My mom has bought one of these right when it came out, she used up one roll of film and never picked it again. I recently got interested in film cameras, was about to buy one but I suddenly remember seeing some ancient looking camera at home a long time ago. Asked my mom and she still had it! Looking though different reviews got me worried, since you have to manually set everything unlike some point and shoots I was looking at and since I'm a complete newbie, but your review got me excited to give it another chance.
If you want the SMENA experience without the hassle of a cheap camera, there are various vendors in Ukraine that will rehouse the LOMO T-43 (40mm, f/4) lens, from the SMENA 8M, in a ltm (L39) housing with a focus helicoid (that appears to have been taken from an Industar-61 Zebra 52mm f/2.8 lens). I recently purchased my beautifully crafted L39 mount LOMO T-43 from secondwind- camera (eBay seller from Ukraine). This modified lens functions perfectly, with a L39 - FX adapter, on my Fujifilm X-E3. The lens focuses properly from the minimal focus distance to infinity without issue. This lens provides fantastic results & is roughly the same price as the SMENA 8M camera.
I shot my A level Physics practical exam on one of these...back in mid 70s. Had to learn how to load bulk film, load spirals, develop negs, prepare chemistry, make prints... Once the project was complete I went nuts...playing with chemistry, playing with developer temperatures, print exposure times....then I walked away from photography. Now, I'm relearning with an Olympus EM10 and transferring skills to a vintage OM2n. Might just look for a Cosmic Symbol....we were lomos before it even existed!
I just picked up a smena symbol at a local thrift shop ("op shop" we call them in Australia). I chose it purely for the aesthetics, it looks great! It's a tidy camera though and all in good working order. Looking forward to trying it out soon😊
Hey. I have a slight issue with this camera. I seem to have to wind the lever twice. 1st time is normal but it doesn’t release the shutter when I try to therefore I have to wind it about 1/4 of the way for me to hear a click, and only then can I release it.
Small hint for those whose Smena broke: The readybag fits perfect for the Olympus 35RC. The screw has to be relocated of course. But I'm quite glad that my Symbol still works. :-D
Just wanted to point out that the Smena (1), -M, -2, -3, and -4 are all made of bakelite rather than plastic, a very different material with its own benefits and downsides. With the Smena 5/6 they moved to a plastic body, eventually leading to the Smena 8 which was the first Smena to have a film rewind function. I wouldn't say that a 8M is just an 8 in a different body as a side note, there are some pretty stark build quality differences not to mention the lens assembly being entirely different. Love my Smenas though, they take more work than a modern point n shoot or some fancy SLR but they are very very rewarding to use imo. Definitely have to slow down a bit and think about all the factors going into every exposure.
Some very nice clean images in that set. This part is not necessarily related to this specific review, but it reminded me of an early piece of good advice from the first guy I took a photography class from. Of course this was a class full of consumer digital kit shooters. Anyway, generally he was saying to not get too caught up with the camera. It is a thing you will change every few years. But a good lens can last you a lifetime and make a big difference. Just talking about the lens here being a bright spot made me think of that. And I do think there is still some general truth to the observation overall.
Just found one at a charity shop im looking forward to shooting it im just wondering if you know what appeture should the camera be set at to match with the suggested symbol shutter speeds?
Awesome! I would use either an external meter or go sunny-16 (f/16 on a bright sunny day, shutter speed set to thr iso of the film, so iso-100 shutter speed of 1/125” which is the partly Sunny icon)
My mom has bought one of these right when it came out, she used up one roll of film and never picked it again. I recently got interested in film cameras, was about to buy one but I suddenly remember seeing some ancient looking camera at home a long time ago. Asked my mom and she still had it! Looking though different reviews got me worried, since you have to manually set everything unlike some point and shoots I was looking at and since I'm a complete newbie, but your review got me excited to give it another chance.
