The Moskva-5 is a 120 film folding rangefinder camera, 6x9 and 6x6 format, built from 1956 to 1960 by Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod,
KMZ , (Mechanical Factory of Krasnogorsk), Moscow. It was the last of
the series, followed by a complete new construction, the Iskra. It was
made for professional photographers.
The
earlier Moskvas were copies the Zeiss Super Ikonta C. The new top
plate of the Moskva-5 resembles the Bessa II. The camera shown is from
1957. It has the features of a top class camera in those
days: coupled rangefinder, a good lens (Tessar type, 4 elements in 3
groups) and a double
exposure prevention.
Size (mm): 165 x 95 x 50 Weight: 867 g Lens: Industar-24 3.5/105, closest focus 1.5 m Shutter: Moment 24c, B. 1 - 1/250, F 3.5 - 32 Finder: coupled rangefinder and separate viewfinder Film advance: red window
Here are some photos of the camera. There is a short introduction to the use of it and how it feels at the bottom of the page.
Camera
front closed. Top: viewfinder window, 2 rangefinder windows, shutter button and film advance. Tripod socket for vertical views, foldable camera stand.
Seen
from the back. Rangefinder and viewfinder. 2 red windows for 6x6 and 6x9 format.
Camera and rangefinder lens unfolded. The smaller dented wheel is coupled to the front lens movement for focus setting.
Camera
front open. Little lever: shutter cocking. Outer ring: speed setting. Next ring: depth-of-the-field scale. Inner ring: focus setting. Under the lens: aperture setting.
Seen
from above, camera open. On the top: film advance with film reminder,
shutter button, opening button and viewfinder format selection.
Seen from the bottom, camera open. The knobs on the bottom retract the pegs. Tripod socket. On the lens: flash socket.
Left side, camera open. Top of the lens: self timer. You have to cock the shutter, engage the self timer and then cock further.
Camera back open. It's not hinged. Format selector, blocks the other red window.
Film
chamber. There is a separate mask to be inserted for 6x6 format.
Handling
an Moskva-5 is easy, it's mostly like
other folding rangefinders. Loading film is quite as usual, very easy
because the pegs retract by pulling the knobs on the bottom and turning
them
counter-clockwise. Open
the
camera back, retract the peg and put the
take-up spool into
place. Turn the knob clockwise and the peg engages into the spool. Same
procedure for the film spool. Insert the film paper
backing
into the take-up spool and advance it using the advance knob until
it's
well engaged. Close the camera, open the red window and move the film
to "1". To change the format to 6x6, you have to insert the mask to the
film plane, set the format on the back (blocks the other red window)
and set the viewfinder window.
Open
the camera. Cock
the shutter, set speed and aperture. Be cautious: You must change the shutter speed
for
1/250 before you cock the shutter. It's a good habit to do so for the
other speeds, it's less stress for the shutter system. And please don't
stock the camera with the shutter cocked. Set focus, focussing moves the lens out. Press the
shutter release button. That's it. The double exposure prevention
will block the release until you turn the film
advance. To
close the camera, set focus to infinity, press the hinges of the struts
as
usual, it will fold easily. Do not forget to fold the rangefinder lens first.Turn the film advance via the red window to
the next number.
The Moskva-5
is a very nice and very sturdy camera, it's on the
heavier end of the range. For a 6x9 rangefinder camera it's quite
small. Most of the models on the market have been heavily used. As they
are not expensive, choose with care.
