I've got at least a dozen soviet film cameras; Zorki 1s (one of my favourite), Zorki 3's (and the "crown" of the collection, the 3c). I've got a Zorki 1 that is

I've got at least a dozen soviet film cameras; Zorki 1s (one of my favourite), Zorki 3's (and the "crown" of the collection, the 3c). I've got a Zorki 1 that is /at least/ as smooth as my Leica IIIc, it is incredibly smooth. These are easy to fix, easy to maintain and with a bit of care (and understanding how to use the TINY rangefinder) you can make fantastic images. One camera the article doesn't mention is the Iskra. It's a "folding" 6x6 medium format camera that is probably the best I've seen in terms of quality. Problem is, finding a good one is tough, as it was very complex (it was a copy of Agfa Isolette) -- very often the cameras are completely worn out due to use over so many years. If you find one that works, you are SUPER lucky. I bought 5 to get 2 working, but it's worth the money, the lens is spectacular, and being medium format, a scan of that will compare to even modern cameras. Another camera that is not mentioned is the more modern "panoramic" camera Horizont that use a rotating shutter to give you a fantastic panoramic view with correct verticals! This one is a marvel really, I made fantastic pictures with mine. There is a lot of fun to be had with these cameras; there are also dozens and dozens of lens that are worth playing with!