Salyut-S
Salyut-S type 2 (1980) image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights) |
Salyut-S (or Salut-S = Салют-C) is a medium format SLR film system camera, manufactured by Arsenal Factory, in Kiev, Ukraine, former USSR and produced between 1972-1980, quantity 30.000. The meaning of Salyut is 'salutation', i.e. greeting with respect, as in a salute. It also means firework, something that rises. The name appears as Салют-С in Cyrillic, thus the model is sometimes called the Salyut-C.
First models of Salyut were probably the near copies of Hasselblad 1000F or 1600F. Salyut-S is the very modified model of the first Salyut, and featured a modified lens mount that has the same thread and adds the familiar plunger for diaphragm setting. This allows full automation of the lenses and the use of extension tubes and a teleconverter. The Salyut/Kiev 88 models are sometimes affectionately known as the "Hasselbladski" due to their resemblance to a Hasselblad.
Kiev 80 (1975-80) cameras are the export type of Salyut-S with a new name plate. Kiev 88 (1980-?) is similar to Salyut-S with a hot shoe for flash. Kiev-88 TTL is a Kiev-88 with the addition of the metered prism.
The Salyut was the first attempt by the Soviet camera industry to produce a sophisticated SLR medium format camera. The Soviets claimed that both the Hasselblad and the Salyut were derived from a Nazi prototype, however none of these supposed forerunners have ever been seen so this origin is dubious. These cameras were very expensive at 400 Rubles, which represented 6 months salary to the average Soviet citizen.
Contents
Types
There are 2 types of the Salyut-S [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Type 1
- Distinctive feature of the type: Chrome label with inscription "Salut-C"
Photos in Fotoua
Type 2
- Distinctive feature of the type: Black label with inscription "Salut-C"
Salyut-S type 2 set: Volna-3 80mm f/2,8; Mir-26B 45mm f/3,5; Waist level & Metered prismatic finder; Pistol grip image by Raúl Sá Dantas (Image rights) |
Specifications
- Film format: 120 roll, picture size 6x6cm
- Lens: Arsenal Vega-12 B 90mm f/2.8, semi-automatic, interchangeable (standard lens)
- Mount: Salyut B mount (Hasselblad 1600 type), filter thread 58mm
- Aperture: f/2.8 - f/22,
- Focus range: 0.6 - 10m, +inf.
- Lens relese: A button on left front side of the camera
- The shutter must be released before changing lenses to prevent damage to the lens
- Focusing: Fresnel ground glass screen
- Shutter: Horizontal focal plane metallic curtain, speeds: 30 -1 /1000, + B
- Setting: Combined with cocking knob, push-out and turn the knob clockwise only
- When changing shutter speeds, to prevent damage to the shutter system, the shutter must be cocked firstly
- Cocking knob: Also winds the film, on the right side of the camera
- When cocking and film winding there are some odd noises, this is normal
- Warning signal windows: For shutter cock/release, and film non exposed/exposed, red or white, two, on the magazine and on the body, in foremost of the counter
- Viewfinder: Waist level finder w/ a magnifying loop, interchangable
- Mirror: Not instant-return
- Flash PC socket: w/ X and FP settings dial, synch. 1/30
- Back cover: As a film magazine, interchangable
- Dark-slide: Metallic, the slot is on the left side of the camera
- Dark-slide must be removed for cocking the shutter
- Dark-slide must be in its slot for removing of the film magazine
- Film loading: Via a special sliding-off part from the Film magazine, removing by a pop-up semi-circle lever, on the left side of the magazine;
- Winding to the first frame: By turning the semi-circle pop-up lever on the right side of the film magazine
- Install the newly loaded film magazine when the shutter cocked and dark-slide in its place only
- Others: Tripod sockets two, 3/8inch; Strap buttons; Memory dial; Red window
- Serial no. stamped on the back side of the body, first two digits of the serial number indicate the production year
|
|
| ||||||
Salyut-S type 2 (1980) w/ Arsenal Vega-12 B 90mm f/2.8 Images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights) |
|
|
| ||||||
Salyut-S type 2 (1980) w/ aus Jena S (Sonnar) 180mm f/2.8 Images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights) |
Kiev-88 image by Elmo Alves (Image rights) |
Notes and references
- ↑ According to Alaxander Komarov in Fotoua. You can also find serial numbers for dating of the cameras in this site
- ↑ There is another former USSR cameras classification and info by Aidas Pikiotas in SovietCams
- ↑ There are usefull books about cameras of former USSR and have classifications also.
- ↑ Pages from the the book of former USSR cameras by Suglob, Shaternik, Kochergin
- ↑ Discussion about clasifications in the books of Princelle and Suglob, Shaternik, Kochergin in USSR Photo Forum
Bibliography
In English
- Princelle, Jean Loup - Made In USSR - The Authentic Guide To Russian And Soviet Cameras, Le Reve Edition, 2004 (ISBN 2952252106 (ISBN13: 9782952252102) Paperback
In Russian
- 1200 Cameras from USSR by Suglob, Shaternik, Kochergin, 2009 , more info about book