I had never seen or heard of this tall, narrow 35mm model prior to buying it. The GOST film speed (see the leftmost picture) and the CCCP logo on the back of the camera alongside the viewfinder eyepiece are the only Cyrillic inscriptions on the camera, and this makes me wonder whether the camera was intended mainly for export.

LOMO (Leningrad Optical & Mechanical Amalgamation) have been well known for their very basic plastic "cult" cameras but by comparison this is a deluxe, well-built metal model, with a coated f2.8 40mm Industar 73 lens. From the first two digits of the camera's serial number, I assume that 1979 was its year of manufacture.

The large knob on top of the camera, the winder for its clockwork drive, carries an indicator against which to set the aperture, while weather symbols around the shutter ring (B, 15-250) complete the exposure calculation.

The focus ring is marked in metres and as it is rotated, distance symbols in the viewfinder are indicated by a needle. The exposure counter is automatic and self-zeroing. The long-travel shutter release is threaded for a cable release.

There are two neck (or wrist) strap lugs/loops on the same side of the camera, the lower one attached to the removable base section, presumably to prevent it from being lost or trodden on during film changing.

The only obvious omissions are a self-timer and a depth-of-field scale.

The hot shoe and rewind knob in the removable base are reminscent of the Rollei 35 models, but unlike those cameras, this Industar lens does not retract. The rewind knob does not rotate during the motorised wind, but this is deliberately uncoupled from the film transport mechanism as its position on the base means that the user's thumb could be firmly pressed on it during transport and a torn film could result. When the rewind crank is extended for use, it engages the drive to the cassette spool - when folded up it disengages and the knob spins freely.

Overall dimensions: length 107mm, height 88mm, depth 60mm. Weight 510g approx.

OLYMPUS OM SYSTEM / COMPUTER GRAPHICS / USEFUL LINKS / PICTURE GALLERY