Shooting With A Weird Soviet Sniper Lens (complete kit review)

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Shooting With A Weird Soviet Sniper Lens complete kit review

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#Photosniper #photography #vintagelens
The first Fotosnaipers were designed in the 40s, orignally for military use as an observation camera.
With the look and feel of a rifle, the photosniper was supposed to help you be more stable when shooting photos.
Over the years the Photosniper was redesigned for civilian use

In the 80' The FS-12 model was available as a camera for amateurs, nature photographers, spies and paparazzi.

The photosniper became more and more populer. it even appeard in a famous Soviet cartoon.

I found a complete kit at a flea market

I saw a metal case on a table, opened it, coldn't believe my eyes, a complete kit !

I Asked for the price thinking it would cost a fortune, but the old man selling it told me he was too scared to take it out nowdays and he wanted to get rid of it.
he asked me 15 euros for the box... I didnt hesitate a single second and bought it.

The kit includes :
a Zenit ES camera
Helios-44 58mm f/2 lens
Tair-3AS 300mm f/4.5 lens,
Two yellow filters
UV filter
Orange filter
Green filter
Two film cassette cases
Two screwdrivers
Lens hood
Trigger assembly

the metal wheel in the front of the gun let you focus.

The main problem with the Fotosnaiper? You’re unlikely to go unnoticed by people around you.
So in the best case scenario they will come and ask you what you are doing ( it happend to me five minutes after starting to shoot my test footage )

wors case scenario they will freak out and call the police because of the terrorist walking around with a grenade launcher.

I adapted the Tair lens on my A7III using a M42 adapter, and To avoid being shot by the police I tested the lens without the gun.
To have the best stability i mounted the lens on a monopod.

I must say i was blown away by the quality of the lens, it's incredibly sharp and when using a tripod you can really get some nice organic footage.

The 16 aperture blades gives you a great bokeh

it's a great lens for birds lovers but it could be really interesting to use it for portrait or more crazy experiments.

[AnamorphicChannel]

You are INSANE to go out with the gun version of this lens. I would never do it! hahahaaha. The regular Tair 3 is the non-gun version and it's also amazing (and much lighter).

[BadBCat]

I've been using a photosnaiper adapted to shoot with my Fuji X cameras for seven years and no one has scared with it. Even the police never gave me any trouble when they saw me using it on the street. It causes the opposite reaction on almost anybody: they will ask you about it, if it is a kit or you built it, ...
I love it for several uses, including street.

[Whale_Tale]

Oh my god! How the hell did you even learn about Vacation in Prostokvashino cartoon? I mean, it blows my mind that people outside Russia realize it exists. Great research!

[dmytrod]

That episode from "Prostokvashino" cartoon was the first thing I thought about when I saw the title of the video)))

[kerecsen]

I got a Photosnaiper in 1967 and used it for 5 years. It had excellent color accuracy and sharp optics. It was light gray and the distance adjustment rack was made of bronze. (It never wobbled. Later ones have white plastic racks.) It could be used well with a Praktica STL camera for nature photography and speed bike races. In my country, I used the shoulder rest in public and the authorities never objected to it. But I never photographed (e.g. Soviet) military objects where they announced that it was forbidden! On long hikes, I carried it on a shoulder strap because it was quite heavy and I usually took pictures with it on color slide film. Later I switched to the Novoflex 400 and 600.
I still have a black one today, besides the Novoflexes. With an adapter, I can set the quick focus manually on Sony and Panasonic digital cameras. Best regards!

[beaudanner]

Are you kidding me?? The Helios 44M itself is worth more than 15 euro!! Wow, amazing find

[shawnb]

That was the camera that started my whole vintage camera/lens collection. I found a new-old stock set in an antique shop for $50 15 years ago. Still the center piece of my whole collection.

[badreality]

"I'm just taking a picture of the President..."

[vesa]

Got one myself and I've had no problems taking it downtown in Helsinki where I live. Never had anyone get scared by it. The reactions people have are actually quite the opposite from scared, it's a great conversation starter and a lot of people are interested in hearing about it. I've never had any problems with the police either when carrying it, closest to that is when a security guard gave me a wide smile when he saw it while I was walking at a metro station. 😄

[SAHBfan]

“Police gun down Youtube Photographer”
‘He was armed with soviet rocket launcher’, say eyewitnesses.
(Be careful where you use it 😉)

[krlpopiel]

I'd definitely "shoot" film with this gear :D
As always much appreciation for making these videos!

[НикКос-ее]

Спасибо за интересное видео. Тоже хотел найти такой аппарат. Нашел только объектив Таир 3.
Кстати, этот мультфильм мой любимый)

[hayooyoutubecreator]

$15 euro!?! Dude. Damn. The magic is free at that price.

[kgc]

I'm a South Korean. I was surprised to see a South Korean movie in the middle of the YouTube video. I have never seen the movie 'Over the Rainbow', but the movie scene is very interesting

[nolejd]

Hey there Mathieu. I don't know if you'll ever read or respond to this, but I just wanted to say your videos are beautiful and extremely creative. Last night I couldn't sleep because of my on-going insomnia and I stumbled upon your video about making a lens from ice. It is just captivating and creative and beautiful and emotional and inspiring and all the other positive adjectives I could ever think of, as well as all your 30+ other videos that I binge-watched last night. The music, the pictures, the video footage... toy photography tips, vintage and other weird lenses... You always have a story to tell and not just a review. It's simply beautiful. Kind of gives me some faith in humanity. Subscribed.

[rendermanpro]

Those times when people did not think that it is something malicious in your hand and you come to harm them... Not needed video surveillance, "neighborhood watching" and other "looking for suspicious activity", everyone were much more open minded and without malicious intentions than today's simple people with simple pleasures.
I think that images quality is great. As well in general very nice idea and comfortable for long lens.

[filmismorefun]

Man, what a find! And the entire kit in that condition too. Interesting history, I didn't even know these were a thing.

[Mettalchin]

Imagine the chats you'll have with airport security : )

[NewerSing]

I have exactly this, full kit, got it from my granddad. Very sharp and I like the look of photos

[alexadrianov]

Love those auto-winder sounds from the hand-wound Zenit-12 in the Korean movie!