Ilya K

By a coincidence, I had a chance to pull my both Elikons out of a closet and blow the dust off...

JDM, it is strange to revive such old threads, but for the sake of truth, let me correct you a bit. I have two different Elikons. There were two mass produced models (plus there was yet another one, Elikon 1, I think, but I never saw it anywhere). The one on the picture in your post is the Elikon Autofokus. That was more known. A bit later they started manufacturing a cheaper 35CM, which had no AF. I think that both have, in addition to auto exposure, manual mode with manual aperture + fixed shutter of 1/125. The lens is pretty good (but then, the AF model cost like an SLR).

After seeing a couple of threads about half frame USSR Agat 18 here, I've decided to shoot a roll with mine. I have it for 30 years but not sure if I used it. I used one in the eighties but it was probably an older one. Some photos are, surprizingly, even usable! A couple of frames (out of 70+) are, unless magnified to 100%, comparable to full frame. But they are pain to scan. Technical: Kodak TMax 100, Rodinal 1:25, Epson 4490.

<p>Rick,<br> <br />I have compared my photos made with Vilia Auto in the 80s (same plus AE with selenium meter), and also with Smena Simvol, which has the same lens. Vilia's lens has the same fuzzy distorted corners, but Smena is significantly better, almost perfect. Both were one of the cheapest and often used by teenagers.<br> <br />The same BelOMO plant manufactured Zenits that had not the best reputation when compared to KMZ Zenits. Still, people used them successfully.<br> BTW, Vilia is the name of the river near which the plant is located. The town name is Vilejka (not Minsk), also named from the same river.</p>

<p>I did not see any difference in quality of films then they are flat, comparing emulsion up or down. But "down" is a common trick to avoid newton rings. It's also easier this way if the film is bent.</p> <p>P.S. I use Epson 4490. Medium format is scanned very well.</p>

<p>You will love the shutter trigger, it feels really good and allows you to shoot very smoothly. The mechanical feedback of the trigger and the winder is really wonderful, like a living thing. Otherwise the camera is so primitive that nothing can go wrong. Its AE sibling Vilia Auto, with the same lens plus selenium meter, was actually my first, I have one sample photo in my gallery (Old B&W folder, a girl portrait). It is slightly better than Smena 8M, and basically identical to Smena Simvol. I've read that one of those was used in 1982 expedition to Mount Everest, so you can judge its reliability in tough conditions.<br> <br />Vilias come from the same factory as Agats (see the thread in this forum) and also some Zenits. Best Zenits were made at KMZ factory, and there were some from BelOMO.</p>

<blockquote> <p><em>Cost is quite modest, and time spent is typically less than going to a *local* lab or post office to drop your rolls and pick up your results.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Hmmm... I never thought this way, but now... how true!</p>