Smena-9

Smena-9 is a scale focusing Soviet camera produced by LOMO from 1969 to 1971. In fact, this is the same Smena-8 but without the self-timer.

Smena-9 is a classic member of the Smena family. This is a simple plastic camera, with a simple Triplet lens and the same simple shutter, which was installed on almost all cameras called Smena.

Smena-9 Specifications

Type: 35mm scale focus camera
Manufacturer: LOMO plant
Production period: from 1969 to 1971
Format: 24x36cm on 135 film
Lens mount: fixed lens
Lens: Triplet T-43 4.0/40
Shutter: leaf shutter with speeds from 1/15 to 1/250 sec.
Viewfinder: optical vewfinder
Lighmeter: none
Selftimer: none
Weight: 300 grams

As we have said more than once, the Soviet industry was not very fond of changes and innovations, and often for many years and even decades produced almost the same camera without any changes.

One of the striking examples is the Smena-9 camera, which is not much different from all other models of this brand. For example, this camera differs from Smena-8 only in the absence of a self-timer. This small difference was enough to give this camera a new index.

Like all other cameras, Smena-9 was made of plastic, but of quite high quality. Like the other cameras, Smena-9 does not have a rangefinder or a mirror mechanism, which means focusing is done using the distance scale on the lens.

The camera was equipped with a non-replaceable Triplet T-43 4/40 lens. The angle of the field of view of the lens is 55 °. Almost all of the latest Smena cameras were equipped with exactly the same lens.

Also, the camera was equipped with a leaf shutter, with shutter speeds of 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and B. The cocking of the shutter is not blocked with film advancing.

Also on the top of the camera, there was a frame counter and a cold shoe for attaching additional devices. For example, you can place an additional rangefinder, to simplify the focusing process.

Conclusion

As already mentioned above, Smena-9 is a classic representative of its family, and this is evident in everything. Just like all cameras from this family, Smena-9 is very simple, in fact it is just a small plastic box with a lens, shutter and film advancing mechanism.

And despite this, like all other cameras in this family, this model can create beautiful photos in the hands of a skilled photographer and be a good introduction to film photography for a beginner.