Tourist

Tourist camera was produced at the GOMZ factory from 1934 to 1941. It is a medium format plate camera that used plates of 6.5×9 or 6×9 cm.

tourist camera feature image

Tourist camera was equipped with an Industar 3.5/105 lens (which was a clone of Tessar lenses). Focusing was carried out by moving the front element of the lens (in the same way as on the Moskva-5 camera), which slightly changed the characteristics of the lens. Focusing occurred by the ground glass located in the rear of the camera body. The focus limit is from 1.5 m to infinity. The camera had a frame and optical viewfinders.

Tourist Specifications

  • Type: 6.5×9 folding camera
  • Manufacturer: GOMZ plant
  • Production period: from 1934 to 1940
  • Format: 6.5×9
  • Lens mount: fixed lens
  • Lens: Industar-7 f3.5/105
  • Shutter: leaf shutter with shutter speeds of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 sec, «B» and «D».
  • Viewfinder: ground glass
  • Lighmeter: none
  • Flash synchronisation: none
  • Selftimer: none
  • Weight: 570 grams
tourist camera body

Tourist Lens

The camera was equipped with a fixed Industar-7 3.5/105 mm lens, a four-element anastigmat based on the Tessar optical formula. This lens provided good sharpness and contrast for its time. Focusing was achieved by shifting the front element of the lens, similar to the mechanism found in the later Moskva-5 camera. Ground glass located at the rear of the body was used for precise focusing.

Soviet medium format camera lens

Tourist Shutter

The camera uses a leaf inter-lens GOMZ shutter without preliminary cocking of the shutter, with speeds of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, K, and Д. The shutter did not require pre-cocking, simplifying operation but also limiting the range of available speeds. This restriction was noted as a drawback by users, as it prevented the use of fast shutter speeds necessary for making full use of the bright f/3.5 lens.

Soviet medium format camera shutter

Tourist Body

Compared with Fotokor, the Tourist camera was more compact, the bakelite body was more reliable, the accessory cassette was easier to remove and insert. The camera itself folded and unfolded much faster. The drawback of the Tourist (or Turist) is paper sliding bellows, it was not reliable enough, but in skillful hands, it could be redone on fabric to eliminate this drawback.

Soviet medium format camera from the back

Ease of Use

The camera had both frame and optical viewfinders, with the latter providing 0.3× magnification. Ground glass focusing was an option, but it was more suited for tripod use. Of course, you can shoot a camera handheld, but it was primarily designed for use with a tripod.

The Tourist camera is optimized both for horizontal and vertical orientation of the frame. It even has two tripod sockets.

tourist camera lens
tourist camera shutter
tourist camera ground glass

How to Use

The Tourist camera unfolds with a pull of its front panel, extending the delicate bellows and locking the metal struts into place. Focus is adjusted either by estimating distance using the scale on the lens or by carefully examining the reversed image on the dim ground glass at the back.

The process is slow and deliberate, requiring patience to achieve sharpness. A folding frame viewfinder and a small optical finder provide a rough guide for framing, though neither offers precise composition. With its sensitive bellows and lack of a secure grip, the camera remains more suited to the steady support of a tripod.

Once composed, the shot is prepared by selecting a shutter speed and adjusting the aperture. The leaf shutter, offering speeds of 1/25, 1/50, and 1/100 seconds, operates without the need for pre-cocking but moves with noticeable resistance. A single metal plate cassette is inserted in place of the ground glass, its protective dark slide removed just before exposure.

After the image is captured, the dark slide must be returned before extracting the cassette, each frame demanding careful handling. The entire process reflects the deliberate nature of early photography, where precision and patience were very important for every shot.

tourist camera unfolded
tourist camera back

Conclusion

This camera was one of the first medium format cameras in the USSR. This is a very unusual camera, which for many is more of a collectible interest. But we are sure that even with this camera it is possible to shoot amazing shots. But one way or another, if you want to start taking pictures on a medium format 6×9 film, then it is best to use cameras from the Moskva family.

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