Iskra

This camera was always popular, especially it was usually used by photographers, who departed for shooting. It was a work of one minute to photograph "a group near fountain" or school's form during a picnic. And all equipment was quite portable...

Iskra was a peak achievement of Krasnogorsk's factory in the sphere of wide-film's technique which was carried out in the beginning of 60-ths years. The camera'soutput wasn't too numerous (from 1960 till 1964 it was produced about 45 thousands sets of two modifications: Iskra and Iskra-2). This camera didn't become a revolution in known constructions, but it was a very successful reproduction of popular foreign scheme. Size of frame 6x6 cm and standard film of width 61 mm on a bobbin with a protective paper leader (type 120) made up the composition which presented itself in a good light. Strong metal body, thrown off objective part with fur,quick dismantling and assebly (and the latched front cover reliably protected a lens from damages) made this model a desirable companion during tourist campaigns and expeditions, provided convenience of operation the photographers in rest houses, resort places, difficult excursions.

It can be found lots of foreign prototypes of Iskra among cameras of that time. The firm Agfa produced Automatic 36 in 50-ths , Zeiss Ikon made the camera Ikonta of the same composition, some lesser firms only produced cameras of that type (Foinix, Kershaw, Life-0-Rama), and even Kodak did not neglect similar variant (Duo Six 20) with hardly changed 5x6 format .

It can be found lots of foreign prototypes of Iskra among cameras of that time. The firm Agfa produced Automatic 36 in 50-ths , Zeiss Ikon made the camera Ikonta of the same composition, some lesser firms only produced cameras of that type (Foinix, Kershaw, Life-0-Rama), and even Kodak did not neglect similar variant (Duo Six 20) with hardly changed 5x6 format .

But as to the main parts it is necessary to mention that the lens Industar of 75 mm f/3,5 - under the optical scheme was famous Tessar's copy - had a central lock with self-controls from 1 up to 1/500 s, auto descent and two sorts of synchronization - for electronic and magnesium flashes. Laying on sharpness from 1 m and to infinitum was made by one convenient movement of the left hand's fingers on a range finder combined with the view-finder. Thus all lens (instead of front lens, as in models Moscow), and picture quality the were rather high at all distances of shooting. It was really excellent: comparing now slides made by Iskra, with that of well regulated Pentacon, the author prefers first.

It was an unusual innovation for our cameras the hooking of rings of exposure and diaphragm in Iskra. It allowed to change the necessary parameter by one movement, not changing a general exposition, that made the shooting faster. But the necessity to cock a lock before each snapshot separately can't be named like an advantage , this operation was not joined with drive of a film. The back wall was made removable, and very convenient there was a system of charging a film: instead of delaying axles for both bobbins (which always tend to be pulled out from hands),it was enough to turn disks on a lower cover. With untransfered film the descent was locked, and runners on a upper cover allowed to install flash directly on the camera.

Modernization of the base model was Iskra-2 with built-in (but not connected with a lock) selenium light meter, which readings manually needed to be transferred on disks of a lock.

The camera weighed much, but due to the rounded form seemed to be more transportable and portable, than mirror's camera of the same format. The Iskra's sizes were not lesser than that of Moscow, though the format of the last was bigger (6x9 cm).

The disappearance of Iskra hasn't been compensated by Salutes, Kiev-6, nor by lubitels of all modifications. Such camera of high-quality would have the customers till present days , especially if it's reminded that Iskra's prices was rather accessible (about 100 rubles of a sample of 1961), and the picture quality was excellent. It is possible to assert undoubtedly that it's too hard to buy anything similar for the adequate price now.