Sitemap

135 Rangefinder Cameras

Back Language
The Lenses

The first Soviet Leica copies were produced in series from 1934 by Fed, in Kharkov (Ukraine). The factory being dismantled during the war before the arrival of the German army, some of the tools and spare parts landed at KMZ, which from 1948 took over production of Fed, which became Fed-Zorki, then Zorki. Fed resumed production in Kharkov in the 50's, and the two lines evolved separately. The Zenit directly descend from Zorki, so the last Zenit of the 2000's (412 DX) still have the same shutter as the 1934 Fed 1, copy of the Leica II!

cartouches film Film Cartridges valise Zorki My Zorki case

Logo Fed Fed

Fed 1 Fed 1 Fed 2 Fed 2 Zaria Fed Zaria Fed 3 Fed 3 Fed 4 Fed 4 Fed 5 Fed 5

Logo KMZ Zorki

Zorki 1 Zorki 1 Zorki S Zorki S Zorki 2S Zorki 2S Zorki 4 Zorki 4 Zorki 5 Zorki 5 Zorki 6 Zorki 6 Zorki 4K Zorki 4K

Logo GOMZ GOMZ

Leningrad Leningrad

Logo Arsenal Arsenal

At the end of the 1939-1945 war, the Soviets dismantled and recovered as "war damage" among others the Zeiss plant. The Contax camera bodies section was attributed to the Ukraine for the plant "Arsenal" in Kiev.
From 1947 the production of Contax cameras begins under brand "Kiev", at start with parts from German stock, with original Zeiss lenses, then lenses provided by KMZ. Arsenal produces its own lenses since 1955.

Kiev 3 Kiev 3 & 3a Kiev 4 Kiev 4 & 4a Kiev 4m Kiev 4m & 4am Obtu Kiev About Kiev cameras