Topic: The Beast from Havana !

[Miles]

Not content with taking hoards of cameras to Cuba I had to buy even more ... 

I stumbled on the Book Market in the Plaza des Armas and along with badges and bits  n bobs I founds lovely old film cameras (and lots of Zenit Photo Sniper kits too).

So, this is what i got;

Nice old Smena 8 in a brown LOMO case
Richo Auto Half E
Kiev 6C with a vast Super Takumar 35mm Fish Eye that has 4 cute dial in filters too, it's huge and has been butchered to fit, hand drilled in places 

I've put film through them all so need a bumper day of Developing now. 

[jojonas~]

lol! one film format each. from petite to friggen huge! that kiev looks like a beast. congrats!

[Thom Stone]

nice haul, been after one of those richo's for a while . have fun with em, will look forward to seeing the shots

[Miles]

 

I have so many rolls to develop now.  I think the clockwork on the Richo could be a prob but I'll finish the role and see.  Halframe always make me think in "Diptych" but one is always hurrying to finish the roll 

Got two roles from the Eastman Bullet 127, many from the Commander II, went a bit mad ...

[sapata]

Awesome!
I try staying away from flea markets when on holidays but it's just impossible! You're gonna love the Smena...

[Miles]

Cheers, the front of the Smena alludes to the lens being 1:4.5 and 40mm yet through the VF it looks like 80mm at least !

[Francois]

The Smena 8 is really nice. I have the export version (Cosmic 35) and it is a joy to use. Quirky in all the right ways. The only thing is the rewind knob... you have to be the incredible Hulk to rewind the film!

Or maybe mine is just in too "new" a shape

But that Kiev looks mighty fine...

[sapata]

Cheers, the front of the Smena alludes to the lens being 1:4.5 and 40mm yet through the VF it looks like 80mm at least !

Yep... I have one of those, the life-size one to one ratio viewfinder is almost useless on the early models. I did post some results in my blog back few months ago:

http://picturenoise.blogspot.com/search/label/Smena%20Cosmic%20Camera

[This-is-damion]

Communism provides!!!  (lets hope they all work...cough)

Ive been to that book market a few times and never saw anything like that.....gutted.   I did however pick up some nice postcards of posters from the revolution which are amazing...even better if you look at them from a distance..ha ha - they are now all framed and hang in my lounge.

[Rafael Morales]

Awesome! I tried to find some old FSU stuff when I visited a few years back. I almost got a hold of some Kiev88s that belonged to the Ministry of Tourism; but the tip did not pan out. "They are just sitting on the shelf gathering dust." I heard.

[Miles]

Of course they'll work !   

We'll see.  Actually I've gone a bit "clockwork" and bought an original Lomo 135BC too, it's a nicely built fella.  rather impressed with the build actually.

I must stop ...

[sapata]

...bought an original Lomo 135BC too

It's on my list for ages Miles... I'm so jealous right now !