Kozma Prutkoff , Sep 05, 2010; 08:08 p.m.
Well guys I do not know whether I can lawfully use the word "lomography", since that is a trademark and they are very particular about that. However I got in Russia fully serviced LOMO 135M camera. Since that it authentic product named LOMO135M and made on LOMO factory in Leningrad in 1982 I am confused. That is a camera many of you heard of but rarely anyone hold it in hands. There are actually reasons. It was expensive (price range of Zenit E) and it resembles to notorious Smena 8m. At least the lens barrel is made of the same aluminum alloy. Camera body contrary is solidly built of heavy metal and feel nice. Plus it also not just mechanical it has spring coil mechanism of the film transport. I do not find any kind of Western/Japanese analogue. So probably it is fully Russian invention. That camera indeed has an ancestor - Leningrad camera. However, that is distance scale camera with permanently attached lens Industar-73 40/2.8. Apparently it is a Tessar. But back to the transport mechanism. It should be wind it like a toy robot I had in my childhood or a mechanical shaving mashine I used to have later on. When operating that camera I felt like I am a mechanic or something. Please have a look.
LOMO 135M
Kozma Prutkoff , Sep 05, 2010; 08:11 p.m.
This morning I went to the nearby town in west Maryland to see how people life is going on and to surprise few street by-walkers with my strange looking camera.
St.Catherine Orthodox Church Hagerstown
Kozma Prutkoff , Sep 05, 2010; 08:13 p.m.
actually there were not to many. I would say, it took sometime to find anyone to make a picture vivid
someone
Kozma Prutkoff , Sep 05, 2010; 08:17 p.m.
Actually the weather was good and the sun was great I could use sunny eleven rule. I close the aperture to 16 set the shutter at 125 winded the big black knob and start shutting city streets trying to get fewer poles in the middle of frame. No much of luck here.
city view
Kozma Prutkoff , Sep 05, 2010; 08:29 p.m.
I-73 turned to be a reasonably good performer. I would not say terrific, taking into consideration I have not open the aperture more then 8. But It also is not that flare-proof but it did not lost a lot of contrast if shooting against sun. Overall I like that camera It is compact, solidly built and weird. The big negative moment here is that the numbers on the shutter dial are made of same technology as Smena 8M and by now they are gone. I had to figure out first where the 250 position and where is 15 and B. And I did not notice the difference in shutter sound on either speed. However the sound of the film transport mechanism resembles something like a guillotine.
a house
Subbarayan Prasanna , Sep 05, 2010; 09:27 p.m.
Lovely old town street scenes; like "someone" especially. nice little camera too. Thanks. sp.
Andy L 
, Sep 05, 2010; 10:29 p.m.
I think you're doing it wrong. Those photos appear to be in focus and exposed correctly, and the colors are perfectly reasonable.
Kozma Prutkoff , Sep 05, 2010; 11:28 p.m.
Thanks Subbarayan. Sometimes get people into the picture is not that trivial.
Andrew, at first I did not get you. Then I realized that camera is perfectly suitable for lomografy, it is actually much better then LOMO LC-A recommended by the "society". First of all one can make 8 frames of snap shots per full wind. Second it is possible to control the camera. With LOMO 135 I am 8 times more productive. And it also has the 1/15 shutter setting which can produce that wonderful blurry effects.
Blurry effects
Rick Drawbridge , Sep 05, 2010; 11:57 p.m.
That's great information on an unusual camera, Kozma, and the photographs are very nice. I like "someone"; the town looks like one of those model villages. I've seen one example of this camera in the Cosmic-135MS version, as it was apparently known in the U.K. Incidentally, you really are part of the Lomography movement; the on-line Lomography shop is offering a refurbished copy for around US$211! Thanks for an interesting post.
Kozma Prutkoff , Sep 06, 2010; 12:28 a.m.
Rick that is intriguing. Cosmic brand used to be reserved for Smena entry level cameras. Cosmic 35 it is Smena 8M for export market. I looked from my favorite book 1200 Soviet cameras, and have not find Cosmic 135MS. Authors must missed it. I did not intend to be a part of any kind of "society". But LOMO 135 refurbished or new one is not very suitable for daily use (unlike lets say Kiev II). It has a very strong coil inside, and by recommendation of my camera-mechanic it must never be fully wind. Otherwise it will get off the fixation.
