Leningrad

Has anyone ever shot this camera? I have it sitting on my shelf looking pretty, because this thing is quite hard to load I keep putting off shooting it.. I always wondered what kind of pictures this thing can produce..

And another question... if the spring run out and has to be rewound, how does this camera handle the the running off midframe? What if it run out half cocked? Is that possible? That's one of the reasons I'm also concerned about shooting these... same with Lomo 135s.... I tried these shooting empty and it seems to be that it keeps clicking and then on last one it does this muted click which I was always scared of... is these some kind of safeguards in the mechanics? Or you end up with overlapping or too much spaced out frames?

Any tales experience would be appreciated.

Vlad

Hello friends,

One more question about Leningrad, please. I'm interested in Leningrad's a lot, so looking information about versions of mass-market cameras. Nowadays I possess at least 3 versions of this beautiful camera: an early version #001058 with 2 screws in camera front; common version #009973 with already 4 screws and late one with new Lomo logotype instead of an old Gomz one. I know for sure the existance of the export Leningrad version with both Gomz or Lomo engravings. I happened to see version with winding knob in black, etc. Can you tell us more about your new versions?

Thanks,

Aidas

Leningrad is a Zorki 4 with a spring drive. The Lomo135 is a Smena Simvol with a spring drive. Although complete different concepts, the first one has a focal plane shutter and the other one a central shutter type, the driving mecanics are similar You do not loose a single picture if the spring do not go to the end and let you in a mid frame advance. In the Leningrad the better way is to cock the uncocked shutter through the speed dial, and go winding the large knob. In the Lomo 135,you must wind the spring advance Knob.
LP

I see, so how does it determine not to fire or fire the shutter based on spring tension? I'm just a little curious about mechanics of that...

Those camera will not fire if not totally cocked
LP

I see so each spring loaded advance triggers a cocking action and if that is not complete it will not fire. I guess it's simpler than I thought :)

Thanks!

Vlad

When working well you can get several frames with one winding. And don't use it without film, it is not good for it!
In my opinion Leningrad is a trully magnificent camera. The finder is great, as it is usable for 35-135mm lenses. Rangefinder is precise. Looks and sound is awesome.
In stead of a Leica use a Leningrad ;)

http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/

Why would i be using Leica if I got my FEDs and Zorkis? Do I dare say - same performance for 100 times less money?

Well, the Leningrad is far closer to afterwar Leica than FEDs and Zorkis. But far more value for the money than Leica. Don't know what Leningrads sell for nowadays, but when I bought mine it was around 100USD, only.

http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/

Yes I got mine for about $120, it's about right... it's hard to get them in good working condition nowdays, I was lucky - the seller was also a repairman.

Vlad.

Does anybody know why Leningrad was made by LOMO (GOMZ actually)? If it base on Zorki 4 it logically should be build by KMZ.

quote:

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Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo

Leningrad is a Zorki 4 with a spring drive.

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You are very simplify this problem...

Btw. it may be interesting (if you know Russian):
http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/history/thousands-rubles-of-savings.html

quote:

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Originally posted by okynek

Does anybody know why Leningrad was made by LOMO (GOMZ actually)?

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Because the "Leningrad" camera originally was designed in GOI, and not based on Zorki-4 (it has only some identical details, not more).

quote:

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Originally posted by Zoom


Btw. it may be interesting (if you know Russian):
http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/history/thousands-rubles-of-savings.html

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Very interesting Zoom! What do you know about this device he invented for loading the film cassettes?

Vlad

quote:

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Originally posted by Vlad
What do you know about this device he invented for loading the film cassettes?

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It was the device which was used in a cameras manufacturing (in a cameras testings), not for sale. Sorry, no more ideas...

Zoom
Very interesting the article but it says nothing about "Leningrad" manufacture. As you said, "some parts of Zorki" can be detailed as: Same curtain mechanics; Same slow speed gears; Same crate where all mechanics are enclosed and also same left side lock and same objectives. It has a different body , an special rangefinder of Zeiss origin that was further employed on second series of Werra cameras and a self timer of his own design, The spring advance mechanics was directly inherited of the German Finetta 99 of 1952 from which it is absolutely equal, including that ALL PARTS are directly interchangeable. The construction obviously recieves adaptations or the camera will never work, But as I said the Leningrad is a Zorki 4 (or 3C ) with a spring drive from Finetta 99.

quote:

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Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo


Very interesting the article but it says nothing about "Leningrad" manufacture.

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I said: "by the way..."

quote:

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Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo


...But as I said the Leningrad is a Zorki 4 (or 3C ) with a spring drive from Finetta 99.

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It has a different body, as you said. So... it is not a Zorki-4. All other details, screws for example ;) -- not so important.

Yes, I agree (with Zoom). The Leningrad is nothing like a Zorki-4 (or 3C).It does not look the same ... it does not feel the same ... it does not work the same ... it does not even have the same purpose because of the motorized feature that allows series of photographs to be taken in quick intervals.
Also it is made at a different factory, designed by different designers in different cities / factories, with different parts that may be similar, but not the same. The finish is different. It was a more expensive camera than the Zorki-4.
Of course cameras have many similarities, as do many types of technical objects or machines. Is a Cadillac just a Chevy with a different body ... rubber tires, automatic transmission, 8 cylinder gasoline engine, automatic brakes and steering? No, they are different.
A Zorki-4 is not much like a Leningrad.


Regards, Bill

I agree we can not compare Liningrad and Zorki. They designed and intended for totally diferent markets. But question remain how big influence in design of Leningrad has Zorkiy. Seems like Zorki, Fed, Leningrad came from same cooky cater. They are more similar then apart. Could camera specification and design came down to all manufactories from same place?

All are Leica copies in either more or less degree. FED, VOOMP Pioneer, were direct copies of Leica... then Zorki was the new FED, and of course as things grew more varieties of cameras for 35mm film and using the same interchangeable lenses were needed, or desired. This happened in almost all camera producing countries as a matter of evolution, and the camera makers copied things from each other internationally and also within their own countries.
In the Soviet Union, and in some other communist countries, the central government was more in control of production and the companies, from design to manufacture, than in the West. So although I'm sure that the Soviet government did coordinate the materials and parts used, and there was probably quite a bit of central government promoted (or ordered) sharing of designs, these cameras still have many differences when you look closely at the details. But probably less differences than in the West where competition encouraged differences.


Regards, Bill

quote:

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Originally posted by nightphotoIs a Cadillac just a Chevy with a different body ... rubber tires, automatic transmission, 8 cylinder gasoline engine, automatic brakes and steering? No, they are different.
A Zorki-4 is not much like a Leningrad.

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Exactly!
If I may say , I think Leningrad is the best possible Caddy model and Zorki is the poorest Chevy in this comparison. Smena being a Yugo: does the thing very cheaply but thats all...
Juhani

http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/