Text & Photos from Stefan Sztromajer
In 1948 in The Krasnogorskij Mechaniczeskij Zavod the production of the Leica like miniature cameras called Zorki began. These cameras were similar to the FEDs, produced in parallel by the Charkovskij Kombinat.
At first the production was rather limited as the plant was designated for the quite different production. In 1949 the small number of cameras were produced under the name “FED Zorki” - now very rare indeed. The serial production of the Zorki cameras began in 1950.
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Report & Photos, Lyle Curr.
They gathered at Southern Cross after journeys from all over the suburbs. The group then headed for rabbit country together on the V/Line route to Geelong. All that way, and they all seemed to make it in one piece. I have not yet heard if they all got home, but guess they did! Some came by car and stayed the night, and of course there were a few locals.
Logistics organized by President Alan, and the photographic side looked after by Geoff Schirmer, the real success of the day was still in the lap of the Gods as here in Geelong we had finally had a bit of rain the night before.
But the V/line service made it on time to Geelong Station, and the group of about a dozen was met by the Wobbly Rentals….. whoops, Wallaby Rentals bus in the capable hands of our President, who safely conveyed his passengers to the starting point of the day, the Dog Rocks Hotel.
Joined by a few more intrepid members, about 25 people sat down to a repast and other refreshments provided at reasonably modest cost by the management of that esteemed establishment.
Fortified in all manner, seventeen brave souls once again placed themselves in Alan’s safe keeping, and we were off to the Dog Rocks.
At this point Alan decided to share with the group that he had last driven a bus in 1969! However, it was a relatively short trip, and Alan’s skills were obviously returning as we rounded each successive bend!
  The aforementioned Gods seemed to be smiling, and while the day was not sunny, the light was even with just enough sun showing through to allow a hint of shade on the sculptured form of the rocks. An ideal photographic location, the surrounds were lush green and the few almost strategically placed trees added to the photogenics.
As the photographers marched up the slight incline to the rocks, cameras of all shapes and sizes appeared.
Some were relatively new, in the shape of OLD digitals. Had the general public been witness, they no doubt would have noticed Geoff under his darkcloth focusing and composing his Zone VI 8X10 atop its sturdy tripod and would have picked that as the oldest camera there. They would of course been wrong, but the image conjured the atmosphere of a time long gone.
 But there were plenty of oldies, Alistair with his Super Ikonta, Brian with the Perkeo E, a Voigtländer of course. Andrew had a Panoramic Holga, and Chi spent a lot his time among the mushrooms, but I bet he got some great pics. I was too busy watching his antics; I forgot to look at his camera! There was some idiot running round with a kids toy that looked like a cow, the only giveaway that it might be a camera was an old manual electronic flash planted firmly on top.
  
Keith Baker had a large Ritterick SLR, and of course there were pinholes aplenty, but the stand out was that magnificent Bakelite and brass construction made by Leigh Harris.
There was a Stereo Realist, another VERY old stereo camera I saw that looked a bit like a Voigtländer, and some very modern digital cameras with very old, and strange lenses on them.
In short, it was a day that brought together the old gear, and old photographers; and some not so old gear and a couple of much younger photographers. But all enjoyed some experimentation, some traditional photography, and a whole lot of socialising and fellowship with friends and just people who share a common interest. The weather was fine if a bit nippy, the company congenial, the food tasty, the transportation… well… adequate, the photography probably excellent, and we all look forward to the results on display in the near future.
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