KMZ (Krasnogorsk), FT-2, 35mm Panoramic camera, results

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KMZ (Krasnogorsk), FT-2, 35mm Panoramic camera. Photograph gallery.

The previous owner supplied this image taken around 1972 in Wales. It shows the characteristic vertical banding caused by uneven shutter travel, common in the FT-2. This is generally caused by the helical speed governors employed becoming dirty. The FT-2 received a deep clean on arrival, no major issues were discovered - so this image will serve as a useful benchmark.

The first outing with the FT-2 was to determine if the shutter was producing a bandless result, this seems to be the case, but the focus seems a little off, even though the text on the sign can be read on the original. More serious is the streak of light just above the street. Probably an internal reflection, but yet to be diagnosed. This is the abandoned village of Tyneham in Dorset. The inhabitants were moved out in WW2 by the army, so that it could be used for combat training. This image supplies the sample to compare with Test 2.

This is the abandoned village of Tyneham in Dorset

A short walk from Tyneham is the Dorset Coast, this walker obligingly stopped to take in the view to add a little interest to the shot. Shutter is consistent once it gets going, but there is a dark edge towards the end of the travel - I suspect this is view cropping, as peering through the camera it is possible to see the side from the rear before the shutter closes off. This shot was assisted with a hastily made yellow gel that followed the contour of the swing, and may well have contributed to the apparent lens softness.

A short walk from Tyneham is the Dorset Coast

The gel was removed for this, as by now it was contaminated with spray and dust. The clear blue sky would punish any uneven scanning of the shutter, so that- at least, gets a clean bill of health. The stray light is again visible at top left, presently I think this is a reflection coming through the lens and bouncing inside the guide box.

To improve the images the FT-2 is generally used with a folded card "Waterhouse Stop" restricting the lens to f/9.6. this improves both depth of field and overall resolution.

The FT-2 was lent out to go to Vietnam in May 2007, the volunteer received less than 5 minutes instruction on it's use and a piece of paper giving the exposure speeds with the waterhouse stop fitted. This is Ha Long Bay off Northern Vietnam, famous for it's thousands of small rocky outcrops.

Ha Long Bay again, just a hint of the last light leak to be cured coming in at top left, this I suspect is actually coming through the back, so the felt seal will be replaced.

The camera is now sorted out, all the light leaks have been plugged. This is Salisbury Cathedral from the west as autumn settles in October 2007

Salisbury Cathedral, again from the west.

Two frames from the Tuscany trip, the Krasnogorsk has joined the regular army of cameras that go on trips as it is extremely useful and has proved reliable now that it has settled down. The top of these next two images shows a dark band, this is actually a bit of clipping from the body, rather than an inconsistency in the shutter movement, although if being very picky, a small amount of vertical banding can be seen on the images. The FT-2 delivered 12 out of 12 images on this outing. The top image is of Firenze whilst the lower is looking across the countryside to the South West of Sienna.

Across the river to Firenze

Sienna

Three frames from a 2000ml motorcycle tour of the UK. Again the FT-2 excelled, returning 12 out of 12 frames. The biggest challenge I face with this camera is composition, I find it very hard to compose pleasing pictures. The first two images show the Roman Emperor Hadrian's attempt to keep the Scots out of conquered Roman Britain, a wall stretching right across the country. As originally built it would have been about three times higher than this. There are a lot of old stone built buildings in the vicinity of the wall, that have certain amount of Roman content...

The last picture is of a reconstructed Crannog, an early high status dwelling, this one based around an example of around 2600 year ago, but earlier ones up to 5000 years ago are reported. Click here for further information on Crannogs.

Hadrians Wall, panorama

Panoramic view of Hadrian's Wall

Crannog

In September 2010, the FT-2 was taken for a 2000 mile motorcycle tour of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains, very fortunately the Aspens were changing colour ...

Kyrgyzstan, during April 2013.

After a while inthe display cabinet, the FT-2 was whipped out and dragged off to Armenia and Georgia in June 2026. Probably ought to have overhauled it first though, as there is considerable vertical banding.

The two images, above and below of the Georgian Capital city, Tbilisi. Two taken as I couldn't be sure of the framing, but the banding is consistent at the 1/50th speed.

Dating back to the bronze age the cave town at Uplistsikhe, Georgia was photographed in June 2026.

Gergeti Trinity Church, or the Holy Trinity Church near the village of Stepantsminda in Georgia.

Khor Virap Monastery in Armenia at the foot of Mount Ararat, itself now in Turkey - although previously in Armenia. The banding is less prominent at faster speeds as only one of the braking drives is used, It's just a case or giving them a polish.