Installing ALCS 4-speed and 10-speed crystal motors to Krasnogorsk cameras

[Aapo Lettinen]

Started a new forum thread about how to install my Universal Crystal Motors specifically to Krasnogorsk. The process has been tested on Krasnogorsk 3 and Krasnogorsk2 and should work similarly with Krasnogorsk 1. 

Other people have installed my 2-speed and 10-speed motors to K3 in the past separately using their own methods. When making the 4-speed Universal Motor, I developed a universal style installation kit which makes the installation process standardized and the necessary motor holding plate and axle adapter are available as CAD files for all people who purchase a suitable motor from me. Even for those who purchase the 4-speed motor electronics without casing as I am developing a 3d-printable 4-speed motor body where those electronics could be installed and then used with the same Krasnogorsk mounting parts than the "factory made" motor units assembled by me. 

Here is a link to the tutorial videos I made about the installation process. At least of the method I think is most practical when installing these   https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXvIUtmF3OxuiM_ycDLanahHpvIbTNyN1&si=UxWQs_HibXRYwSgh

I like to install the side plate to the camera using M3 screws with some screwholes tapped with M3 thread and others made oversized and using nut on the other side. One figures out the approximate plate position, drills some of the holes. Tests with motor to find exact position, locks down screws, removes motor, marks more holes, drills, then finishing the holes with threads if needed, then reattaching plate and testing again, then locking down when good placement is found. 

The camera needs to be disassembled for installation to get to the necessary areas for drilling and to protect movement, gears and viewfinder system from damage and metal dust from drilling and cutting. A hole needs to be cut for the motor axle to the edge of the camera body outer casing. Tutorials show this process well. 

The spacer between camera front and main body needs to be slightly modified to make cutout for the motor axle and the end of the axle adapter. There is cad files of my self designed replacement spacer with different thicknesses available which already has these cutouts added, one can 3d print a test version and fine tune it with tape to correct ffd when waiting for a metal version to be made in China or other affordable place making custom cnc machining or metal 3d printing. If the original spacer is in good condition then it is easiest to make the necessary cuts to it with Dremel or similar multitool.

This thread is especially for questions about the installation process and for guidance if someone needs help on the process. There has been so many questions about the specifics that it is easier to post them on a public thread so that others can find the same info too and lots of time is saved.

[Aapo Lettinen]

10-speed crystal motor installed to the Krasnogorsk3 camera. Have tutorials and more videos on my youtube channel. Will post photos in the following days. Crystal sync works fine and tested that the variable works too even at the top speeds, this motor can go close to 80fps in vari mode! with 10-speed motor one can run manual speed ramps with variable speed and other cool stuff. 

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

Longer video of finishing the camera after plate installation including fixing light leaks. After the cheeseplate is fixed to the camera it is pretty easy to remove and reinstall the motor, one just needs to listen from the sound if the axle is at correct position or needs tiny bit of tweaking to the motor placement. Like mentioned the installation process is the same for both 10-speed and 4-speed motor. This video has a sneak peek of my upcoming 3d-printable 4-speed motor btw which would also be possible to use with Krasnogorsk if needed! 

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

the spring motor system has these three locking "claws" which can create noise when running with crystal sync motor. They can be removed but on this K3 camera I did the same trick than on my own camera, just used superglue to lock the claws in open position so that they don't hit the axle. 

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

Better view of the finished 10-speed installation on K3 and showing variable speed mode with manual speed ramps! the camera can go to about 80fps with this motor in variable mode so it is pretty cool setup for indie films and arts stuff.

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

Shot some test footage with Krasnogorsk3 and 10-speed crystal motor yesterday. Worked fine and was pretty handy even in cold condition. It was -12°C , luckily no wind. Shot some ice formations on sea shore, the 100-300 zoom was handy for those long-range compositions where the foreground subject is 15 meters away and the background ice formations are half a kilometer away 😄 

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

Ordering deadline for the rest of the orders this Spring is 15th March. So orders for products which will be delivered between April and June.

On 16th I will finally start building the large NPR motor batch, assembling A-minima magazines and other stuff so will likely stop reading messages for about 2 weeks to concentrate fully on assembling work, between 16th March and 1st April.

