.
Many thanks for your hard work and for sharing them.

Namaste.

Hi Peter,

Your interesting web pages on the Chaika series of cameras prompted me to study the cameras that I have in my collection.
Regarding the first Chaika model, I notice that later cameras have a smaller shutter release button (four black stripes instead of five. Do you know at which point this change was made, or do later cameras use both size release buttons? My Chaika with the smaller button is #6051167.
It also appears from your research that the first digit of the serial number corresponds to the year in the 1960s when the camera was manufactured.

David.

Hi David,

you are right! the shutter button size and Embleme changed somewhen in spring 1966 - according to serials I`ve registered.

highest found # with 5 stripes : 6028442

lowest # with 4 stripes : 6032747

Maybe 120.000 units where produced in 1966 according to found serials. If production started with 6000001 and this change was around 6030000 that is about 1/4 of year production - alas about spring if production was continous.

best regards
Peter

Hi Luiz

thank you for entry here.
Regarding the Chaika in Vilia case / Besna case :

All Besna`s I have are shown in brown square cases. So I wonder about your comment ; are you shure it is from Besna?
About the large lenses you are absolut right, the shutter hole blocks their light path. But for experimental purpose it is interesting.

About the Selena - well interesting to do research on this rare camera. There is not much info yet --- maybe in the future...

best Peter

quote:

---

Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo

Photoman
My best congratulations! an excelent work!
Two points to better it yet:
Chaika camera in Vilia case.
Really Chaika camera in Vesna case!
Good overall approach but large lenses as Jъpiter 11
do not cover the entire picture once the shutter hole
blocks the light path.

You touched the Jъpiter lenses from Selena Police Camera.
Selena has the same shutter assembly from Chaikas
Chaika shutters are excelent and extremely reliable.
Why not to include a similar study to the rare Selena?
My best Regards
LP

---

updates for Chaika 1 and Chaika 3 are online.
repair section has " how to dismantel a Chaika 1 " guide online.

best
Peter

Dear photoman
I am absolutely sure the case is from Vesna which is rounded
all Vilia are squared as the camera.

regards
LP

At page
http://ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=75&ParentID=1
there are both Vesna and Vilia descriptions
Thanks to Aidas cams
LP