Unknown Russian Camera: Military?

[Zarraboy]

I´ve been offered this item by an antique collector who does not know any details about it. Can someone help? Pictures from the seller, not mine!

 

[Ian Grant]

It's a Zenit Photosniper. they used to be sold in the UK by the official Russian camera importer TOE (Technical & Optical Equipment)

Basically a Zenit E with a 300mm lens fitted to a pistol grip which made the whole thing easier to balance for hand held work.

Ian

 

[andres]

Looks like a Zenit ES photo sniper. Everything in soviet russia was made for military use

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sameli/461359281/

 

[andres]

Ian was faster.

 

[wotalegend]

Looks to me like a Fotosniper FS-3 kit, sold as a complete kit by KMZ from 1965 to 1982. The body is a Zenit-ES, the tele lens a Tair-3AS 300/4.5, and it also came with a Helios-44 58/2 lens, and 5 filters. No, I'm not an expert - I found it in my copy of Princelle, page 173.

P.S: Gotta be quick, don't you. In the time it took me to type two lines there were three other replies!

 

[Ian Grant]

That's because I remember seeing them in the shops, and in the display window of T.O.E. in London. Also I had a Zenit E in the late 1960's

Ian

 

[benjiboy]

It's a Zenit E Photo Sniper, Outfit they may have been used by the Russian Military I don't know, but they were available in the U.K about twenty years ago in camera stores, we used to sell them in the stores I worked in, they were imported by a company called Technical And Optical Equipment, the 300mm Tair 3 is a pretty good pre-set lens and it should also have in the kit a 58mm Helios lens. If you decide to buy it be careful where you use it, I stupidly once used one in Belfast during " the troubles" and nearly got my head shot off by the British Security Forces because it looks so much like an AK 47 from a distance.

 

[Q.G.]

From the above answers, you might get the impression that it was only available (outside the F.S.U.) in the U.K. It was not: you could get it anywhere. As far as i know, it's not a rare thing, nor should it be expensive (it wasn't back then).

 

[Ian Grant]

T.O.E which was Russian owned were particularly active in the UK so Zenit's were quite common, but of course they were available world-wide.

They are still available new although the camera body is now more a bit more modern 196 euros/$295

Ian

 

[railwayman3]

I'd feel like a right wally using one of these in public.......either that, or be very worried about being arrested!

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

They were available at every corner at Turkish market 20 years ago , but they were black and looks cheap.
This one is looking far away better but heavier also.
Bird photographers would like to own one and also it would take a crowded street in a compressed way and effect would be great. You can be sure no one sees they are photographed

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Here's another one for sale. It's been up for some time.
http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-...-PHOTO-SNIPER-CAMERA-COMBO-W0QQAdIdZ240483681

 

[wotalegend]

I doubt that they were specifically made for military usage, but one thing is for sure: if you used one on the street today, you would be very likely to meet a military (or police) person in a somewhat unfriendly mood.

 

[Anscojohn]

I had an early one I dropped from a back pack on to the concrete at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Bunged up the body, but I was able to force the film transport and got my pictures of the game. I bought a newer one to replace the kit; but a trip to my local camera whiz got the body working again just fine.

I have the new outfit, NIB for anyone who is interested in making an offer. As mentioned above, the 300 mm lens is quite sharp.

 

[Worker 11811]

In case anybody cares, "фото снайпер" on the label in the second picture means "Sniper Photo" in Russian.

 

[Q.G.]

In case anybody cares, "фото снайпер" on the label in the second picture means "Sniper Photo" in Russian.

Or rather "photo sniper".

 

[Worker 11811]

Yeah, you're right. I get things backwards pretty often.

I usually double check to be sure but this time I let one slip by without checking.

 

[normis]

The Photosniper was nothing extraordinary, it's made for regular people, not military. Something like "shoot the animals and birds just like a hunter" I think. I live in Latvia (former USSR) and we have these kits available for ~100GBP "like new" condition.

 

[elekm]

I don't think you could use this in a public place. For sure, you will be stopped repeatedly.

You'd probably be OK using it out in the woods or near a lake or any place not near today's frightened populace and certainly not near a cop.

 

[Worker 11811]

"What am I doing? I'm searching for terrorists, of course!"