ralf_j. Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>As we prepare to receive some brute force from the upcoming storm, here in the Northeastern United States, I sit down to write a couple of words about another piece conveying brute force while packing some good looks and charm; It is a seldom mentioned piece from the USSR photographical arsenal, the KMZ Start SLR.<br>I saw it by chance while I was leaving my repairman's shop in NYC almost 2 years ago. It was sitting on display covered with a film of light dust and not working; I initially disregarded it, dismissing it as yet another early Zenit SLR; I was wrong. The Zenit E feels flimsy compared to this camera. I decided to pick it up and have it repaired.<br>Once the repair was done, I was able to put it through some testing and check out all the parts. It has a unique breech lock mount, similar to Pentacon 6. The standard Helios-44 supplied has automatic aperture which gets activated when the plunger gets depressed to release the shutter. The shutter speeds range from 1s-1/1000s and can only be changed once the camera is cocked. The prism is removable allowing for other visual accessories, but these are pretty rare. A take up spool is required to advance film<br>It is obvious that it was intended for the pro market; however, only one lens was made for it, unfortunately. I have used a unique 37mm MIR-1 pictured below via an adaper, and am still on the look out for the Tair-11 (both made for Zenit 3M M39), but there is no automation on the aperture.<br>A couple of challenges since I have had it: after the second roll of film, the 1st curtain developed a hole. I tackled the problem using Bostick and Sullivan's bellow patch kit (liquid neoprene rubber) which seems to work quite well. The transport mechanism is a bit rough and the film tore inside once; in most occasions the sprocket holes have shown signs of stress. Here is the camera and some examples taken over the course of the past two years:</p><hr /><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8111435300_69f269b6e6.jpg" alt="KMZ Start Front" width="500" height="375" /> <img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8111428671_8d1b2db20f.jpg" alt="KMZ Start Profile" width="500" height="375" /> <br /> <img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8111427873_7603dd15b2.jpg" alt="Mir-1" width="500" height="391" /> <img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8111446362_23a42f7ce0.jpg" alt="Mir-1" width="500" height="403" /></p><hr /><h3>Arches - Cloisters</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8111440078_b34860fd82_z.jpg" alt="Arches - Cloisters" width="427" height="640" /><br /><em>With Helios-44 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Roof</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8111437304_c83b512e78_z.jpg" alt="Roof - Cloisters - NY" width="640" height="416" /><br /><em>With Helios-44 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Arch-Window-Arch</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8111429137_dedbf58333_z.jpg" alt="Arch - Window - Arch" width="418" height="640" /><br /><em>With Helios-44 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Bell Tower</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8111439006_99e58790ae_z.jpg" alt="Bell Tower" width="640" height="421" /><br /> <em>With Helios-44 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Lines and Arches</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8111431313_2ffc73cd14_z.jpg" alt="Lines" width="640" height="416" /> <br /> <em>With Helios-44 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Relief</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8111429675_e7f8876589_z.jpg" alt="Relief" width="640" height="413" /> <br /> <em>With Helios-44 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Terrace</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8111433739_5180e75137_z.jpg" alt="Castle Terrace" width="640" height="419" /> <br /><em>With MIR-1 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Window</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8111441220_530be5bb51_z.jpg" alt="Castle Window" width="443" height="640" /> <br /><em>With MIR-1 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Hudson River</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8466/8111441872_0a280e9511_z.jpg" alt="Hudson" width="640" height="421" /> <br /><em>With MIR-1 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Hudson -2</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8111436975_f4289a4f2d_z.jpg" alt="Hudson" width="640" height="424" /> <br /><em>With Helios-44 on Kodak Gold 100</em></p><h3>Coney Island Boardwalk</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8111439843_89866b3c26_z.jpg" alt="Coney Island - KMZ Start" width="640" height="402" /> <br /><em>With Helios-44 on Fuji Superia 400</em></p><h3>Brighton Beach</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8111438105_6373b20e8c_z.jpg" alt="Brighton Beach" width="420" height="640" /> <br /><em>With Helios-44 on Fuji Superia 400</em></p><h3>Boy and the Sea</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8111444372_716354d456_z.jpg" alt="The boy and the sea" width="640" height="415" /> <br /><em>With Helios-44 on Fuji Superia 400</em></p><h3>A Quiet Shore Walk</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8111446036_946fdd9427_z.jpg" alt="Walking on the shore" width="640" height="411" /><br /><em>With Helios-44 on Fuji Superia 400</em></p><h3>Coney Island Tower</h3><p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8189/8111438701_dfe1de731d_z.jpg" alt="Coney Island" width="640" height="422" /> <br /><em>With Helios-44 on Fuji Superia 400</em></p><hr /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>I envy you.