Russian Cameras Are the New Collectibles

!±8± Russian Cameras Are the New Collectibles

In this era when film cameras are going the way of the dinosaur, and digital cameras are taking over, the hot new collectible is the Russian camera. With brand names like Sputnik and Kiev, an increasing number of collectors are finding rare Russian Cameras to have both a nostalgic quality with a sprinkling of mystery thrown in.

Here are some of the most collectible of the Russian cameras:

Sputnik: The Sputnik Russian camera was produced by LOMO in Leningrad from 1955 to 1973. It is a stereo camera that produces six pairs of 6 x 6 cm pictures on 120 film. Weighing slightly less than two pounds, the Sputnik stereo camera has aperture sizes of 4.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, and 22. It has a synchronizer and self-timer, with shutter speeds of 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and B.

LOMO LC-A: The LOMO LC-A is a 35mm Russian camera that was the foundation of the Lomography movement. With a black plastic body, the LOMO LC-A has an automatic leaf shutter. This electronic shutter offers speeds from 1/500 of a second to two seconds, with the aperture setting automatically. It also offers a manual setting, with a 1/60 shutter speed and manually selected aperture. The aperture sizes are 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, and 16. The camera features a hot shoe flash contact and a picture counter.

Kiev-88TTL - The Kiev-88TTL Russian cameras were produced by the Arsenal factory in Kiev. These box cameras have adjustable shutter speeds that range from 1/2 to 1/1000 second. A variety of lenses can be used for the Kiev-88TTL, including the Mir 26V, Mir 38V, Kaleinar 3V, Jupiter 36V, Vega 28V, and ARSAT/Zodiak. The lenses have apertures from 2.8 to 22.

FT-2 - This Russian camera is a panoramic camera that uses curved film and a lens that minimizes distortion. All of the controls for this camera are on the top, and include chrome levers to set shutter speeds, a button for shutter release, and a leveling bubble. The first model of this Russian camera can be identified by the spring tension adjustment at the bottom, while the identifier for the second model is that the wind lever has two wings. Shutter speeds for the FT-2 are 50, 100, 200, and 400.

Horizon-202 - Like the FT-2, the Horizon-202 Russian camera is a panoramic camera. Unlike the FT-2, the Horizon uses a removable optical viewfinder. The earliest model has a round solid aluminum handle, while the second has a round aluminum handle with a compartment for the filter. Although the camera's nameplate usually says Horizont on the top and KMZ on the bottom, the rarer Russian cameras are Horizont Revue and Global-H.

Collecting Russian cameras is a fascinating hobby, one made all the more interesting by the variety of manufacturing techniques used in the earlier models.