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Russkie Camera means something was up? Ah...no.

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summicron1

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Fun to see how the news media (and I was in it for 42 years) handles odd news on a slow day.

Was checking the Oregon situation and saw that Oregonlive.com had this story

http://www.oregonlive.com/geek/2016/02/watch_oregon_hikers_find_myste.html#comments

on a lost Exakta someone found hiking in a stream.

Screen shot 2016-02-03 at 8.44.34 AM.png

You feel bad for whoever lost it -- judging from the condition I wonder how long it was sitting there, since the chrome should have rusted if it were there for more than a couple of years. The finder is a later model than was originally sold with that camera, too.

But the way the story tries to play up the "Soviet-era" connection -- was it a spy? -- is funny. And, no, it was not made just for left handers.

Most of the commenters aren't buying it, noting that Exaktas were sold all over the US. Some commenters mention "millions of Exakta copies" made in the west -- I have no idea what that is all about. Never seen one myself, except for the Exakta Real made in Japan, which was a different animal.

Interestingly, in the early 1980s Soviet arms observers were allowed to visit US military bases as part of mutual inspections, or something. One day I noticed a couple of guys wandering around downtown Ogden who had those boxy Exakta/Praktica-style never-ready camera cases slung around their necks, presumably with Exakta/Praktica cameras inside. We made inquiries and, sure enough, they were inspectors from Commie-land, wandering around our own town.

Anyway, someone found a nice paperweight.
 
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The camera, made specifically for left-handed users, appears to date back to the 1950s.

By 1949 the GDR was founded.

It could be however that US restrictions made that designation appear even later than that year.
 
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Some commenters mention "millions of Exakta copies" made in the west -- I have no idea what that is all about.

What they likely are referring to is that, together with the soviet "Sport" of different design, the Exakta was the first 35mm SLR.
And that, letting aside the pre-war poduction of the Exakta, the roots of all 35mm SLRs are beyond the iron curtain.
 
Certainly the writer of the article knows little about 50's & 60's cameras. My Uncle used an Exacta back in the late 50's. He was an amateur astronomer, and the interchangeable lens feature and SLR viewing were great on his scope (which he made himself, including grinding the mirror). Detroit Camera Shop always had them in stock along with all the lenses and accessories. Not unusual in this country at all.
Thanks for todays amusement.
 
Certainly the writer of the article knows little about 50's & 60's cameras. My Uncle used an Exacta back in the late 50's. He was an amateur astronomer, and the interchangeable lens feature and SLR viewing were great on his scope (which he made himself, including grinding the mirror). Detroit Camera Shop always had them in stock along with all the lenses and accessories. Not unusual in this country at all.
Thanks for todays amusement.

I'm a little surprised the writer didn't contact the "portland camera store" mention in the article -- Blue Moon? -- and ask about Exaktas. But maybe that's me being surprised at how cut off from reality us film types are, eh? (grin)
 
они нашли мою камеру!
 
What they likely are referring to is that, together with the soviet "Sport" of different design, the Exakta was the first 35mm SLR.
And that, letting aside the pre-war poduction of the Exakta, the roots of all 35mm SLRs are beyond the iron curtain.

I used to own a 'Start' way back in I think 1965ish. The cyrilic name engraving also looked like 'Sport'. It was a bit of mish mash of individual idesign and plagarism combined. Not unlike an early Zenith to look at, but had a lens stop down button a bit like an Exacta but on the opposite side of the body. There was a film knife again similar to an Exacta. It had a bayonet fitting for the lens but had a breach lock similar to an early Cannon FD or a Kiev medium format. The mirror was non instant return and was pulled into place with a cord secured to the underside of the mirror, similar to a Praktina, Pentacon or Contax SLR (The original). The film wind-on was by lever and the shutter speeds 1sec to 1/1000.



The one I had came with a screw to bayonet adapter for additional lenses, but was 39mm not 42mm. Oh yes, the prism was removable again similar to an Exakta.

I have found a web page with pictures, this is the camera:-


www.wrotniak.net/photo/vintage/start.html
 
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I'm a little surprised the writer didn't contact the "portland camera store" mention in the article -- Blue Moon? -- and ask about Exaktas. But maybe that's me being surprised at how cut off from reality us film types are, eh? (grin)

I assumed they would go to Blue Moon to have the film souped...
 
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