The AMI 66 is a toy viewfinder camera made of plastic during the communist era By the polish firm Warszawskie Zaklady Fotooptyczne WZFO.
Simple and popular
in the People’s Republic of Poland, examples of the AMI were nevertheless hard
to get since their production was limited in the economy controlled by the government.
The AMI 66 came into existence, when the earlier, more complex model, the Ami 2
was discontinued around 1970. The body was redesigned and made of high impact
polystyrene, reducing his weight. A funky pop-art design with white dots around the
lens (which resembled photocells), and a logo in its lower right corner printed on
a flame-red background, depicted a dog, was new.
The AMI 66 takes 6×6 exposures on a 120 film. It has a 75/8 simple fixed-focus meniscus lens, and a choice between 1/50 sec (with flash synchro.) and B(bulb). The aperture is f/8 for sunny and f/16 for cloudy.
Found this lovely plastic-toy at polish ebay, but price+ shipping was much too high.
Looked around at flea markets and camera markets for more than two years…
nothing. Than, I don’t know how many times something like this happened, found
one on a flea market in Netherlands, but without the red dog singh, but for 5 EURO
you can’t get it all…,and two month later a second one, had to pay 3 EURO more for the dog.
At first try-out shutter has been a bit lazy, after hasn’t worked for a long time, (have a look to the dolls), but later on at the fair, as a typical polish friend, it improved to
top form.
My other Ami with Red Dog is my sunny friend, because shutter only works perfect in
sunny position (see the b&w shots).
Either I’ll give her a treatment with a hairdryer, or I leave it like it is.
9 comments
babo
That camera is just great! I am craving for one right now. Thx for showing it to us.
Cheers from Portugal
camerao
thanks, and lucky hunting! cheers back to you
jelga
heeeeeeeeey! the ami rocks! i happen to have one and it's my best 120 pal!
hanspan
i caught one of these on ebay recently.. watched it and wanted to know more!
Its now on my want list!
:D
ndroo
Cool! One cool cam that I love!
thecrazyliberal
panelomo
looks cool - and very nice gallery!
antek
giovannidecarlo