Those of you who are photographers may have already heard of these cameras from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) or the Communist Bloc: FED -- Zorki -- Zenit -- Kiev -- Praktica -- Smena -- the list seems to go on forever.
All of these cameras and more were represented world-wide on 01 May 2009, the very first International Commie Camera Day.
Created by my friend Larry D, aka inetjoker, on flickr.com, he was able to gather more than 400 commie camera buffs together for more than just photography. For nearly two months, several members chatted, exchanged information, traded gear and cameras, and, I believe, got to know each other pretty well in the days leading up to the scheduled event.
Due to weather constraints and the amount of fun everyone was having, shooting their FSU/Communist Bloc cameras, Larry extended the "day" into the weekend in order to allow all members to get out and make some history.
On this page are my entries, taken with a Zenit TTL single-lens reflex camera (soon to have its portrait posted here), and a FED-2 rangefinder camera (featured in Old Film/Old Camera gallery as well).
The pics shot with the Zenit are in color, the ones with the FED-2 are in black & white. I shot both Tri-X Pan 400 and Agfa APX 25 in the FED-2.
At the bottom of the page is a link to the flickr.com pics from ICCD09. Take a look at the work of these terrific folks from all around the world!
All of these cameras and more were represented world-wide on 01 May 2009, the very first International Commie Camera Day.
Created by my friend Larry D, aka inetjoker, on flickr.com, he was able to gather more than 400 commie camera buffs together for more than just photography. For nearly two months, several members chatted, exchanged information, traded gear and cameras, and, I believe, got to know each other pretty well in the days leading up to the scheduled event.
Due to weather constraints and the amount of fun everyone was having, shooting their FSU/Communist Bloc cameras, Larry extended the "day" into the weekend in order to allow all members to get out and make some history.
On this page are my entries, taken with a Zenit TTL single-lens reflex camera (soon to have its portrait posted here), and a FED-2 rangefinder camera (featured in Old Film/Old Camera gallery as well).
The pics shot with the Zenit are in color, the ones with the FED-2 are in black & white. I shot both Tri-X Pan 400 and Agfa APX 25 in the FED-2.
At the bottom of the page is a link to the flickr.com pics from ICCD09. Take a look at the work of these terrific folks from all around the world!
