Film camera Rangefinder Blik USSR LOMO outlet

Rangefinder Blik
As the name suggests, Flare allows the photographer to determine the distance to the subject.
For example, an amateur photographer has a scale camera that suits him on the whole. But the main disadvantage of the scalers is that the focusing distance is determined "by eye". The user wants to improve focusing accuracy, but he is not ready to change the camera to a rangefinder design just because of this.

In this case, the Soviet photo industry offered the amateur photographer to purchase an external rangefinder.

Blik was produced at the Leningrad Optical and Mechanical Association.

Blik's design is similar to rangefinders built into cameras. A scale camera equipped with such a device is not much different from a rangefinder camera.

The only difference is that focusing is split into 2 stages. If in a rangefinder camera we simultaneously measure the distance and point the lens at this distance, then in the case of the Flare, we first measure the distance, then read the distance indicator in meters from the rangefinder wheel and set this distance on the focused lens ring.

The rangefinder itself is housed in a fairly compact elongated black plastic case.

In front of the rangefinder there are viewfinder and rangefinder windows.

Rangefinder base is about 50 mm. This is more than, for example, FED-5.

Behind - the viewfinder eyepiece on the left and the wheel with the distance scale on the right.

The determined distance is from 1 meter.
The viewfinder image is very small and dark. The rangefinder spot in the center is round, lighter than the main background and also quite small.

Visually similar to the rangefinder of the same FED-5.

Small size and darkness of the picture spoil the whole impression of the device.

In my opinion, if the user is offered to purchase an optional, in general, device, then they could make its optical component more comfortable. It is unlikely that this would greatly affect both the cost price and the dimensions.

The accuracy of the distance measurement, as far as I could verify, is quite good. This accuracy is quite enough to confidently fall into the depth of field on 40-50 mm scale lenses.

I am also pleased with the possibility of self-aligning the rangefinder without significant disassembly of the device.
In use, the rangefinder can be held in hand, but it is more convenient to attach it to the camera in the accessory bracket. For this there is a special T-shaped mount.

If there is already a flash in the accessory bracket, then in most cases this means that it is dark around, and you will not see anything in the dark window of the rangefinder. Therefore, there will be no device conflict: o)
When mounted on a camera, the Blik does not fit into the vertical dimensions of most dials, protruding to the left, which makes the appearance of the whole structure a little strange.

Probably, the rangefinder is shifted to the left in order not to overlap the shutter release button.

But at Smena-8M, the release outlet button still turns out to be almost covered. Access to the button becomes not comfortable at all.

Although both Smena and Blik were made at LOMO, apparently at the same time.

The glare was completed with a black plastic pencil case, which disintegrates into 2 halves. This pencil case was supposed to cling to the neck strap of the camera.

The design of the pencil case is not very successful. The halves were insecurely engaged and constantly strove to disperse, which led to the rangefinder falling out of the case with all the ensuing consequences.

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