During a customs inspection of an international postal shipment traveling from Ukraine to the Czech Republic, capital city customs officials discovered a valuable historical find — a rare film camera manufactured in 1957. This unique device can be considered a prototype of modern action cameras, such as GoPro.
This is reported by Kyiv24
According to the Kyiv customs office, experts from the Boris Paton State Polytechnic Museum at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute confirmed the significance of this find. They stated that this camera is not only a rarity but also holds considerable cultural and historical value, as it was used in the Soviet space program on the “Vostok” spacecraft, as well as for filming in cinema, particularly at “Ukrtelefilm,” “Ukrkinokhronika,” and at the Dovzhenko Film Studio.
Features and Historical Importance of the Camera
This film recording device was capable of capturing not only static shots, landscapes, or crane and dolly shots, but also dynamic footage — handheld, from a car, boat, or airplane. Such flexibility made it an ideal tool for creating documentaries and chronicles.
“The ‘Konvas’ opened new horizons for Soviet and Ukrainian cinema in the mid-20th century. According to specialists, similar cameras can still be used today.”
According to Ukrainian legislation, an appropriate certificate is required for the export of cultural valuables abroad. In this case, such a document was not available, so the camera was confiscated. The find may become part of the Museum Fund of Ukraine, enriching the collection of technical exhibits that preserve the history of Ukrainian cinema.