Moskva-4 mask

Muggins · 02-10-2006

I've recently bought a Moskva-4 (the older version, rather than the flat-top a la the 5), and a previous owner has converted it to take 6x4.5 as well as 6x9. This I like, but the problem is that in doing so the alterations to the 6x6 mask they made are irreversible - at least if you ever want to take 6x4.5 again! I would like to have all three options available.

Moskva-5 6x6 masks seem quite easy to come by for the right price, but Moskva-4 masks seem to be like hen's teeth. It is obviously possible to make simple masks, but I am slightly nervous about making stupid mistakes like getting dust from a friable material on the film, or sticking things to the film by accident.

Has anyone done this, and does anyone have any hints or tips? Can I use black card (at least as a pattern to test until I find a shape that works), or will that not be secure in the camera?

By the way I've run a couple of rolls of Fuji through it (on 6x9, so I could see what they looked like sooner... No patience, some people...) and as far as I can tell it's bright and sharp with the shutter working well. A good toy, and a change from my usual Box Brownies!

Hope someone can help,

Adrian

Muggins · 02-17-2006

Errrmmm...

Having assumed that this was the logical place for a Moskva query (Russian rangefinders - wouldn't you?), I've just twigged that actually it is a sub-forum of the 35mm forum. Oops...

Could someone move this somewhere a bit more appropraite please?

Thanks,

Adrian

taffer · 02-17-2006

Hi Adrian !

yep, this is the correct place but don't take this as if the question was ignored. Probably most of us didn't even know what to answer as never found ourselves with a M4. Anyway, it's a useful thing to write some self-reply on a thread so it gets again into the active topic list at the main RFF page, thus becoming more visible

I had a M5 myself, those were my first 6x9 negatives, man, was I impressed !

Good luck with your question ! I sure wish I could help

Oscar

doubs43 · 02-17-2006

I have a beautiful Moskva-4, complete with 6x6 mask insert. I've read that making a thin cardboard insert isn't difficult. However, I've not done it so it's hearsay for me at this point.

The best place to get a quick answer is the Russian Camera forum on Best.Stuff forums. Go here and follow the links to "RussianCamera User". You may have to sign up in order to post. I might suggest contacting Bob Shell who is quite knowledgeable about Russian cameras.

Anyway, here's the link: http://www.beststuff.com/forum/index.php?f=3

Good luck.

Walker

ZorkiKat · 02-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muggins

I've recently bought a Moskva-4 (the older version, rather than the flat-top a la the 5), and a previous owner has converted it to take 6x4.5 as well as 6x9. This I like, but the problem is that in doing so the alterations to the 6x6 mask they made are irreversible - at least if you ever want to take 6x4.5 again! I would like to have all three options available.

Moskva-5 6x6 masks seem quite easy to come by for the right price, but Moskva-4 masks seem to be like hen's teeth. It is obviously possible to make simple masks, but I am slightly nervous about making stupid mistakes like getting dust from a friable material on the film, or sticking things to the film by accident.

Has anyone done this, and does anyone have any hints or tips? Can I use black card (at least as a pattern to test until I find a shape that works), or will that not be secure in the camera?

By the way I've run a couple of rolls of Fuji through it (on 6x9, so I could see what they looked like sooner... No patience, some people...) and as far as I can tell it's bright and sharp with the shutter working well. A good toy, and a change from my usual Box Brownies!

Hope someone can help,

Adrian

The Moskwa-5 used a frame-reducing mask which 'sank' into the film gate rather than just sit on it. Reason was to maintain the film's position relative to the focal plane and the lens. Placing a thin mask over the film gate will cause the focus to shift. The shift may not be noticeable when using small apertures or when the pictures aren't considerably enlarged.

The M-5 mask looks like a giant perforated film frame- the perfs running on either side corresponded to the bumps on the film gate. These closely-spaced bumps actually form the track where the film actually runs on and their surfaces mark the position of the focal plane.

A suitable DIY mask should therefore be aligned with the film gate's aperture. In other cameras, the reducing masks are flaps which do not add to the thickness of the film track by positioning themselves deep into the aperture gate

Jay

Muggins · 02-20-2006

Jay and Walter,

Thank you both for your suggestions - I must admit, Jay, that I had to get the camera out and put the mask in before I understood exactly what you meant!

Annoyingly the mask for the 4 is very different to the one for the 5 - it is two pieces of metal, joined by two fine sprung wires that clip into the film gate and (presumably) sit just in front of the film - same principle, I think, but different realisation. (There is a better word, but I can't remember it!). That should help if I need to build one, anyway. I shall try Walter's suggestion as well - might as well cover all bases!

Thanks again for the help!

Adrian