In early April I will continue normally, taking further orders for Summer2026 batches and the 2nd batch of A-minima magazines and some NPR and Bolex motor models.

Price increaces on most products will apply from 16th March onwards. Typically something like 20% increase is expected on most products. Looks like I will still keep USD pricing in April but will calculate new higher prices to counter inflation and the Trump wars which affect parts prices.

[Aapo Lettinen]

I bought my own Krasnogorsk3 when finally found one for cheap. Now modifying it to crystal sync with the 4-speed crystal motor. Figured I want to shoot more tests with the crystal mod Krasnogorsk before Summer and need to have my own camera for that

[Aapo Lettinen]

Finished the installation, now just needing to print a new spacer to install camera front and can start shooting 

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

longer video of the 4-speed with k3:

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

finished 4-speed installation on K3:

[Aristeidis Tyropolis]

18 hours ago, Aapo Lettinen said:

finished 4-speed installation on K3:

This is a wonderful compact setup.

[Aapo Lettinen]

9 hours ago, Aristeidis Tyropolis said:

This is a wonderful compact setup.

Thanks! yes it is very useful especially for documentary shooting. The whole thing fits in a backpack even with the kit zoom lens and batteries etc attached and can be used with the original pistol grip and shoulder support.  And will be super compact when I find some wide angle M42 primes for it, then will be a perfect car rig camera

[Aristeidis Tyropolis]

Selling my Zenitar 16mm m42 prime if you want it.

[Aapo Lettinen]

18 minutes ago, Aristeidis Tyropolis said:

Selling my Zenitar 16mm m42 prime if you want it.

something under 10mm would be optimal for my use, for example 8mm Peleng or something similar. Will need to investigate if Mir11 lens is available in M42, that would work OK though between 6 and 9mm would be best

Edited April 2 by Aapo Lettinen

[Mark Dunn]

If you have north of 500€

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286343485247?_skw=peleng+8mm&itmmeta=01KN9YJTGP10M0FE8HEQ4A4MZ9&hash=item42ab66d73f:g:8B0AAOSwwdpnSxag&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xAFztLTzQ7NmwLFX3R2shiTSlH%2BgADAVLJFwMOa%2FPkO9z%2FWiV%2BGVlNHiBWXWmmLRmO8ggMBXuJE0P05k6VPh15q6x3Q4IfgTCAg1hX5d8TMXt7IiA5IfXx2dEbWCDYJOryO%2B3Sr%2FZ2afuHIBLfJBFeclg95IWSUYkZFXmRYA%2FW6k9fNM%2BW%2BXksy8lavb5GWeroymD--2K%2F0s%2BoA3DS7L%2FnlUHC5q8wGclhHzAdgrlFxHRlfxMZu8UYnt4F0O%2FysV4mD9CjUAnm2euAl3sML%2BzYsamV%2F3ZbPQpHSV5LhB5aL1g%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-qoy76qZw

[Aristeidis Tyropolis]

34 minutes ago, Mark Dunn said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286343485247?_skw=peleng+8mm&itmmeta=01KN9YJTGP10M0FE8HEQ4A4MZ9&hash=item42ab66d73f:g:8B0AAOSwwdpnSxag&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xAFztLTzQ7NmwLFX3R2shiTSlH%2BgADAVLJFwMOa%2FPkO9z%2FWiV%2BGVlNHiBWXWmmLRmO8ggMBXuJE0P05k6VPh15q6x3Q4IfgTCAg1hX5d8TMXt7IiA5IfXx2dEbWCDYJOryO%2B3Sr%2FZ2afuHIBLfJBFeclg95IWSUYkZFXmRYA%2FW6k9fNM%2BW%2BXksy8lavb5GWeroymD--2K%2F0s%2BoA3DS7L%2FnlUHC5q8wGclhHzAdgrlFxHRlfxMZu8UYnt4F0O%2FysV4mD9CjUAnm2euAl3sML%2BzYsamV%2F3ZbPQpHSV5LhB5aL1g%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-qoy76qZw

Yeah it has reached stratospheric levels at this stage (unfairly so) which is why I like my K3 in EF mount. Wasn't really sustainable with m42 for wide shots.