Moscow 5 Rangefinder


The Moscow 5 is an improved copy of the Super Ikonta C,taking 6x9cm negatives on 120 rollfilm.

The Moscow 5 was the fifth, and last, in a series of copies made by the Krasnogorsk works, and was made in the late 1950s. The top of the camera body is flat, with a metal housing covering the whole rangefinder mechanism, unlike the Zeiss camera, which has a projection on top of the camera that tends to snag on close-fitting pockets while cycling.

The lens is an Induster 105mm f/3.5, coated, 4 elements in 3 groups. The shutter has Bulb and 1 to 1/250 speeds, and does include a flash sync terminal.

Seen here with a no.25 red filter, which I use with Konica 750 Infrared film, as well as with various more normal black and white films for increased sky contrast in landscapes. Since taking this picture of the Moscow, I modified a Cokin universal mounting ring to clamp onto the outside ring of the lens, so I can now use it with all the filters I have for my 35mm SLRs.

If you like old folding cameras like this, check out The Classic Camera,, an excellent reference page with illustrations and sample photos.


This page written by Josh Putnam. Please feel free to email questions, comments, corrections, suggestions, etc.


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