Almaz
The Almaz (Russian: Алмаз - 'Diamond') cameras are a series of 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras made from 1979 to the late 1980s by LOMO in Russia. They are essentially copies of a Nikon F2, with a Pentax K bayonet lens mount.
There are four types:
- Almaz 101
This camera has a focal-plane shutter with overlapping metal blinds travelling vertically, giving shutter speeds from 8 - 1/1000 second, plus 'B'; (according to George Abramov at PhotoHistory.ru;[1] other sources give the slowest speed as one second, or 30 seconds). It has a detachable prism viewfinder. It has a lightmeter (which is in the body, not in the prism unit). The film speed is set on a dial around the rewind crank, between ISO 12 and 1600. There is an exposure compensation control, from -1 to +2 stops. There is a capstan in the base, where a motor drive could connect to the film advance. There is a self-timer on the front left hand side of the body. The shutter is synchronised at 1/125 second,[1] with a single [PC socket] (on the front of the top housing, by the rewind crank).
The lens is an MC Volna-4 50 mm f/1.4 (serial no. 800001).[2]
According to Aidas Pikiotas at SovietCams.com only one example of this camera is known, in a collection in France.[2]
- Almaz 102
This camera has shutter speeds 1 - 1/1000 second, plus 'B', with flash synchronisation at 1/60.[1]. Lightmeter information is displayed by an LCD visible in the viewfinder. There are two PC sockets, for bulb and electronic flash. The self-timer lever is now to the right of the lens. Sixty-three copies of this camera were made (of which some were apparently sold: SovietCams gives a price).[3]
- Almaz 103
This is the only version of the camera that was sold in significant numbers; 9508 copies were made.[4] It has an MC Volna 50 mm f/1.8 lens. It has two PC sockets.
- Almaz 104
This camera was not sold; about ten prototypes were made. It is a simplified version of the Almaz 102;[5] the light meter reading is shown by coloured LED lamps in the viewfinder. It has the f/1.8 lens. It has one PC socket.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 George Abramov: article on Almaz cameras at PhotoHistory.ru.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Almaz 101 at SovietCams.
- ↑ Almaz 102 at SovietCams.
- ↑ Almaz 103 at SovietCams.
- ↑ Almaz 104 at SovietCams.
