Paulo J Moreira
Voshod
Apparently one of the hardest FSU cameras to get due to the relatively low numbers (for a soviet camera, that is) that it was produced. The “rising sun” or Voshod in Russian is a surprising camera. To be honest, its originality did not make one iota of impact in the camera world. This is an eccentric camera, with some nice art deco touches, but definitely an ergonomic nightmare. This is a large camera, much bigger than any L39 cameras made at the time. Clearly, compactness was not a priority, or a good lens, it made do with the humble T43 of the lowly Smenas. Don´t jump into conclusions though, this is no Smena on steroids.
Everything that could be changed of place was:, the flash hotshoe in the extreme left, after the rewind crank, the shutter button in the front of the camera and no lever to advance the film, just a plastic fin around the lens that advances the film and cocks the shutter, very neat. The shutter is whisper quiet, much like a Compur.
What strikes the most is the quality of finish, especially the film chamber, finished in a mat black paint and with the film rails finely grinded, wow!
With all its originality quirks, the Voshod is not a great shooter, at least to me. It reminds me of the Voigtlander moto, why do it simple when you can do it complicated? Perhaps the problems at Voigtlander did not pass unnoticed in Russia and they clearly saw the same fate for the Lomo Voshod and call it a day after 4 seasons. It is possible that the camera was not hugely popular due to the design, after all, it demanded a complete re-learning of shooting habits when a Smena offered the same quality at far less expense and trouble…
Voshod
Apparently one of the hardest FSU cameras to get due to the relatively low numbers (for a soviet camera, that is) that it was produced. The “rising sun” or Voshod in Russian is a surprising camera. To be honest, its originality did not make one iota of impact in the camera world. This is an eccentric camera, with some nice art deco touches, but definitely an ergonomic nightmare. This is a large camera, much bigger than any L39 cameras made at the time. Clearly, compactness was not a priority, or a good lens, it made do with the humble T43 of the lowly Smenas. Don´t jump into conclusions though, this is no Smena on steroids.
Everything that could be changed of place was:, the flash hotshoe in the extreme left, after the rewind crank, the shutter button in the front of the camera and no lever to advance the film, just a plastic fin around the lens that advances the film and cocks the shutter, very neat. The shutter is whisper quiet, much like a Compur.
What strikes the most is the quality of finish, especially the film chamber, finished in a mat black paint and with the film rails finely grinded, wow!
With all its originality quirks, the Voshod is not a great shooter, at least to me. It reminds me of the Voigtlander moto, why do it simple when you can do it complicated? Perhaps the problems at Voigtlander did not pass unnoticed in Russia and they clearly saw the same fate for the Lomo Voshod and call it a day after 4 seasons. It is possible that the camera was not hugely popular due to the design, after all, it demanded a complete re-learning of shooting habits when a Smena offered the same quality at far less expense and trouble…