The Best Soviet Scale Focus Cameras

In this article, the team of our site will tell you about the best Soviet scale focus cameras that are available today.

So what are the best Soviet scale focus cameras?

For many people, answering this question and making a clear choice can be quite difficult. In this article, we will try to explain which Soviet scale focus cameras are worth considering today and which of them can still deliver decent photographic results.

What is Scale Focus Cameras

A scale focus camera or a zone focus camera is a type of camera that does not use any focusing aids such as a rangefinder or a mirror with a ground glass.

All focusing is done using a distance scale on the lens barrel. Cameras of this type were traditionally the most affordable on the market, as they lacked complex and expensive focusing mechanisms.

In addition, some zone focus cameras feature symbolic distance scales in the form of icons such as a person, a tree, or a building, as seen on models like the legendary Smena-8M.

The term scale focus camera primarily refers to the focusing system used by a camera, and does not always directly correlate with the overall quality or class of the camera itself.

As a result, scale focus cameras can range from extremely cheap and simple models, sometimes made almost entirely of plastic, to high-end cameras, such as the very Leica.

If needed, these cameras could be supplemented with external rangefinders, or a tape measure could be used if focusing by distance scale feels unfamiliar or inconvenient.

Options Available Today

During the Soviet era, a huge number of zone focus cameras were produced, primarily aimed at the lowest price segment.

Many of these cameras are frankly unusable today, while others are extremely difficult to find. In this article, I will focus on cameras that are still reasonably available, affordable, and capable of producing acceptable image quality.

Among Soviet scale focus cameras that are worth paying attention to, we can recommend the following models:

• Smena-8m
• Smena-Symbol
• Zarya
• Mir
• Voskhod
• Fed-Mikron (and Fed-Mikron 2)
• Vilia
• Vilia-Auto
• Siluet-Electro
• Siluet-Automat
• Orion-EE
• Electra-112

This list is essentially exhaustive in terms of cameras that deserve attention today. Below, we will discuss which option may be the best choice depending on your needs.

So, What is the Best Soviet Scale Focus Film Camera

The answer to this question largely depends on what you expect from a camera and which features matter most to you.

Originally designed as cameras for beginner photographers and with maximum cost reduction in mind, these cameras offer only the most basic set of functions available in film photography.

Smena-8M

If you are looking for the most authentic experience with a very simple Soviet zone focus camera and a minimal feature set, one of the best options is the Smena-8M.

This camera includes everything necessary for shooting film and is capable of producing quite respectable results, as it is equipped with a fully functional T-22 triplet lens – a Soviet clone of the Cooke Triplet – made entirely of metal and glass.

In addition, this Soviet scale focus camera is equipped with a fairly decent leaf shutter for its class with five shutter speeds, a large and clear viewfinder, and a reasonably well-designed film advance and rewind system.

In this camera, every operation is performed manually, and most actions are not linked to each other. For example, advancing the film and cocking the shutter are two separate processes, and there is no system to prevent double exposures.

Smena-Symbol

The second option, if you want the best Soviet scale focus camera with the maximum number of possible conveniences while still remaining in the budget segment, is the Smena-Symbol, which is the clear leader in this

In fact, this is the same camera, but with a number of very important improvements at almost the same low price.

Unlike Smena-8m, Smena-Symbol has a convenient film advance lever combined with a shutter cocking, a more convenient shutter release button, a more convenient shutter speed selection ring, and a more comfortable film rewind mechanism, as well as a higher build quality.

In essence, this is the most advanced Soviet scale focus camera, offering a relatively high level of functionality for its simplicity – enough to allow for comfortable shooting. When paired with an external rangefinder, it becomes a fully capable system suitable for almost any type of photography.