Tag Archives: FSU

The Cosmic Comrade – A 1 roll Review of the Lomo Smena (Cosmic) Symbol

This is nostalgia for me. Th Smena was first proper camera I got given to me as a child although in its UK Export guise as the Cosmic Symbol. But enough nostalgia for the mo….. If you fancy a vintage styled fully manual P&S with FSU character then this could be for you. Continue reading The Cosmic Comrade – A 1 roll Review of the Lomo Smena (Cosmic) Symbol

The spy who blurred me – Beier Beirette K100 Review

This is my second dalliance with this East German camera. This series of basic viewfinders have a sound a like name to Bond’s original firearm before Fleming gave him the  Walther PKK and like its namesakes compact and stylish. But is this camera worth taking on her majesty’s secret service or has been a Quantum of Solace ?

Beirette K100 35mm Soviet era DDR zone focus simple camera. #film
Beirette K100 35mm simple compact from 70’s East Germany

Continue reading The spy who blurred me – Beier Beirette K100 Review

FED Mikron Camera 1 roll Review

Since I got my Olympus PEN EE-2, I’ve been seeking out a more focusable Half frame camera. As well as the obvious EES-2, one camera caught my attention from the Old USSR, the ФЭД Микро or in English  the FED Mikron/micron sometime dubbed the Soviet PEN.

FED Mikron (ФЭД Микро) half frame 35mm soviet camera
FED Mikron (ФЭД Микро) half frame 35mm soviet camera

So when I finally got a working one I headed out with a roll of trusty Kodak BW400CN.

Continue reading FED Mikron Camera 1 roll Review

FED Mikron 2 : Come in Comrade we’ve been expecting you

FED Mikron 2
FED Mikron 2 (ФЭД Микрон 2) Compact 35mm Rangefinder

Soviet cameras frequently are accused of being copies of Western & Japanese models. Whatever you think they do it pretty well and Ukrainian FED are no exception. The company is still best known for it’s Leica-like rangefinders and lens. However the FED Mikron 2 (ФЭД Микрон 2) is a compact rangefinder along the lines of the Konica C35. Continue reading FED Mikron 2 : Come in Comrade we’ve been expecting you