Narciss Explained

The Narciss is an all-metal 16 mm subminiature single lens reflex camera made by Russian optic firm Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (KMZ) Narciss (Soviet Union; Нарцисс) between 1961 and 1965. It is the first subminiature SLR. It took 25 14×21 mm frames using unperforated specially spooled 16 mm film in a Narciss cassette. Compact design with interchangeable lenses and interchangeable pentaprism finders. The Narciss camera was initially designed for medical use, it included a Narciss with ordinary pentaprism finder and a second magnifier pentaprism finder for medical use; there was also a microscope adapter[1] [2] [3]

It has a focal plane cloth shutter, with speeds B,,,,,,,, and sec. Change shutter speed only after shutter cocked[4]

Dimension: – similar to the Rollei 35s in size)

Weight: – lighter than the Rollei 35s at

Tripod socket: inch

The standard lens is a four-element three-group Tessar type lens: Vega 35 mm/2.8, there are also 5-element 4-group MIR5 28/2.8,MIR6 28/2, and JUPITER 50/2.[5]

An early model of the Narciss is equipped with Industar-60 35 mm/2.8 lens.

Three models were available; the most common was the chrome-top black-body model, rarer was the chrome-top white-body model, and the extremely rare grey-top model.[6] [7] [8] [9]

Accessories: Genuine leather case, microscope adapter, M24 lens mount to M39 lens mount adapter for Zenit SLR lenses, with flange to film plane distance of 45.2 mm. M39 LTM mount with flange to film plane distance 28.8 mm not applicable.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.avito.ru/voronezh/fototehnika/fotoapparat_nartsiss_meditsinskiy_217860273 Medical Narciss camera
  2. Web site: Фотоаппарат Нарцисс, медицинский: продам в разделе Фототехника по лучшей цене, в продаже Фотоаппарат Нарцисс, медицинский с фотографиями и описанием, продаю в Воронеж - Фотоаппарат... — Бесплатные объявления на сайте AVITO.ru . 2016-03-28 . 2014-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140105202840/http://www.avito.ru/voronezh/fototehnika/fotoapparat_nartsiss_meditsinskiy_217860273 . dead .
  3. http://ussrphoto.com/Wiki/Content/files/1622/The%20Narciss%20-%20APh_6_Feb_1993.pdf Narciss
  4. Narziss Photographic Camera p6
  5. Narciss User Manual, English edition p6
  6. William White, PhD Subminiature Photography, p99-101, Focal Press,Boston,1990
  7. https://translate.google.ca/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zenitcamera.com%2Farchive%2Fnarciss%2Findex.html&edit-text=&authuser=0 Zenit archive:Narciss
  8. Gerald McMullon, Go to the 16mm Collection index16mm - Variations in Narciss Subminiature Cameras retrieved 12 March 2016
  9. Wade, Collector's Guide. pp 47–49