The Krasnogorsk cameras were one of the more popular cine cameras in the Eastern European motion picture scene. They were a solidly-built camera, put on the market at budget prices. The cameras are fairly basic, in terms of their available features, all of which gave these cameras a reputation as a great student camera. The Krasnogorsk-3 uses the standard 100' spools of 16mm film, though it is common to see them modified for Super 16 as well. They have adjustable frame rates from 8-48 fps - though our research suggested that if you turn the dial past 48 you can sometimes get a frame rate as high as 60 fps. The camera is a spring-wound mechanical motor that, at full tension and 24 fps, gives you about 25 seconds of filming time. ⠀
The stock lens for this camera was the 17-69mm f/1.9, but it is the mount of that lens we found the most interesting. Most Krasnogorsk-3 cameras use the M42 thread mount - although few use a very specific Russian bayonet mount - which means that you can mount all your Pentax screw-mount lenses to this camera! This does give the intrepid film-maker an interesting variety of options, but it is worth pointing out that it also makes it more difficult to find a focal length wider than the 17mm that comes in the stock zoom lens. And before you ask, no, you cannot put this 17-69mm on your Spotmatic as the rear optic in this lens extends too far back to fit into those camera bodies.
za/sd
Krasnogorsk-3
We don't get to play with too many cine cameras working in the market that we do, but occasionally a Super 8 or 16mm camera will wander in. When this Krasnogorsk-3 came in the shop, having never had one of these Soviet motion picture cameras in our hands, we were anxoius to get acquainted with it.⠀
Sadly, this camera failed to pass our tests and checks. It actually appears to be completely non-functional, but that doesn't mean it still wasn't worth the research and the feature!