Iskra Medium Format Camera

I have wanted a medium format folding camera for a long time now, so my birthday was the perfect excuse to make this dream a reality. After some internet research and watching the Ebay auctions, I finally decided on the Iskra that I purchased from Jurgen Kreckel. Jurgen has a great reputation for restoring old folding cameras. His Ebay auctions are mini history lessons, and his website (certo6.com)is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about this genre of cameras. When buying a camera this old, it is nice to be able to trust the seller and have confidence that you are getting a completely usable camera.

I wanted a folder for several reasons. You can get a folder with a high quality lens, and folding cameras are capable of producing very nice negatives. They fold down to almost pocket size, so they are ideal for travel and everyday shooting. I also only wanted to spend around $150. In addition to the Iskra, I also looked at the Agfa Super Isolette, and the Super Baldax, but decided on an Iskra mainly because the price was a couple hundred dollars cheaper.

The Iskra may just be one of the most underrated medium format folding cameras available. I think it gets a bit of a bad reputation because there are so many worn-out Iskra’s on the market. This camera was very popular in Russia when they were being built and most Iskra’s have seen a great deal of wear. The poor condition of many of the cameras is due to heavy use rather than any defect in design or construction of the camera. It has some very unique features that set it apart as a really advanced machine. Let me run down the list:

Coupled Rangefinder “Coupled” means that when you set the rangefinder, it automatically sets the lens to the appropriate focusing distance. Looking through the rangefinder you see a slightly brighter box in the center. As you turn the rangefinder on the lens, you will see the image in this box move right or left. When the image in this box lines up with the image surrounding the box, you know that your lens has been set for the appropriate distance. In non-coupled rangefinders, this would give you the distance to the subject, and you would have to manually set the lens to the appropriate distance.

Film Counter The Iskra’s film counter is a rare feature in a camera this old. There is a gear with teeth that are turned by the film. When you are advancing the film after you first load it, the gear is able to sense when the film starts. Then the numbers start turning telling you what frame you are on. The gears are sharp enough that the actually puncture the film paper and film on the top edge. The film counters on many Iskra’s have worn out. These cameras are usually modified with a red window and are still completely usable. My camera’s film counter is in exceptional condition aside from some minor quirks. On the first and sometimes second frame, I have to push down the shutter button while advancing the film. Also, to get the film counter to reset to zero, I have to jiggle the shutter release and turn the film advance before I load the film.

Light Meter My Iskra is the first model, but there is an Iskra 2 that had a built-in light meter. That is an extremely rare feature in this type of camera. Whether or not a light meter from a camera built in the 60s is going to be reliable is another story.

Linked Shutter and Aperture Another unique feature is that the Iskra’s shutter and aperture link together so that changing the aperature also changes the shutter speed. This allows you to pick any of the possible shutter/aperture combinations for the particular exposure values. The only downside is that if you want to change the shutter speed by itself, you have to pull out the shutter ring and turn it.

If you decide to buy an Iskra, there are several things you want to watch for. The biggest thing is that the film counter works. Unless you have a film counter in perfect condition (which is rare) you will have problems with overlapping frames. It is very common for these cameras to be modified with a red window after the film counter breaks. If you want to bypass the frustration that comes with a unreliable film counter, just get one that has the red window modification. Also make sure that the camera’s bellows are light tight. Pinholes are a common defect in a camera this old. Another thing to watch for is whether or not the camera has been serviced recently. Any camera of this age needs to be CLA’d (Cleaned, Lubricated, and Adjusted). If the camera has had this service done recently, it greatly increases your chances of getting a usable camera.

I am very happy with this camera, and am looking forward to running a bunch of film through it. Here are a few more pictures of this beautiful machine for your viewing pleasure:

Here is the camera with the back off:

Here is the camera from the front all folded up:

Here is a front view without the leather case:

Finally, here is a front view:

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras. Here are the Iskra cameras on Ebay right now:

This entry was posted on Friday, November 25th, 2005 at 3:50 pm and is filed under Antique, Camera Reviews, Medium Format. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.