KMZ Start
KMZ Start
I got this camera on the fly; it was not on my wish list, but I picked it up just for curiosity. As a first impression, as a Soviet mid-last century model, it is nicely made and carries its age well. There are already good articles about it by Mike Eckman and Alfred Klomp, amongst others, so I will not plow a cultivated field but add some pointers.
As a side note, it is a shame that much goodwill and effort went into camera pages online for the author to lose interest and let it drop, where there are dead links everywhere.
KMZ had offered the Start as a high-end professional use SLR to compete with the West German and Japanese models. True to the Soviet manufacturing culture, quality was of secondary importance behind the output quotas. Nevertheless, here they have succeeded in producing a decent product. The Start was made for a short period, from 1968 to 1964, with some minor modifications, and in two lines, the local, marked with Cyrillic letters, and the export, marked with Latin letters. I have a cyclic model made in 1961. In this unit, the film speed is marked in GOST, where I assume the export units would be marked in ASA or DIN values.
The earlier KMZ SLR cameras were based on the Zorki platform, where the Start was designed from the ground up as an SLR. The camera is big and heavy. Made of cast / machined steel, while most models of that era were stamped sheet metal. It is a good starting point to keep it operating for years.
It is just bare bones for professional use, only what you need in a camera. Speed is up to 1000, very typical today but outstanding at that time. An interchangeable lens mount, but with only one matching lens, a 39mm adaptor was available. An Exakta-type front-facing trigger with an extension bar mounted on the lens. Once pressed, the aperture closes to the set stop, allowing most light in for composing. For a current days shooter, it takes some effort to master.
As with some Exaktas, there is a mid-roll change option with a blade that cuts the roll. Guess was borrowed from the Exakta models. Needless to say that it would take using a receiving cartridge.
A removable top prism mount can be replaced with a waist finder, although, not sure if any have survived.
A second model, the Staer 2 was equipped with a light meter, did not catch up, and was promptly discontinued.
List number | 15410 |
Brand | KMZ |
Format | 35mm |
Model | Start |
Current value | |
User manual | Butkus Zenit Camera (Russian, Google translate does a sterling job) |
Introduced | 1958 |
AKA | |
Country | USSR |
Qty made | 75000 |
Initial price | |
Currency | |
Type | Compact SLR |
Body material | Metal |
Mode | Manual |
Weight | 710 gr, Body only |
Class average weight | 620 gr, Body only |
ASA range | 11-350 GOST |
Kit lens | 2,0/58 |
Lens make | Helios 44 |
Filter size | 40.5mm |
Lens mount | Bayonet, proprietary |
Mount size | |
Aperture | |
shutter | Focal plane cloth horizontal |
shutter make | |
Light meter | None |
Winder | Lever |
Lock | No |
Speeds | B, 1-1000 |
Mirror | None auto return |
Viewer | Interchangeable, prizm to waist finder |
DOF preview | Yes |
Exposure lock | No |
Exposure compensation | No |
Shoe | No |
External sync | X/M |
Sync speed | 30 |
Timer | Yes, mechanical |
Battery | N/A |
Integral flash | None |
Other | Cyrillic marked CMAPM |
KNZ Start with two earlier sisters, still sold at the same time.
More
Mike Eckman
Alfred Klomp
wrotniak.net