Smena 8M - Unexpected Rewards from an Old Plastic Toy
written by do-the-strand
on January 11th, 2009
, 6 comments
(4 votes)
I must admit I was somewhat skeptical when I ordered my Smena 8m; it was my first jaunt into the lomographic world. Would it really work – considering it is a vintage toy camera from the Soviet Republic? Would the pictures be any good? Could I figure out how to use it?
To my surprise the camera works flawlessly, and can take a wide range of pictures. I expected to mainly get somewhat fuzzy images with that typical lomographic blur, but the Smena is capable of taking stunningly clear images as well. The icon based focusing system printed on the camera makes it easy for anyone to pick it up and figure out how to focus. The flip down lever to cock the shutter is something I have come to love as is the strange noise produced when a picture is taken. I have never had any issues with the camera and am quite pleased with quality of the pictures is takes.
I also love the Smena because it uses readily available 35mm film, and preforms excellently on the cheap drug-store variety as well as on higher professional grade film. I recommend anything with 400 ISO for use in a variety of situations.
I also own a Colorsplash Flash and have had loads of fun taking pictures with it attached to the Smena via a PC Flash Adapter.
I would highly recommend the Smena 8m as one of the most versatile lomographic cameras available! It was my first analog camera and was amazed and the pictures I was able to produce with my first roll of film. Saturated color, clear, blured, double exposured, high grain, low grain, dark, over exposed – the Smena can take practically any type of image you can think of.
The included images are a sampling from numerous rolls and adventures taken by my Smena and me.
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