Konvas 2M - 35mm - Footage

[ropbo]

I found this website with some clips shot with a Konvas 2M.

http://rarevision.com/home.php

Pretty cool.

[avr]

Cool.
Thanks for the link :)

[Ernest_Acosta]

ropbo, I've been thinking about purchasing a Konvas 35mm camera with assorted lenses. Besides Ebay, can you recommend a site or store that I can check out the camera?

[baquajim]

Ernest - You might want to check out the Konvas group on SmartGroups.com to see if there have been any problems with the recent suppliers.

I believe that RafCamera.com is still really reliable, but like most of the sellers, he is in Europe or Russia somewhere.

Anyways, thought I'd help.

[ropbo]

Yeah I think this RafCamera is a reliable place to get your Konvas from. I don't have one but am considering buying it soon. I saw these three clips and the only thing I could say was WOW. For a camera that costs nearly $1,000 the image quality was beyond my expectations (although it's a compressed file and all that but still ...)

[Ernest_Acosta]

Thanks folks. I will check it out.

[kyledroid]

i love the footage. Does anyone else have any footage from this cam?

[Bruce Morgan]

I found this website with some clips shot with a Konvas 2M.

http://rarevision.com/home.php

Pretty cool.
:shocked: hard to judge the quality from a web post BUT the quality reminds me of the old french angen. zoom lens(1960) .... images from such a lens never look quite sharp(something liquid like to the image ) some people in film think this is the entire problem with the whole dv world ..."too sharp" so go" cinelike" Then " not sharp enough" ..i would look for links posting a practacal comparison lens which can fit on the same camera ...Baltar lenses are fantastic in my opinion when used in front of a film camera . .

[kyledroid]

I found some test shots of the konvas on another site. Here are the pics:

http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/500t_pic_1.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/500t_2_pic_2.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/50d_3_pic_3.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/50d_2_pic_2.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/50d_1_pic_1.jpg

I think they used the lenses that came with the package on this.
They look good.

[Ramon Boutviseth]

Lenses make a lot of different it seems, although I dont know anything about film... I guess i should.

ropbo i watched your short " real as me" , I like the acting in it, very solid. I'm confused about the ending, was she really a slut or is she kissing his friend so her boyfriend can leave her for dextor? I like it, it must have been expensive to produce.

[ropbo]

Lenses make a lot of different it seems, although I dont know anything about film... I guess i should.

ropbo i watched your short " real as me" , I like the acting in it, very solid. I'm confused about the ending, was she really a slut or is she kissing his friend so her boyfriend can leave her for dextor? I like it, it must have been expensive to produce.

Oh, that's not my short. I was just doing some research on this camera and came across this website. But it's not mine.

[Bruce Morgan]

I found some test shots of the konvas on another site. Here are the pics:

http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/500t_pic_1.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/500t_2_pic_2.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/50d_3_pic_3.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/50d_2_pic_2.jpg
http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/files/50d_1_pic_1.jpg

I think they used the lenses that came with the package on this.
They look good.
:thumbsup:
i am impressed
what is the details available on the lenses used type ,f stop model of konvas etc .oh yes type of film used .
i have considered the Konvas for a few years and may buy one .
Thanks for any info
Bruce

[kyledroid]

The site doesnt give much info on the lenses. Here is the link for their tests: http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/2004/06/35_camera_test_.html

[Bruce Morgan]

The site doesnt give much info on the lenses. Here is the link for their tests: http://voicefilms.typepad.com/createsf/2004/06/35_camera_test_.html
:beer: ok i asked for fstop film type shutter speed lens type and key to fill ratio reading ..hope he gets it ...
the konvas has me interested but also concerned
i have used ten configurations of eyemos
one mitchell bnc and three arri 2c cameras
nothing except zies sonnars etc has every impressed me as much as the bauch and lomb baltars the militlary version was the miltar ..they basically shot ww2 withthat lens ...konvas hmmmmm. :huh: i m9ight buy one someday if the tests show real data ...

[kyledroid]

i think the shutter is a static 157 degree. Im not to sure, though. I'm extremely interested in seeing some footage from this guy. Let us know when he replies.

[Shiloh Arts]

Are there any particular updates to these cameras to make them current...or are these camera unable to be updated? Also can you install a color video tap on these?

I love the footage the camera makes beautiful footage when used with the right film. Ebay has a couple packages from 1300 to 2100 dollars. The funny thing is that some claim that the camera is brand new, however it's my understanding that these camera are long since discontinued. Does the camera company have an offical site?

[Barry_Green]

There are brand new cameras out there, even though they were discontinued long ago (I think the most recent ones are from the early 90's; I believe the year of manufacture is the first two digits in the serial number).

You have to remember the cameras were produced under the communist soviet government, so everyone had to have a job. So people made cameras whether there was any market for them or not. When the whole system came crashing down, there were tons and tons of Konvas and Krasnogorsk cameras sitting on the shelves unsold. And the companies had no money to pay their employees the wages they owed, so they gave 'em cameras instead. And, of course, many of these employees had no use for a 35mm or 16mm movie camera, so they stuck 'em on a shelf somewhere. Now, a decade later, ebay is popular and they've found they can sell 'em, so they are. So for a while there were a *lot* of unused Konvas and Krasnogorsk cameras on the market, even though they hadn't been manufactured in 10 or 15 years or so.

