3-Cell Aurora more rare than 6-cell???

I've got an email today from a fellow collector in Germany saying that someone on molotok auction made a claim that 3-cell Aurora is more rare than 6-cell. Is there any merit to it?

Vlad

Hi Vlad,

I really don't think so. There are at least 4 versions of Aurora Automat (2 x Aurora-6 and 2 x Aurora-3). The rarest version is an early version of Aurora-6 with additional switch for batery status checking on the top plate. Only very few samples have survived so far, so they are extremely rare to find nowadays (my friend was lucky to buy one for $60 ... ). The regular Aurora-6 are quite uncommon either, but you still can find it at price $200-$300.

An early Aurora-3 has X M contacts on the lens, while late Aurora-3 has same contacts on the body already. These cameras still can be found periodically on the UK and Germany markets at very reasonable prices indeed ...

Best Regards,
Aidas

you know I possess an Aurora cells whith checking switch but not on top plate just on rear top plate near cocking lever.
serial : 69 04714 (got it a very low price on the ground from a polih seller in Biиvres.
this model is quite same as my Sokol 6 cells, serial : 6802082

mistake : I want to said " Aurora 6 cells" evidently....

I just checked my Aurora 6 Cell, #6802161, and the switch is above the advance lever on the back.

Oh Darn !!

Steve

I forgot to mention that my camera is also pictured in the WIKI.

Steve

dear friends,

You can see how the earliest Aurora-6 looks like at:

http://www.fotoua.com/1cameratip.php?seek2=0&seek1=0&usl=4&usl1=sokol&seek3=0&rd=&st=

Both earliest Sokol automat and Aurora automat are identical, except of nameplate labeling ...

Best Regards,
Aidas

"Aurora" was the Sokol name for the TOE market.
Certainly the 6 cell is much more rare than the further 3 cell. last model sold much more.the six cel sold in 1967 1968 and the three cell sold up to 1975 -at leat in England, Germany and Holland.
LP

hi Aidas ,
what's strange , except my weak eyes , all sokol and aurora pictures on Fotoua have no red memory disk as I can see on some of mine ...??

Alain,

could you place the sample of Sokol with red memory disk here?
Thanks, Aidas

... just checked ... my Sokol 6 cells #6802527 has red momory disk indeed ...

What does the presense of the red disk indicate?

Is it on later cameras, or harder to find?

I'm not sure of its significance.

Thanks,
Steve

Was 6 cell made earlier than 3 cell? I would assume they were more expensive to product thus such low numbers... was there a specific advantage of having 6 cells vs 3?

All Sokol and derivative cameras has only one CdS cell!
The previous six holes model hides a larger rectangular cell! and uses only the two central holes. The three holes model hides a smaller round cell that uses only the center hole. All the remaining holes covered with small lenses are simply decorative!
Interesting feature: These lenses reproduces the picture {seen by the camera lens (in a smaller size)} over the cell so it measures an integrated amount of the scene light!
LP

Wow, very interesting! So these are purely decoration!! Would've never thought that! Thank you Luiz, (to the rescue as always ).

My Sokol 6-cell #7106700 has red disk on top, and it has X/M contacts on the lens... how weird is that??? I thought only early models had that... I always get these oddball cameras ....

oh and the shutter release lever is shiny smooth silver metal and not plastic like on my 3-cell Sokol...and I did not see that type of shutter release anywhere pictured.. I'll post a picture in a few..

Actually here it is in the catalog forgot I had it in there:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?ImageID=3586&ParentID=1&WikiCatID=12&ContentID=974

Vlad.

Vlad
They use Cadmium sulfite cell Not Selenium sulfite.
Remember Sokol use batteries.
Two of the first pre production cameras were donated to the former owners of the importer in Brazil. I remember very well. They had red battery covers, but I do not remember if they had any black paint on it (as shown in Aidas photo). Several years are past now.
LP