FT-2

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 10:39, 22 August 2018 by Hanskerensky (talk | contribs) (General Information: Redirected Link URL to archived version)
Jump to: navigation, search

The FT-2 (Cyrillic: ФТ-2) is a Russian panorama camera,[1] made by KMZ between 1958 & 1965. It takes 12 24x110mm exposures on a length 35mm film intended for 36 normal-sized frames, loaded into special cassettes. The lens turret swings swings from right to left through 120°, spreading the image across a curved film plane.[2] The viewfinder is simple metal frame with a central target, which folds over the back of the camera when not in use. In front of the viewfinder is a circular orange spirit level.

It was exported under the names "Spiratone", "Panorama" and "Spaceview".[3] In total, 16,662 were made.[4] The shutter speed is set by positioning two brake levers, mounted on the top plate of the camera. Early versions (model I) had a lever that allowed to tighten the spring and thus calibrate the shutter speeds. This was abandoned with model II. The film is advanced independently of the shutter, using a metal knob.

Technical Details

  • Lens: 50mm f/5 Industar-50, fixed aperture
  • Shutter: 1/100, 1/200, 1/400s[5]

Models

There are two base models with a number of versions and variants:[6]

Model I

with break adjustment ring on the bottom. Produced between

  • Type a: shutter winder is single arm lever with wider end (on top)
    • variant i: Cyrillic lettering on front face (1958)[7]
    • variant ii: front face blank (1958)[8]
  • Type b: shutter winder is single arm lever with tapering end (small notch on bottom) (1958-1960)
    • variant i: lettering in Cyrillic
    • variant ii: lettering in English (export model)
    • variant iii: branded Spiratone (sold by F. Spira, USA)
    • variant iv: branded Panorama (sold by F. Spira, USA)
    • variant v: branded Spaceview (sold by Tranchant, France)

Model II

without break adjustment on the bottom

  • Type a: shutter winder is single arm lever with tapering end (small notch on botom)
    • variant i: lettering in Cyrillic (1960-1963)[9]
    • variant ia: lettering in Cyrillic, frame counter disc is white (normally black) (1963)[10]
    • variant ii: lettering in English (export model) (1962)[11]
  • Type b: shutter winder is double arm ("butterfly") lever (1966-1967)
    • variant i: lettering in Cyrillic [12]
    • variant ii: lettering in English (export model)[13]


Notes & References

  1. The FT stands for Fotoapparat Tokareva ( Фотоаппарат Токарева; translates to: Tokarev's camera), named after the camera's designer, the Soviet weapons designer Vasilievich Tokarev.
  2. Even though the FT-2 has a similar view angle to the Widelux (FT-2: 120°, Widelux: 126°), the FT-2 uses a 50mm lens which results in a narrower (and thus longer) negative than the Widelux, which is equipped with a 26mm lens.
  3. FT-2 @ sovietcams.com
  4. KMZ R&D Center site: Cameras production data
  5. A shutter speed of about 1/60th in undocumented but can be achieved by having both brake levers in the horizontal position.
  6. A. Komarov's Fotoua Site splits the camera into four types. In the absence of a formal and official KMZ type specification for the FT-2, the model definition used in this camera-wiki entry is based on substantive design changes, with minor changes expressed as types and variants.
  7. A. Komarov Fotua Type 1 (archived)
  8. A. Komarov Fotua Type 2 (archived)
  9. A. Komarov Fotua Type 3a (archived)
  10. A. Komarov Fotua Type 3b (archived)
  11. A. Komarov Fotua Type 3c (archived)
  12. [http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1076273848 Soviet Cams
  13. A. Komarov Fotua Type 4 (archived)

Links/Sources

Manuals

How-To

General Information