Funky little 16mm Russian Camera

Post by **timothyx** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:35 pm

Hi~

So I worked myself up into a frenzy and made a perhaps unwise impulse purchase on Ebay. I bought this really cool looking compact 16mm Russian camera. The rub is that I have no idea how to use it- in particular, how to load the film. I've only shot with a Bolex before, so this threading system leaves me scratching my head.

I can't even tell you the make because it's in Russian, but "Kneb" is an approximation. Here are some pics, maybe (hopefully) someone has knowledge of this camera or even knows where to find a manual in English???

It's spring-wound and apparently does 12, 26, 24, & 32fps, plus there is a built in intervalometer (although it require a strange little tubular battery).

Thanks for any help!
Kevin

Post by **fogo** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:41 pm

Hi Tim,

my extraordinarily poor Russian tells me that should be pronounced KIEV in English..

might be wrong, but try googling that
ade

Post by **Superbus_** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:09 pm

You are lucky: this is a cool looking camera and maybe a good one.
You can find more information here:

http://www.geocities.com/russiancamera/ ... ha-pic.htm

(unfortunately very limited information - only a few pics...)

Post by **timothyx** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:17 pm

Thanks! That helps a lot. I guess it's a Kiev Alpha-16. Pretty cool! No manual found yet, but I found this....Yeah!

Post by **Superbus_** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:23 pm

Yeah, this is a crucial point how to lace the film.

Post by **Will2** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:03 am

Cool camera. These small & simple 16mm cameras like that are great for capturing family stuff for us film people. A few rolls of 100D and a projector and you're all set.

Post by **bakanosaru** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:01 am

Don't think it has an intervalometer, that battery is for the lightmeter. Quite a nice little camera and very cheap on ebay. It uses a pelicule mirror so don't forget to calculate that light loss into any exposure.

Post by **clivetobin** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:49 am

bakanosaru wrote:.... It uses a pelicule mirror ....

Are you sure it has a pellicle mirror? I remember reading somewhere that it had a spinning mirror shutter a la Krasnogorsk K-3. But I don't know for sure never having seen one.

Post by **bakanosaru** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 4:38 am

I can't remember where I read it unfortunately,
it was what put me off buying one so I'd love to be corrected if I'm wrong.

Looking at the body it doesn't look like there is room but...

[Edit: found it.
Olex on cinematography.com says:
Alpha-16, with semi-transparent mirror, C-mount, 100 ft daylight spools, mechanical motor, a few speeds, small size and weight.

Post by **Herb Montes** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:03 am

It's the Kiev 16U that has the spinning mirror shutter. It's the one you see on eBay with three lenses on a turret on the front. It threads just like the Alpha. I have the 16UE which is the electric drive version. The spring drive one is more commonly seen on eBay.

Post by **Patrick** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:16 am

Looks rather compact. I see it's not much bigger than a daylight spool. A camera like that would be great for doing tracking shots from our boat of the rocky cliffs of Kangaroo Island's north coast. Those cliffs look great close to sunset as we go past on a calm day.

Post by **Patrick** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:04 pm

After you test this camera with film, I think we'd all be interested to know how good the image steadiness is and how reliable it is too.