Difference between revisions of "Leningrad"

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The '''Leningrad''' was a 35mm rangefinder camera made in ex-USSR by [[GOMZ]]. It had a spring motor advance, and took [[39mm screw lenses]]. The rangefinder was of the split image type, combined in the viewfinder. In the viewfinder there were fixed black frames to indicate the field of view for the  50mm, 85mm and 135mm focal lengths, the whole finder covering the 35mm focal length. The clockwork winding mechanism does not allow continuous shooting, the user must press the shutter release each time (12 - 15 exposures can be made before the camera needs to be wound again). The film take-up system is unique as it ignores sprocket holes on 35mm film. Instead it winds the film onto a fat take-up spool.  
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The '''Leningrad''' is a 35mm rangefinder camera made in the USSR by [[GOMZ]]. It has a spring motor advance, and takes [[39mm screw lenses]].
No account was taken of the increasing diameter of this spool as film is wound onto it, resulting in increasingly larger gaps between the negatives on a roll. Therefore, negatives must be ordered 'uncut' from labs because modern automated negative cutting will not adjust for the unique negative layout from the Leningrad. Slides must also be ordered 'uncut' and mounted in frames by the user. This is only an issue if you don't know about it and is not considered a flaw- they were designed that way!
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Leningrads were supplied with a standard Jupiter-8 lens and will accept most (but not all) M-39 lenses. This is largely due to an over-hanging lip just above the lens mount.
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The rangefinder is of the split image type, combined in the viewfinder. In the viewfinder there are fixed black frames to indicate the fields of view for 50mm, 85mm and 135mm focal lengths, the whole finder covering the 35mm focal length.
Built very sturdily, and to a very high degree of precision (unlike most Soviet rangefinders), the Leningrad is said to be the most advanced (and expensive) Soviet rangefinder ever made. Many were given as presents to visiting dignitarys and party members. Just 70,000 units were made, it is not known how many survive.
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The clockwork winding mechanism does not allow continuous shooting: the user must press the shutter release each time (12–15 exposures can be made before the camera needs to be wound again). The film take-up system is unique as it ignores sprocket holes on 35mm film. Instead it winds the film onto a fat take-up spool. No account is taken of the increasing diameter of this spool as film is wound onto it, resulting in increasingly wide gaps between the frames on a roll. Modern automated negative cutting will not adjust for the unique frame layout, and negatives and slides must be ordered from labs uncut. (Individual mounting of the slides must therefore be done by the user.) Users of the Leningrad consider this not a bug but a feature.
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Leningrads were supplied with a standard Jupiter-8 lens and will accept most [[39mm screw lenses]]. An over-hanging lip just above the lens mount makes it impossible to mount certain lenses.
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Built very sturdily, and to a very high degree of precision (unlike most Soviet rangefinders), the Leningrad is said to be the most advanced (and expensive) Soviet rangefinder ever made. Many were given as presents to party members and visiting dignitaries. Just 70,000 units were made, a small number by Soviet standards. It is not known how many survive.
  
 
[[Category: 39mm screw mount]]
 
[[Category: 39mm screw mount]]

Revision as of 01:07, 12 May 2007


The Leningrad is a 35mm rangefinder camera made in the USSR by GOMZ. It has a spring motor advance, and takes 39mm screw lenses.

The rangefinder is of the split image type, combined in the viewfinder. In the viewfinder there are fixed black frames to indicate the fields of view for 50mm, 85mm and 135mm focal lengths, the whole finder covering the 35mm focal length.

The clockwork winding mechanism does not allow continuous shooting: the user must press the shutter release each time (12–15 exposures can be made before the camera needs to be wound again). The film take-up system is unique as it ignores sprocket holes on 35mm film. Instead it winds the film onto a fat take-up spool. No account is taken of the increasing diameter of this spool as film is wound onto it, resulting in increasingly wide gaps between the frames on a roll. Modern automated negative cutting will not adjust for the unique frame layout, and negatives and slides must be ordered from labs uncut. (Individual mounting of the slides must therefore be done by the user.) Users of the Leningrad consider this not a bug but a feature.

Leningrads were supplied with a standard Jupiter-8 lens and will accept most 39mm screw lenses. An over-hanging lip just above the lens mount makes it impossible to mount certain lenses.

Built very sturdily, and to a very high degree of precision (unlike most Soviet rangefinders), the Leningrad is said to be the most advanced (and expensive) Soviet rangefinder ever made. Many were given as presents to party members and visiting dignitaries. Just 70,000 units were made, a small number by Soviet standards. It is not known how many survive.