That’s awesome on all counts! Best of luck and thanks for watching! 🍻
If you want the SMENA experience without the hassle of a cheap camera, there are various vendors in Ukraine that will rehouse the LOMO T-43 (40mm, f/4) lens, from the SMENA 8M, in a ltm (L39) housing with a focus helicoid (that appears to have been taken from an Industar-61 Zebra 52mm f/2.8 lens). I recently purchased my beautifully crafted L39 mount LOMO T-43 from secondwind- camera (eBay seller from Ukraine). This modified lens functions perfectly, with a L39 - FX adapter, on my Fujifilm X-E3. The lens focuses properly from the minimal focus distance to infinity without issue. This lens provides fantastic results & is roughly the same price as the SMENA 8M camera.
I shot my A level Physics practical exam on one of these...back in mid 70s. Had to learn how to load bulk film, load spirals, develop negs, prepare chemistry, make prints...
Once the project was complete I went nuts...playing with chemistry, playing with developer temperatures, print exposure times....then I walked away from photography.
Now, I'm relearning with an Olympus EM10 and transferring skills to a vintage OM2n. Might just look for a Cosmic Symbol....we were lomos before it even existed!
The OM-2n is a beautiful camera, functional, practical! But yes also look for a Symbol!
Nice review. I appreciated that you included the film and development details.
Thanks!
I just picked up a smena symbol at a local thrift shop ("op shop" we call them in Australia). I chose it purely for the aesthetics, it looks great! It's a tidy camera though and all in good working order. Looking forward to trying it out soon😊
Awesome! It won’t disappoint! Thanks for watching 🍻
Hey. I have a slight issue with this camera. I seem to have to wind the lever twice. 1st time is normal but it doesn’t release the shutter when I try to therefore I have to wind it about 1/4 of the way for me to hear a click, and only then can I release it.
Sounds like some repairs are needed! There should be some repair manuals online.
Small hint for those whose Smena broke: The readybag fits perfect for the Olympus 35RC. The screw has to be relocated of course. But I'm quite glad that my Symbol still works. :-D
Good to know! Thanks!
Just wanted to point out that the Smena (1), -M, -2, -3, and -4 are all made of bakelite rather than plastic, a very different material with its own benefits and downsides. With the Smena 5/6 they moved to a plastic body, eventually leading to the Smena 8 which was the first Smena to have a film rewind function. I wouldn't say that a 8M is just an 8 in a different body as a side note, there are some pretty stark build quality differences not to mention the lens assembly being entirely different. Love my Smenas though, they take more work than a modern point n shoot or some fancy SLR but they are very very rewarding to use imo. Definitely have to slow down a bit and think about all the factors going into every exposure.
Hey! Thanks for the corrections and insight. I'm glad you love your Smena cameras they can be a lot of fun! And, of course, thanks for watching!
Some very nice clean images in that set. This part is not necessarily related to this specific review, but it reminded me of an early piece of good advice from the first guy I took a photography class from. Of course this was a class full of consumer digital kit shooters. Anyway, generally he was saying to not get too caught up with the camera. It is a thing you will change every few years. But a good lens can last you a lifetime and make a big difference. Just talking about the lens here being a bright spot made me think of that. And I do think there is still some general truth to the observation overall.
Thank you! As I was once told, date your cameras, marry your lenses.
Just found one at a charity shop im looking forward to shooting it im just wondering if you know what appeture should the camera be set at to match with the suggested symbol shutter speeds?
Awesome! I would use either an external meter or go sunny-16 (f/16 on a bright sunny day, shutter speed set to thr iso of the film, so iso-100 shutter speed of 1/125” which is the partly Sunny icon)
Sweet so.if im using some iso 200 set it to 250 (the sun symbol ) and then on a cloudy say use a slightly wider appeturwe ?:)
@@finnheywood7696 Exactly! images.app.goo.gl/eUtfA8NbgpFoD6vQ9
Cheers man !!:)
Interesting camera!
Have a nice week!
It sure is! You also!
❤️🥰❤️
🍻