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Obsidian Urbex Photography

It is happening! I am starting to use my grandad's camera, it's been unused for 35 years, so wish me luck 🍀.

This chunky Soviet beast is a Prinzflex 500E, a UK version of the popular Zenit E badged for distribution by the now defunct high street chain Dixons.

Starting off with black and white to get started and figure out if this old camera even works! Picked up a Leningrad 4 light meter as well.

Let's do this! 📷🤟

@RayVisnesky312 I know right! Looks like brick and I suspect it is going to handle like one 🤣

@haikushack exciting times, I have no idea what I am doing and that is such a wonderful feeling ♥️

@ObsidianUrbex Film photography is awesome. Imperfections take a whole new meaning. ;-)

@ObsidianUrbex

Have fun 👍 But I am certain you will!

However, you might be prepared to spend a wee bit of money for servicing, adjustment and lubrication - and some time for finding some oldster craftsperson to do this properly.

Although these old mechanical successfully transport the impression to be happy driving nails through a concrete block, they like to be handled with TLC.

I just had my #Kyiv88 returned from service and she's back (from Kyiv, no less!), working like a charm again.

@TomSculptor sadly my grandad passed away before he was able to use this too much. It's been sat in a box for so long, the other 2 lenses have fungus in. Luckily the camera and attached Helios lens appear to be fungus free. A service does sound like a good idea as it's been sat for so many decades, after my test rolls this is a great idea. Just gotta find someone who can take a look at this poor thing 😻

@ObsidianUrbex That thing will be built like a tank!
Have a blast!
I love the light meter too!

@TV_Photography_ I am very much enjoying playing with the light meter and making silly "beep, boop" noises. The novelty might take a while to wear off 🤣

@ObsidianUrbex I hope that novelty never wears off haha

@ObsidianUrbex my mom had that meter, or one that looked just like it when I was a kid. I played with it all the time.

@rev_mook I can see why! They are interesting little boxes of mystery!

@ObsidianUrbex I think my brother has the Zenit now, but my dad taught me photography with it when I was a kid. Good memories! Have fun 👍

@fschaap awww those must have been wonderful memories with your dad 💙

@ObsidianUrbex Zenits are great. I bought one last year, then another, then another...I now have a collection of Zenits and other old cameras, many of them Soviet or from the DDR. Some of them even work

@ObsidianUrbex You will not be dissapointed. I love(d) these cameras. We still got an East German (DDR) Practica, left by my late stepfather, w/ ~55 mm lens. The quality of manufacture, cold touch of metal, beautiful lack of electronics (except a battery-operated spot lightning sensor). The photo quality..

There is even a 20 cm lanyard, to be screwed into the shutter button, of similar, exceptional quality (i.e. braided with a black cotton wrap), for long-exposure / night photography

Jeaulous😍

@bekieark oh I bet you had a lot of nice memories with that camera. I agree the cold metal, and that it is angular and quite uncomfortable to hold is actually a lot of the fun 🥰

@ObsidianUrbex Yeah, like „damn, it keeps sliding out of my nervously-sweating-as-I-may-drop-it hands” and „why is it so bulbous and full of straight edges”😁

The black plastic, with a “fake skin” texture is so nice.

I love it. I remember I used to have a special natural fiber brush, just to clean its lens. And I remember my first screw-on photography filter (it was a transparent UV filter, removed a lot of blur from my photos). Who remembers all of these thingy-s in the 📱 era..