Russian Cameras

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dasonras

Well-known member
Does anyone no anything about Russian movie cameras? They go real cheap on ebay, and i have no knowledge about them. What's the differences?
 
i own both the K-3 (16mm) and the Kinoflex (super-8) and both are built like tanks and give good images.

The K-3 isn't the most reliable camera. if you are going to use it professionally, i would have the film transport assembly replaced by Reel Trading:

http://www.concentric.net/~jdq/K-3_menu.shtml#we'redifferent

A friend who spent the last four years in Moscow with ABC news came back with a 35mm Kinor and it too is solid as a tank and takes good pictures.

For the prices on Ebay, you can't go wrong.
 
I've had several K-3's, they are really an amazing value for the money. Keep in mind the thing costs $150, so keep your expectations in line -- but it's the real deal, a stable and (when you get a working one) reliable 16mm mirror-reflex TTL camera with a usable interchangeable lens mount. Only get the bayonet, and don't even bother trying to use the internal light meter. If you get a good one, it'll run forever. If you get a bad one, you'll know it right away.

I also have a Konvas 35mm, which is similarly satisfying -- and an amazing, amazing value for a 35mm camera. Noisy as an airplane taking off (okay, maybe not quite THAT noisy) but an excellently-engineered camera that takes fantastic footage, and even has a variable-frame-rate crystal-controlled motor.
 
dasonras said:
If i purchase a K-3 off ebay, does this mean i will need to upgrade parts on it?
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Not necessarily. They usually run okay right out of the box , but as i said, if you plan on using it for professional work, get the upgrade just to be safe.

if you buy one just to experiment and goof around with, then you should be okay without the upgrades.

Jeff
 
I have a Kinor 35H. Really great camera for the money. It is a complicated machine and requires some TLC at times, but once you get it figured out, it's great. Rock solid images, and mostly quiet. Still needs a barney if shooting in a small room. This camera is basically a copy of the MovieCam camera.

It weighs alot, by the way. Forget extended periods of hand-held work. If you can go 30 minutes with this camera on your shoulder, you're a better man than I.
 
There is a Konvas group on Smartgroups. I would recommend searching that before purchasing one.

Some problems I have heard about include some of the older Konvas cameras not having a glass shutter. I don't remember the specifics, but I think it had to do with if the plastic ones breaking, you can't replace them (even with a new glass one) without a lot of work being done???

Also, there have been some complaints with a few of the Russian sellers on Ebay, ones who were reliable, but over the last year have kinda become not reliable.

Also, motors burning up. People recommend having spares.

Anyways, you can check out the group yourself.

I have a 1M and I have gotten good results from it.
 
Ohh, so they're nice... I was thinking about picking some old film cam just for the heck of it. Besides, K3 goes as low as 60$ here and Kinor35 300 at most.

But, what do you guys think/know about these:

Kiev 16 S-3
Kvartz 8XL
Ekran
Kama
Kvartz 5

They all look so darn cool... And each of the above costs like $10-30 :shocked:
 
I have 2 K-3's and a Konvas 2M 35 mm. The glass on the K-3 is so-so. I recently acquired 4 lenses (Karl Zeiss) and a telezoom 75-260mm (a Japanese brand). The lesnes make an incredible difference on the K-s becaus they give me easy shallow DOF. The Konvas uses LOMO prime lenses which I find incredible. I haven't shot with them yet but plan to do a short film with the K-3 maybe early next year. I have 1400 feet of film in the fridge just waiting. i just don't know what the short will be about yet - maybe something with limited voice (K-3 is non krystal synch).

The thing to watch out for on ebay is the odd crooked dealer. There have been several complaints at Konvas-owner@ smartgroups.com
These guys are quite helpful and seem to know who's who. In May someone tried to sell me a Konvas that was already for sale in Russia. Someone spotted the identical numbers and alerted me. I won the auction and the seller contacted me and saif her paypal account had ben infiltrated so could I send a money order to a specal bak instead. I emailed her that i had some concerns and mentioned the camera in Russia and asked for an explanation. She immediately broke off contact.
earon
earon
 
earon_k said:
I have 2 K-3's and a Konvas 2M 35 mm. The glass on the K-3 is so-so.
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Kind of OFF-Topic:

Hey Earon,

I noticed you're from Vancouver. Which lab do you use for processing/telecine ? I've been sending my reels to "Black and White Film Factory" in Toronto but it would be great if I found some lab here in Vancouver.

Cheers
 
Well, there's Rainmaker and there's Technicolor. I know of those two but haven't had to use any yet. Technicolor used to process anything under 200 feet for free as a test. I got a reasonable quote from Rainmaker on telecine of 35mm recently. I haven't checked for costs of 16mm development or telecine but I'll be needing that in 2006.
cheers,
earon
 
earon_k said:
Well, there's Rainmaker and there's Technicolor. I know of those two but haven't had to use any yet. Technicolor used to process anything under 200 feet for free as a test. I got a reasonable quote from Rainmaker on telecine of 35mm recently. I haven't checked for costs of 16mm development or telecine but I'll be needing that in 2006.
cheers,
earon
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Thanks Earon,

I think I'm gonna need that in 2006 as well. Am considering using a Konvas for my short-film. I've been back and forth tho ( HVX200 vs Konvas ... ).

I'd sent an email to Technicolor but they haven't replied it yet. I think I'm gonna call them up and get a quote.

Cheers
 
actually I looked on Ebay and they have one for about 9 grand but all done over. It must produce good picture for it's price?
 
Yeah, they run from 10-15K I think. I think that having a workable, quality, 35mm sync camera would certainly be a luxury, and probably quite useless. A good super 16 might be a better deal. But I just love the way that badass looks!
 
now why would you say useless... I mean I'm not a film expert, but I thought that all this talk about shooting in 35mm allows for you to skip the transfer to 35. This way you save a lot of money.
 
earon_k said:
Well, there's Rainmaker and there's Technicolor. I know of those two but haven't had to use any yet. Technicolor used to process anything under 200 feet for free as a test. I got a reasonable quote from Rainmaker on telecine of 35mm recently. I haven't checked for costs of 16mm development or telecine but I'll be needing that in 2006.
cheers,
earon
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Yes.. Technicolor is giving good rates right now, specially if you goto the old Alpha Cine (now technicolor). I wouldnt trust anyone in town besides those two in town though, I have heard some bad stories.
 
dasonras said:
Does anyone no anything about Russian movie cameras? They go real cheap on ebay, and i have no knowledge about them. What's the differences?
Click to expand...

I have a friend that bought 12 Konvas off ebay, for really cheap because none of them worked. He was able to salvage enough parts to make 2 working cameras, but They are pretty sketchy.. not registered, loud as a hell and the turret system just is asking for trouble.

That said, they are prety much bomb proof so they make good emo/crash cameras,
 
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