The Konvas comes in three flavors: the gray KSR1 (stay away from that one), the black Konvas 1M, and the black Konvas 2M. They're pretty similar, the only substantial difference is that the 1M uses a three-lens turret design, whereas the 2M is a single lens port (which can be modified to take PL lenses). As long as you get the crystal motor (17EP or 19EP) either camera can be very nice. There's not a lot to update about a movie camera; it's pretty much a hole with a rotating shutter, and that's about it. Bell & Howell Eyemo's, from the 1920's, are still used in movies today.

[Shiloh Arts]

Barry,

Thanks so much for the background info. It all makes sense now that you mention it. I guess then most likely they are not just scams on ebay. I'm sure you still have to be careful when shopping for one, because I've noticed that you get much more for your money on other packages for less. Now you mention two different crystal motors, is one motor better then the other?

And lastly, how about the Kinor's? Did they also come from the same background, or a totally newer manufacturer completely (when I mean newer I mean post Soviet era)?

Thanks for your time Barry.

[Barry_Green]

Oh, there are plenty of scams on ebay, especially if they're asking you to send the money to Russia or the Ukraine. If you really want a Konvas, I suggest you look into the Konvas discussion group (used to be on topica.com, but I think they moved). There are a few good, reputable sellers over there, and a lot of scammers. Try to get one from a US seller if at all possible.

The 19EP is a later motor than the 17. Don't remember what the differences are, if any. But the 17 works fine.

Don't know much about the Kinors. All I know is that they're much quieter, and apparently have some very unreliable electronics in them. You can get one from Anatoly at Slow Motion Inc that will have updated/replaced electronics, but it doesn't come cheap.

[Shiloh Arts]

Ya, I know what you mean...you got to stay away especially from the ones that say money orders. Well Barry...again thanks for the FYI.

[Bruce Morgan]

There are brand new cameras out there, even though they were discontinued long ago (I think the most recent ones are from the early 90's; I believe the year of manufacture is the first two digits in the serial number).

You have to remember the cameras were produced under the communist soviet government, so everyone had to have a job. So people made cameras whether there was any market for them or not. When the whole system came crashing down, there were tons and tons of Konvas and Krasnogorsk cameras sitting on the shelves unsold. And the companies had no money to pay their employees the wages they owed, so they gave 'em cameras instead. And, of course, many of these employees had no use for a 35mm or 16mm movie camera, so they stuck 'em on a shelf somewhere. Now, a decade later, ebay is popular and they've found they can sell 'em, so they are. So for a while there were a *lot* of unused Konvas and Krasnogorsk cameras on the market, even though they hadn't been manufactured in 10 or 15 years or so.

The Konvas comes in three flavors: the gray KSR1 (stay away from that one), the black Konvas 1M, and the black Konvas 2M. They're pretty similar, the only substantial difference is that the 1M uses a three-lens turret design, whereas the 2M is a single lens port (which can be modified to take PL lenses). As long as you get the crystal motor (17EP or 19EP) either camera can be very nice. There's not a lot to update about a movie camera; it's pretty much a hole with a rotating shutter, and that's about it. Bell & Howell Eyemo's, from the 1920's, are still used in movies today.
Barry
Can you please provide a detail about why we should stay away from the KSR1
Thanks Bruce

[Barry_Green]

The KSR1 (if I'm calling that correctly) is the older gray model. The Konvas 1M looks basically identical but is black. The 1M is much better. The older gray one couldn't use 400' magazines, they can only use 200' mags (and loading those is much more difficult, as is finding spools for use in 'em -- the 400' mags are just a *much* better design). Also, I don't think the KSR1 could use the 17EP crystal motor -- they usually came with a fairly-non-sync motor (the 15EP) or even with a spring-wound motor.

The black Konvas 1M is a much, much better camera.

[kyledroid]

heres a wierd little video. Shot on the 2m. http://www.fuzby.com/insight.mov
8mm fisheye lens using fuji 50d and 250d.

[Shiloh Arts]

I found this website with some clips shot with a Konvas 2M.

http://rarevision.com/home.php

Pretty cool.

I love the sight ...it offers lots of useful advice too! :thumbsup:

Thanks

[avr]

heres a wierd little video. Shot on the 2m. http://www.fuzby.com/insight.mov
8mm fisheye lens using fuji 50d and 250d.


wow, amazing images !

[kyledroid]

This one is a little pixelee: http://www.fuzby.com/sayyes.mov
shot on 2m as well not sure what film it was shot on though.

[mrAnthony]

hey everyone,

this is my first time posting here, long time reader though. just noticed the last post was 3 years ago, wow.

i am a DOP who recently bought a Konvas 2M. (£800 with 7 lomo lenses, no battery, but i bought a aaton battery and charger for it, for about £100)

i recently, (about a week ago) shot a test on the konvas. using 400ft of brand new fujifilm 160T stock (i have 3000ft of it, that i got for free :-p) so i shot about 300ft on a few tests outside my girlfriend's parents house in brighton, that can be found here,

http://www.mranthony.co.uk/Site/Konvas%202M%20Test.html

slightly colour corrected, some shots were blown out as i dont have any ND filters for the matte box.

the rest of the stock i used to shoot a little promo tv spot type thing for a feature film i am shooting next year. (on digital) i just threw it together yesterday and uploaded it now for your perusal. it can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSYzF9iKT9s (PLEASE SELECT WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY AND NOT WATCH IT FULL SCREEN FIRST PLEASE :-))

and can be seen here too: http://www.vimeo.com/2014804

not sure how much response i will get :-p


anthony.

[mrAnthony]

oh and it was only telecine'd to mini DV, as it was just a test, so its obviously not as great quality as it could be if TK'ed to digibeta or what have you.