Lubitel

Lubitel (Russian Любитель ) is the name of various TLR medium format cameras from the Russian manufacturer Lomo.

Meaning of the name

The word " Lubitel " (Russian Любитель ) means " amateur" or " lover "

Cameras

The design is based on the " Voigtländer Brilliant" camera from the early 1930s, but with several improvements.

Often Lubitels be regarded as "toy " cameras, mainly because of their low price, construction of bakelite (later other plastics ) and their occasionally less good workmanship. However, use Lubitels medium format films, have a lens made ​​of glass and offer different shutter speeds between 1/250 and " Bulb". The aperture values ​​range from f/4.5 to f/22. Good results are possible if the recordings by today's standards at open aperture sometimes at the edges - are slightly out of focus - as with all three lens lenses.

Lubitel cameras are often used by art photographers or amateurs who want to know the medium format photography inexpensive.

Models and production

• Lubitel TLR (1950-1956)
• Lubitel - 2 (1955-1977)
• Lubitel - 166 (1977-1980)
• Lubitel -166 B ( since 1980)
• Lubitel 166 Universal ( since 1984)

The " Komsomolets " cameras were precursors to Lubitels. Unlike the Lubitel but this had no viewfinder depth of field.