Sokol-2
Sokol-2 (or Sokol-Automat-2 ) is a Soviet rangefinder automatic camera manufactured by the Leningrad Optical-Mechanical Association (LOMO) from 1977 to 1986.
Sokol-2 is a redesigned and slightly improved version of the Sokol Automat camera.
Sokol-2 Specifications
- Type: 35mm rangefinder camera
- Manufacturer: LOMO plant
- Production period: from 1977 to 1986
- Format: 24x36cm on 135 film
- Lens mount: fixed lens
- Lens: Industar-70 f2.8/50
- Rangefinder base: 67mm
- Shutter: leaf shutter with speeds from 1/30 to 1/500 sec.
- Viewfinder: optical parallax viewfinder combined with a rangefinder
- Lighmeter: built-in light meter
- Flash synchronisation: sync socket “X”
- Selftimer: none
- Weight: 845 grams
The camera body is made of die-cast aluminum alloy with an opening rear panel. The camera is trimmed with a rather pleasant leatherette. The Sokol-2 camera is made for 36mm film with a frame size of 36×24 mm.
The shutter, like in the first Sokol camera, was licensed by the Japanese company Copal Magic. This central shutter has shutter speeds of 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 and B. The shutter was released using the front-mounted button. For the photographic cable, there is a conical thread socket on the top cover.
The camera was equipped with a fixed Industar-70 f2.8/50 lens with a fairly good single-layer coating. Unlike most cameras manufactured on LOMO, the lenses of the Sokol and Sokol Automat are made according to the Tessar scheme and not Triplet. The lens has a built-in lens hood.
Focusing is done using a rangefinder with a base of 67mm. Focusing range from 0.8 m to infinity. The rangefinder base is very good. Most Soviet rangefinders had a much smaller rangefinder base. Only the Kiev cameras with a 90mm rangefinder base were much better than the Sokol in this regard.
The camera has a very bright optical viewfinder with a large field of view, combined with a rangefinder, with a backlit frame and automatic parallax compensation both vertically and horizontally.
The cameras worked with zinc batteries. Now they can not be found, but it is possible to replace it with a similar modern battery.
CONCLUSION
So how good is the Sokol 2 camera?
Actually, it is pretty a good camera. It has a very stylish look. The materials are also quite good, especially for the USSR. The camera is equipped with a very good lens and a fairly good number of shutter speeds, which will allow you to take photos without much difficulty. Although Kiev is our favorite rangefinder camera, Sokol cameras are a pretty good alternative.
