Cosmorex SE Camera Test

[PFMcFarland]

This chrome bodied export version of the Zenit-E (only the name was changed) looks good. But the Auto Cosmogon 2/58 (renamed Helios-44M 2/58) that came on it has a bad aperture control, so I swapped it out with the one from my Zenit TTL. Everything else on it works, even the selenium meter, though it’s a couple of stops off. And no light leaks!

But the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and it showed up in the uneven exposures. Shutter speeds just were not consistent, and this is bad for making panoramic shots.

I had originally planned on shooting this camera for the Red Oktober group on Flickr, but the film I had in it then came off the take-up spool, and I likely only got a couple of exposures on it. That was my fault for not trimming the leader on a reloaded canister I got from a friend. By the time I got around to pulling the film out, it was November.

I’m not going to mess with trying to get the shutter speeds corrected. It will look good though sitting with the black TTL on a shelf.

The Kodak BW400CN does not take kindly to over or under exposure.

Idle Mower by P F McFarland, on Flickr



Banding is left over evidence of uneven exposures in the images used in this stitch.

Hullett Road Farm by P F McFarland, on Flickr



The 8 images used for the above panorama. All f16 @ 1/500.

Exposure Variance by P F McFarland, on Flickr


See the other five images at https://flic.kr/s/aHskNqSikE

PF

And see the camera in the "Any day of the week camera porn" forum.

[minoly]

That's a great name for a camera; too bad about the shutter. The lens that you put on it surely does good work.

[scott]

I've got a copy of that lens around here somewhere. After seeing these images, I'll have to dig it out. Nice.

[PFMcFarland]

Thanks, all. I've used the lens before with the Zenit TTL it came on. Russian glass is nice, it's the cameras I have issues with. I fixed the aperture problem on the Cosmogon the other night. The A/M switch had come loose, which allowed the detent ball to sneak out of its hole, then the pressure spring followed it out only to get mangled in the works. I was able to straighten out the spring, put the ball back in place, and tighten down the switch so it works again.

PF

[melek]

The Cosmorex SE was the first 35mm camera that I bought. It was just after Christmas, and flush with cash from my paper route Christmas tips, I headed to downtown Pittsburgh. I think it was 1974, but maybe it was 1975.

Even at that time, a Pentax and other cameras were too far out of my price range, so I settled on the Cosmorex. I think it was about $130.

I shot the heck out of that camera, before I replaced it in 1978 with a Konica C35 Automatic and replaced that with a Pentax MX.

By then, the Cosmorex was sitting idle. I took it apart and couldn't get it back together and "binned" it.

About eight or nine years ago, I bought another. I was surprised how heavy and unrefined the Cosmorex now felt. I guess when you're a kid, and it's your first camera, you overlook those things.

Somewhere I still have the little tag from Berkley, which was the importer.

[Julio1fer]

Good story, Mike.

PF, the Mower shot is good. Your Zenit must have thought it was on a koljos.