Black universal viewfinder from KMZ

Hi to all.

Do you think this paint is original? I never saw black universal viewfinder. I found a topic in this forum with obvious fakes, but those had different engravings - like FED Zorki, TSVVS, Leitz and others.



Thanks for your opinion!

I never saw black universal viewfinder too.
Pls share more photos of only viewfinder without plastic case and passport.

Sorry for taking so long for the reply - I bought the viewfinder and it just came in today.

Looks extraordinary well made. Ni chips, (almost) no dust under the color, totally matches body black finish. No traces on screws that would show viewfinder was disassembled.

Seller got it together with a Jupiter 11 silver lens, no camera in the package (he's a collector too, probably got it cheap and resold - I know the guy).

Naturally I hope it's real and factory made, but the fact that I can't find any other black one on the net raises doubts.

What do you think? Below are some photos. If you want some extra photo, let me know.

Hello

It looks authentic to me and I remember to have seen a black finder like yours sometimes in the past. Don't ask my where and when. They are rare and I don't know more about them.

Congratulation!

Best wishes - Guido

Now heres a thought - I note on the passport it has abbreviation 'By'. I believe that means 'Military Unit' - see https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D0%B2.%D1%87.#Russian
I wonder if it made for the military? They most likely would not want a nice reflective chrome finish...

BY in russian mean "Universal Viewfinder (VU)" because it contain 28...135mm viewfinders. Sometime black versions are meeted, not often. Probably it's export verison of "omnifinder".

http://xalmaz.narod.ru

Long ago I saw one and found interesting
at that time (around 1970 years) there were no fakes around.
Regards
LP