Iskra-2

Iskra-2 is a Soviet 6×6 medium format camera that differs from Iskra-1 in the presence of a built-in uncoupled selenium light meter.

The Iskra-2 camera was produced from 1961 to 1963 at the KMZ Plant. The camera is developed on the basis of the first Iskra camera. Iskra-2 was produced in two versions – with a protective cover on the light meter photocell and without it.

Iskra-2 Specifications

Type: 6×6 medium format rangefinder folding camera
Manufacturer: KMZ plant
Production period: 1961-1963
Format: 6×6
Lens mount: fixed lens
Lens: Industar-58 f3.5/75
Shutter: leaf shutter with speeds from 1 to 1/500 sec.
Viewfinder: optical parallax viewfinder
Lighmeter: selenium light meter
Flash synchronisation: sync socket “X”
Selftimer: mechanical
Weight: 925 grams

Like the first model, the Iskra-2 camera was equipped with an Industar-58 f3.5/75 lens, which is an coated anastigmat. The lens is coated, which means that you can shoot on color film. The focal length of the 75mm is quite suitable for landscapes, for full-length portraits, as well as for genre shots.

According to many, the lens of the Iskra cameras is of much higher quality than of the Moskva cameras, and having shot a lot of films, we can say that this is true.

As before, the Iskra-2 camera is equipped with a shutter with speed from 1/500 sec to 1 sec. Shutter speeds and aperture are connected in such a way that with one movement you can change both shutter speed and aperture at the same time.

Since the camera is equipped with a leaf shutter, you can shoot with the Iskra camera handheld even at slow shutter speeds, up to 1/15. The shutter is very quiet, so the Iskra is great for street shooting.

Like the first model, this camera has an automatic frame counter that resets when the rear cover is opened. This counter only works with film and starts as soon as you insert the film into the camera.

As in Moskva cameras, the film advance and shutter cocking are not combined. That is, you first advance the film, then cock the shutter using the lever on the lens barrel, and then just press the shutter button.

Focusing is carried out by moving the entire lens back and forth, which has a positive effect on the quality of the photos. It should also be noted that focusing on the Iskra camera is much easier than on the Moskva cameras, since the system itself is much more convenient, and the rangefinder window is combined with the viewfinder window.

This very viewfinder window is very bright, and the rangefinder spot in the center is very large and bright, which also has a very positive effect on the focusing process.

Conclusion

Iskra-2 is a truly successful camera, just like the first version of the camera. In Iskra-2, all the successful solutions from previous medium format cameras from the KMZ plant were collected.

The camera has a very good lens, very convenient controls, a bright viewfinder combined with a rangefinder, an advanced frame counter and an excellent set of shutter speeds.