<br> Although the mount works like the Praktina mount, it seems to be different. Given the freedom of use of each other's designs in the Warsaw Pact, it surprises me that it doesn't look as though it is the same.</p> <p>Very nice work with it. Of course I am a huge fan of the Biotar/Helios lenses. ;)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4525289 Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>Ralf,<br> Start had no other special lenses but its Helios 44 as far as I know. They did not made them back then. Mir-1 is M39. The adapter ring was a standard part of a Start kit. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvy Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>A lovely set of images from what looks like a very fine specimen of a lens!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>What a great find, <strong>Ralf</strong>, it's not a camera I've ever seen in the flesh,and the quality of the images is very high. I've always been intrigued by the "Grand Prix" designation for some Russian lenses, in this case an award from the Brussels World Fair 1958. Apparently this is a Russian version of the Flektogon, 6 elements in 5 groups, and the quality seems beyond reproach. Great post; many thanks.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabor_szabo3 Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>Ahhhh, the Clositers and Coney ..... two places I threatened to "get away" for a summer stay-cation, but never found the time. Glad to see a local Pnet-er enjoys the scenerey . Nice shooting, Ralf !</p> <p>May I ask who your repair guy is ? </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>They are lovely images from classy lenses, as JDM and others said. The start was a reputedly ambitious design for a professional camera. I guess, the production runs were not well supported. Thanks for the lovely post. sp.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4525289 Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 <p>totally 76500 Starts were made three modifications (last two ones never went for production). Two special kits. Start with a 3 lens revolver block and start-sniper (with telephoto) both are extremely rare</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winfried_buechsenschuetz1 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>FYI, the engraving on the lens barrel reads "Brussels 1958" where this lens design received a "grand prix" (first price) on the Expo. <br> It seems funny that the communists were very eager to mention the world-wide reputation of their goods, linking them with names of cities and countries where their people hardly ever were allowed to travel to. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>By the way, there is a nice page on the Start at http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/start/</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Johnson Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>Perhaps the professional Start was used with an adapter and Zenit M39 lenses in manual mode,for variation of lens focal length.Some variations of the Praktica IV available around this time had selenium metering built in, a split image rangefinder and a selection of M42 lenses,perhaps seeming more advanced.<br> I never saw a Start, thanks for posting.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>Darn you to heck, Ralf.<br /> It's all your fault. I just bought one from Ukraine. Looks nice, though I probably paid too much for it, I'm happy since it looks very clean and is said to work well. :) On the other hand, I think maybe I'm the originator of the idea that well-preserved Soviet cameras are that way because they didn't work new. :|<br /> So far, though, I'm batting 90% on Soviet goods I've bought. I suspect that more of them are good than most people credit.<br /> Now I need to find an inexpensive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_%28camera%29">Sport</a>.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>Note the progression of posts above<br> First- I express envy<br> Second- I research the camera<br> Three - I buy the darn thing</p> <p>Let that be a lesson to you all. A classic case of the stages of CAS.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_lockerbie Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>JDM, the caution is noted and then ignored! The Start looks a very interesting camera, nearly bought one on Flea-Bay a few years back but it went too high. I have heard good reports on them, and the Helios is a lens that I have always liked. The Mir "Brussels" lens is interesting too, I have one for my Zenit 3M and thought it was really rare...oh well.<br> I really hope that storm that is brewing is not too bad.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralf_j. Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p><strong>JDM - </strong>Thank you for your comments, the Start will not disappoint, your investment will pay off with nice negatives or positives. Someone actually had adapted a PK adapter with the Helios 44 on a SONY NEX<br> <strong>Kozma</strong> <strong>- </strong>Well aware of the limitations of the Start system, but was not aware that it was such a limited production in my book, many thanks for the info. That 3 lens revolver must be nice, I want one.