mystery camera

I have one of these cameras, It takes cracking pictures on 120 film. If you was not so far away I would meet up and run through it with you. If you need any help drop me a line.

The most sensible starting price is 0.01p. Punters will punt at that starting price. Start it at a tenner and it'll sit there at a tenner until 5 secs before the auctions close when all the snipes occur.

OK, no Lubitel in front of me but I've used Rollei, Mamiya and Yashica TLRs and they all work basically the same way.

Once you've wound on and removed the film, remove the empty spool and place it in the take-up end. I dropped one once, someone stood on it and my very expensive 645 was rendered useless for want of a part you cannot buy!

In subdued light open the new roll of flm and break the paper tab. Place the spool in the feed end and wind on until the 'START' arrows line up with some kind of indicator (a dot or two perhaps?) then close the back and wind on until '1' appears on the frame counter.

Cock the shutter, set the aperture, focus and take the picture, WIND ON.
Repeat this eleven times! Wind the film off.

With 120 its worth a having a wee supply of rubber bands, its not unknown for the sealing paper strip to fall off.

The hardest thing is following a moving object since it is moving in the opposite direction to the viewfinder image

OK guys, it's slowly coming back to me. I started my photography on the Agfa Silette which had a similar method of setting the app and time. I guess the compartment on the left is for storing filters. The camera is in new condition. I don't think anyone has used this. I'm tempted to give it a try but what then. A negative without a scanner and I'm lost. Will take it to the camera club tonight. Should prove a talking point if nothing else. Thanks to all for your information and interest. regards Ron.

Well if you decide to sell it, drop me a PM when you put it on ebay

more info can be found on http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Lubitel_2

clearly the L has rubbed of your OMO
Lomo used to be a russian photography company producing cheap cameras, their most popular being the lomo lc-a, the lubitel and the smena. In this day and age, "lomography" has become a popular term due to the cheap toy camera, the lomo lc-a. Lomography is more about toy cameras than the company that used to make a few of the cameras (it is broader, including cameras like the famous holga.)

more on "lomography" can be found here http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Lomography


enjoy.

Thanks for that info. The front of the plasticy case has the words OMO under an inverted V. This camera provoked a lot of comment at the camera club and I have been encouraged to try at least one roll of film through it. The result will be scanned by a helpful member. Let's see how it goes. Getting a 120 film here on the Island will be the first challenge and then getting it developed another. If I decide to pass it on I will PM you. Are you a collector of such cameras? regards Ron

I've been considering a rolleiflex for a while, and this would just be a cheap alternative to play around with, depending on the price. The new ones produced by this "lomography" company are ridiculously overpriced, as with all their products (most are ~£100 and made all of plastic.. etc). I have no idea the worth of the older cameras however.

as for film, http://www.7dayshop.com/ is what you want as far as I know, they ship to the UK mainland and all its islands, along with jersey and guernsey (where it is located). It is a reliable dealer and their prices for 120film arent too bad. If the films going to be scanned you might consider better quality slide film, fuji provia 100F is around £2.49 per roll. Anyway, thats upto you

The inverted V is actually the cyrillic character "L", hence in English it's Lomo. There endeth today's trivia lesson.

I'll happily send you a roll of B&W 120 roll film if you like. Send me a PM.

Cheers, Kris.

HI hefty1. How confusing. Bet the Russians never contemplated their products landing on our shores. The more I get to learn about this camera the more I slide into 'don't know' territory. Thanks for your generous offer, Womble. I've been offered film from a Camera club member but I will still struggle to get the film developed. I shall be visiting the Bath..Chippenham area shortly. I'm just wondering if there is a facility in that region to get a 120 film developed. I am beginning to wonder if it all worth it when I have my K10 to work its magic for me? It all needs considering. Just eternally grateful for all your interest, imput and education. regards Ronald.

There are various online film processing companies, the most well known probably being http://peak-imaging.co.uk

you could try there if you cant find a offline store.

I Agree with you, why buy Cr** to get Cr** images.
I can do that with a good camera!!
If you want to use a TLR there are still some very good ones out there of many makes Lubitel (now Lomo) is not one of them,
Look out for a good German Rollei or even English camera
and of course Mamiya if you have stong arms, Yashica did some very good TLRs as did several other Japanese manufactures.
But what ever you do not buy an "auto" version they did not work even when new.
If any one wants any help on the subject of "Old Time" cameras I may be able to help.

If you want another Agfa Silette I have got 3 versions, I must be Mad

I still have my Agfa Silette in its smart leather case. It's a romantic attachment that will need my children to ditch it when I die. It's perhaps my memory of the crap photos I managed with the Agfa that makes me wary of tackling the Lomo.

Seriously, the old cameras are lovely bits of kit but to want to use one these days, when we have the technology
to make it easier, It is like asking a woman to do the washing with a "dolly tub" a lot of hard work for no reward.
I'm not saying all "film" cameras are outdated, just look at the Pentax medium format ones as with other "top end" makes.
But if you want to do some film work, in my opinion get a Pentax MZ series 35mm, you can buy them cheaply and you can use some of your lenses on them (mounts A FA)etc not DA, they will work but not suited for 35mm.
best of luck.