Zavod Arsenal Rekord-4 0.9/52mm prototype lens

The Rekord-4 is an experimental high-aperture standard lens developed in the late 1960s by a team of optical engineers led by D. Volosov, with contributions from I. Driatskaya and N. Khmelnikova, at the Zavod Arsenal factory in Kiev, USSR. Designed for Kiev rangefinder cameras, this lens features an exceptionally fast f/0.9 aperture, making it one of the most advanced lenses of its time. It was primarily developed for military and space applications, and only a few prototypes were produced. The lens never reached mass production, but samples from the experimental batch were exhibited at international events organized by the USSR Ministry of Defense Industry.

The Rekord-4 has a focal length of 52mm and was designed for a 24×36 mm film format, offering a 45-degree field of view. Its optical construction consisted of nine elements in six groups, with a resolving power of 42, 27, and 15 lines per mm. The lens was intended for the Kiev-5 camera and featured an external bayonet mount.

The lens being offered is in beautiful, near-mint condition and comes paired with a Kiev-5 camera, serial number 7103343. This rare combination presents a unique opportunity to own a piece of Soviet optical history.