4 ms·

This film shows a number of what appear to be ordinary off-the-shelf cameras being used to record data, for instance at 5:01 and 12:55. Are those Zorkis?

wyoh 6y ago
Could be Fed
ninjin 6y ago
Glad I am not the only camera nut out there, my personal speciality is the pre-SLR era that I know far too much about to be healthy. The use of high-end, off-the-shelf cameras for military and scientific purposes does not surprise me that much. The “Luftwaffe Leicas” [1] for example are famous in camera circles and even today I frequently spot Nikon and Canon gear in physics labs when I walk around campus. [1]: https://cameraquest.com/luft.htm https://cameraquest.com/luft.htm My guess for 5:01 [2] is a Zorki 6 with a rigid Industar-50 [3]. The top plate matches the Zorki 6 from what I can tell and the rigid Industar-50 has a very distinct shape when attached as it looks a bit “fat” in the middle. [2]: https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=301 https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=301 [3]: http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-6 http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-6 At 5:08 [4] I think we have a Zorki S [5] based on the top plate. Those familiar with screw-mount Leica cameras can note the striking similarity, more on this later. I have no clue about the lens though, it looks akin to specialist lenses from the era that I have seen. [4]: https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=308 https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=308 [5]: http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-s http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-s For 12:38 [6] we again seem to have Industar-50s, but now with four Zorki S’. [6]: https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=758 https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=758 A word of warning, I am far far far more familiar with German and Japanese cameras from this era as it is what I have used in the past – corrections are welcome. Also, if you spotted other camera gear (no film cameras though, ask someone else…) do poke me. To end on an interesting historical fact. The Zorki S you saw and plenty more from the era produced both in the USSR (do not say Russia, from what I remember plenty were made in the Ukraine) and Japan (both Nikon and Canon) were “Leica copies” that either looked very much like to their German counterparts, accepted lenses with the same mount (M39 or Leica Thread Mount), and/or had very similar lens designs. This means that lenses/cameras produced during this era tends to be compatible between makers and countries, which leads to a lot of fun if you can muster a little courage and try film. In particular the USSR-made cameras/lenses are dirt cheap these days.
vl 6y ago
It’s interesting how they did the shot of the bomb on the parachute. It’s either not the real bomb (test drop of a dummy?), or camera operator should have been in the kill zone.

wyoh 6y ago

Could be Fed

ninjin 6y ago

Glad I am not the only camera nut out there, my personal speciality is the pre-SLR era that I know far too much about to be healthy. The use of high-end, off-the-shelf cameras for military and scientific purposes does not surprise me that much. The “Luftwaffe Leicas” [1] for example are famous in camera circles and even today I frequently spot Nikon and Canon gear in physics labs when I walk around campus. [1]: https://cameraquest.com/luft.htm https://cameraquest.com/luft.htm My guess for 5:01 [2] is a Zorki 6 with a rigid Industar-50 [3]. The top plate matches the Zorki 6 from what I can tell and the rigid Industar-50 has a very distinct shape when attached as it looks a bit “fat” in the middle. [2]: https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=301 https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=301 [3]: http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-6 http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-6 At 5:08 [4] I think we have a Zorki S [5] based on the top plate. Those familiar with screw-mount Leica cameras can note the striking similarity, more on this later. I have no clue about the lens though, it looks akin to specialist lenses from the era that I have seen. [4]: https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=308 https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=308 [5]: http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-s http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/zorki-s For 12:38 [6] we again seem to have Industar-50s, but now with four Zorki S’. [6]: https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=758 https://youtu.be/nbC7BxXtOlo?t=758 A word of warning, I am far far far more familiar with German and Japanese cameras from this era as it is what I have used in the past – corrections are welcome. Also, if you spotted other camera gear (no film cameras though, ask someone else…) do poke me. To end on an interesting historical fact. The Zorki S you saw and plenty more from the era produced both in the USSR (do not say Russia, from what I remember plenty were made in the Ukraine) and Japan (both Nikon and Canon) were “Leica copies” that either looked very much like to their German counterparts, accepted lenses with the same mount (M39 or Leica Thread Mount), and/or had very similar lens designs. This means that lenses/cameras produced during this era tends to be compatible between makers and countries, which leads to a lot of fun if you can muster a little courage and try film. In particular the USSR-made cameras/lenses are dirt cheap these days.

vl 6y ago

It’s interesting how they did the shot of the bomb on the parachute. It’s either not the real bomb (test drop of a dummy?), or camera operator should have been in the kill zone.