<br> <strong>Rick - </strong>Many thanks for your comments, and the info on MIR-1, I must admit that that focal length is unheard of.<br> <strong>Winfried - </strong>Communists liked showing off their goods in the Global forum; it was just another element of their propaganda machine to show the world that their goods were better than those of the capitalist society.<br> <strong>Alan - </strong>Thank you for your comments and visits to this post, they are appreciated.<br> <strong>Tony - </strong>Maybe it is time to consider picking up one of these Starts again, one just sold on eBay US for $56 with the Helios attached, described as working. We are in wait of the storm as I write this, prepared with sandbags to stop the surge if there is a need...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralf_j. Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p><strong>Starvy - </strong>Thanks for commenting, both lenses are quite fine, but the MIR-1 wins the beauty competition. You would be hard pressed to find a 40 year old Russian optic in such condition today.<br> <strong>Subbarayan - </strong>Many thanks for your feedback and comments, well appreciated.<br> <strong>Gabor - </strong>You and I share a few photo opp locales, I guess :-) ... I have always found Cloisters a very peaceful site to photograph especially on the week days, when tourists are few, you can easily concentrate on form or landscape... My repairman is Panorama Camera in NYC, West 30th between 6th and 7th avenues.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4525289 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>Here is Start with revolver 3-lens block. Picture is taken from G.Abramov's web site. Usually Georgiy does not mind but I think he has to be credited http://www.photohistory.ru/1207248179424127.html</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4525289 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>JDM,<br> Sports are not operational. They needed a special cassette and so on...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 <p>Nice post, Ralf. Very enjoyable set of images from a nicely presented camera.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralf_j. Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 <p>Kozma, that revolver looks like a 3 eye monstrosity, was that a prototype or did it reach production?</p> <p>Thanks <strong>Louis, </strong>appreciate the kind feedback.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4525289 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 <p>Ralf, I do not know. Perhaps it was very low production few units (single digits) were made. Possibly none of them were in retail stores ever.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_naylor1 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 <p>Thanks, Ralf, for an interesting post and some great photos. I picked up a similar Start from an unlikely source a few years ago - Ebay USA, no less! However, when I add that the seller was based in Miami, maybe there's a connection with Cuba and the FSU. I asked the seller about that aspect, but he wasn't sure - he'd just acquired it from a local estate sale. So the jury is still out whether it had once been owned by a Russian missile technician based in Cuba, or had been bought by a Miami resident during a vacation in St Petersburg.</p> <p>Several points about the Start interested me, which is why I bought it. Firstly, it had some advanced features for a late 50s' SLR - like the removable pentaprism, the single-speed dial and the very sharp and clear split rangefinder image. The color of the Helios lens's coating was another interesting aspect - have you ever seen a lens so blue? Also, reputedly the Helios lenses for the Start were the best-performing ones to come off the KMZ production line. Lesser ones went on Zenits, of course. However, as some of the other postees have commented, what could have been a system SLR to rival the Exakta never got its chance to shine because KMZ didn't keep to their side of the deal and supply all the good accessory gear a professional grade camera needs.<br> Nice camera though, and a shame that KMZ never gave it the chance to shine that it deserved, eh? (Pete In A Sunny Perth)</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralf_j. Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 <p><strong>Pete - </strong>Thanks for the added commentary, quite interesting for a Soviet quality product. That's one of the parts I love about these posts, the discussions and learning new things about the actual products? Is it time to put the air conditioners on down in Perth? We are getting ready to inspect our boilers up here in the North East... :-)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 <p>If I could find a SPORT, I'd make an exception to my "working" criterion. After all, I had to do that in the case of a few "no working examples known" cameras from the DDR. ;)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralf_j. Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 <p>I am with you JDM, but I would go to great lenths to get some images out of dead cameras anyway :-).</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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