The
Chaika (Чайка) was a series of Soviet 35mm half-frame cameras produced
from 1965 to 1974. The name came from the call sign of the first woman
in space. Over 2 million Chaika cameras were made. There were 4 models:
Chaika (1965-1967) made by MMZ
Chaika II (1967-1972) also made by MMZ
Chaika-2M (1972-1974) made by the newly founded BELOMO
Chaika-3 (1971-1973) with selenium meter (and without "B" speed) also made by BELOMO
The model presented here is the Chaika II.
It is a completely manual camera, focus,
speed and aperture have to be set manually. It has a Tessar-type
Industar 69 lens of good quality. The lens has a M39 screw mount, but
the FFD is not compatible with other M39 lenses, it was meant to be
used as an enlarger lens as well, but the enlarger has never been built.
Like
most half frame cameras, the Chaika series cameras are vertically orientated, so it's portrait
mode. They are similar to the Agfa Parat series, but no close copies.
The camera's main features are:
35mm film half-frame camera, picture size 24 x 18 mm
Lens: Industar 69 1:2,8/28 mm, 3 elements, F2.8-F16, min. focus 0.8m
Shutter: 1/250 - 1/30, B
Cable release socket, tripod socket, flash cable socket, no accessory shoe
Size 115 x 77 x 53 mm, Weight 400 gr
Some pictures of the camera:
Front.
Viewer and lens. Around the lens: aperture setting via the inner ring.
Shutter button towards the top, flash cable socket near the bottom.
Back
view. Finder. Film advance via lever. Back opening tab on the left side.
Seen from above. Speed setting via wheel with indication window. Counter window, a bit difficult to read.
Counter window enlarged.
Seen
from below. Tripod socket (necessary for B mode). Film reminder.
Rewind. Lift the knob with the film reminder and turn clockwise. It stays lifted. If it
doesn't, you are turning the wrong way. As it is geared, it turns
against normal rewind habits. Most cameras have an indication arrow,
mine hasn't, it has perhaps worn off.
Camera
back open. There is plenty of room wasted, one could build smaller. The number indicates a 1970 production.
Distance setting via symbols and figures. DOF scale. Set to infinity.
Distance set to 0.8m.
Lens detached.
The detachable lens has an impressing DOF. It sticks out less than
2 cm and it weighs only 45 gr. So it's an ideal street lens for a small
electronic camera. However it has to be modified, if you are interested
in more information, look at this site
(link opens in a new window). Most of the lenses finished that way and
that's why there are so many cameras for sale without lens.
The Chaika II is a camera easy to handle. It
takes
sharp pictures. Spacing is not tight, so you get 72 photos from a 36
roll. It's mainly for outdoor photos as there are no longer speeds. There is a flash cable socket, so
interior photos are possible with a flash. Night photos are possible as
well, as
there is a B mode and a cable release.
Seen
today's film prices, a half frame is a nice idea. There is not so much
choice if you want one. This one is one of the better choices, not
expensive at all and it's a real camera, not a Lomo style
gadget. As there is no accessory shoe, you have either to carry a
separate meter, use a smartphone app or rely to the sunny 16 rule. The
latter is easy, just try it for one film. Modern film is very flexible,
you will have results that are fine. So this is an easy camera and
it's much fun to play around with it.
