My most recent acquisition is this Soviet Kiev 4. It is a straight copy of the Zeiss Ikon Contax III (with only very slight changes). Kiev 4 – front view   At the end of WWII, the Soviet army had Zeiss Ikon rebuild their production line for the Contax and then, once the line was … More Kiev 4 (Киев 4)

This is a small, compact 35mm camera from Olympus. It is a part of the Olympus 35 line – 12 models with varying complexity. This model came out in 1972 and was produced for two years (as far as I can gather). Olympus ECR, front view (C) John Margetts lens: E. Zuiko focal length:  42 … More Olympus 35 ECR

I already have an article on Yashica Minister III rangefinders. This Minister D is clearly from the same stable. The camera is about the same size to look at  – I suspect the Minister II and D both use the same main casting. The most obvious difference is with the light meter. With the Minister III, … More Yashica Minister D

I wanted a Fed camera since I first saw one many years ago. The external design is very much “form follows function” (and I suspect the internals is as well). When I finally bought a Fed, it was a Model 5B which was box-like and anodyne – it also leaked light and I got rid … More Fed 2 (B4) (ФЭД)

This is my second Balda Baldina. The first is a folding Baldina from the 1930s. The Super in the name indicates that it has a coupled rangefinder. This new Baldina is from the 1950s and is not a folder but nods in that direction with a collapsible lens. This is fairly effective – it reduces … More Balda Super Baldina

Mamiya made cameras both for themselves and for re-badging by other companies.  This camera is re-badged by the USA company of Mansfield. It is badged as a Mansfield Eye-tronic but is actually a Mamiya EE Super Merit. This model was also available in the USA as a Honeywell Electric Eye 35 and in the UK … More Mamiya EE Super merit (AKA Mansfield Eye-tronic)

 I recently made a decision to add a few rangefinder cameras to my collection. I have had a Minolta Uniomat for a few years and recently bought a Zorki 4. These two cameras represent the two lines of rangefinders that were available in the world of film. The Zorki is from the line of interchangeable … More Petri 7s rangefinder