A simple USSR Unit - that's new to me - Vilia

<p>Just out of curiosity - are any of your esteemed forum members familiar with this neat continental style USSR contraption? It's plasticky - feels cheap, but operates perfectly and gave one contrasty image when checked the focus on ground screen. I must admit it has its charm and will be my tool of choice tomorrow around NYC Opera House and Central Park? Thoughts? Opinions?</p><div></div>

<p>The Vilia's very like the Smena 8m, which is a Lomo camera built in the millions.</p>

<p>They look like junk, but the lens is actually pretty good - real glass, Triplet construction.</p>

<p>I plan on taking a Vilia or Smena 8M with me on a trip later this year to Corfu/Albania, and pair it with some nice saturated colour film.</p>

<p>S</p>

<p>Stephen that is awesome - I would love to see some photos of Saranda once you return - was born in Tirana myself so that would be quite the treat. Enjoy one of the nicest/smartest vacations today :-).</p>

<p>Nice - that's a pleasing coincidence...<br>

My old workmate at the BBC is from Albania and waxed lyrical about the scenery - and my best mate has already been and loved it.<br>

Always seems a good idea to take the old FSU stuff to those parts of the world... when I took my Zenits on the Trans-Siberian I got many slaps on the back.</p>

<p>Cheers<br>

<br />S</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>

It is very reminiscent of the Smena 8M to me. I was in Latvia last week and someone gave me one. It is very plasticy but

from what I know the lens is one heck of a lens from the Lomo factory and is triple coated. Over 21 million Smena 8m

were made more than any other single model in the world. I started using it this trip and it is a real nice fun camera.with

some nice inexpensive innovations. A lot of them have had the lenses taken off them and canabalized for other uses. Do

not underestimate this camera because it feels like an instamatic. When given to the owner did not describe it as a cheap

toy. He said it purpose was for novice students to learn on. I hope to have something worthwhile to show when I get

home. Oh, I was running for a taxi in Prague and took a fall and travelled about 7 feet. The Smena bounced on the paved

about 15 feet into the road. I thought that was the end of it. Fortunately it showed no sign of damage at all and works

perfectly. I like the fact that it has a 40 mm lens that is perfect for touring.

<p>Even with my limited knowledge of USSR cameras, I would guess that triplet found its way into quite a few cameras. I once had one (don't remember the model) that I think I bought from Freestyle back in the 1990's that had the same lens and shutter speeds to 1/250 second. Never ran more than a few rolls through it. I'll have to see if I can find some and scan. </p>

It's the type of camera that some company should still be building today. A basic film camera to learn with. Full manual control of

shutter/aperture/focus, scale focus, simple optical viewfinder. But today it probably could not be produced in sufficient numbers for a

under $60 retail and would become just another overpriced Lomo toy.