Just wondering if there are any? I just ordered one (probably wait 2+ weeks before it arrives) and wondering if anyone else has one and care to share experiences with it?

WOW, David, you going lomo!! :)

Hehe, i just want a small toy for now :P

David, Get a LCA or LC-A + or if you can find one, get a Olympus XA :)

Hmm, not into plastic bro... hehe and the LC's are too expensive for a toy for me.

Update, got an excellent KONICA C35 V rangefinder instead of the Vilia... But might still get a Vilia next month hehe.

http://i2.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/e0/3a/fd36_1.JPG

WOW, David, congrats, that Konica is an excellent range finder :)

Hope the seller will mail it hehe... He got annoyed that I asked him to ship abroad...

Update, got an excellent KONICA C35 V rangefinder instead of the Vilia... But might still get a Vilia next month hehe.

http://i2.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/e0/3a/fd36_1.JPG


hi david,

my new rangefinder, a yashica electro gsn just arrived the other day and its simply awesome. shutter speed of 30s - 1/500s is just plain amazing. and a 1.7f isnt something to belittle either. got it for less than 1.2k lang on ebay and my friend in the states brought it home for me. you should check it out online. probably one of the best ever made. but want your konica too! :Grin:

Found several Yashica electros around actually, but chancing one at the price I'm willing to pay is a little harder hehe... But we'll see... I actually got a silly Kodak disc film cam for 2 bucks, and a couple of disc films for 4 bucks, but I don't think I'll be using that, I just want to have it in my collection.

Frankly, Lomo wasn't my purpose of getting a film cam hehe, it's just to fill my need for larger aperture, wide angle, small footprint shooting from time to time... I'm still contemplating whether or not to get B&W film actually, we'll see muna if the darn seller is willing to ship hehe.

Scrap my last sentence, he'll ship tomorrow :D, BTW, the cam comes with a 38mm 2.8 lens BTW... Just right for my needs of street shooting.

The "V" version isn't really a rangefinder, it has no rangefinder but a zone system focusing... This should be fun hehe.

Been tracking this guy's (http://photography.search.ebay.com/_Film-Cameras_W0QQcatrefZC12QQsacatZ15230QQsassZsovdepia ) toys as well... That's where I found the Vilia for 15 bucks, he has tons of Smenas as well, but after reading the difficuties Jo Avila faced with the Smena, I had reservations hehe.

I'm still frustrated with not being able to find (and win, when I do find) EX+ condition Ricoh 500G's, though... Was bidding on a couple the past 3 weeks and they all went up to over 50 bucks... While the price is fair, hehe, I'm cheap and to factor in the shipping will make the cam no longer a toy for me (approx $80-90 landed). Plus, they all ended between 2-5AM our time, so I couldn't snipe the item that well. I usually lose by $0.50 hehehe.

Missed out of beauties like these:
Ricoh 500G for 36 bucks (http://cgi.ebay.com/RICOH-500-G-RANGEFINDER-SILVER-BEAUTY-COLLECTABLE-RARE_W0QQitemZ280208217290QQihZ018QQcategoryZ15234 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Ricoh 500G for 29 bucks (http://cgi.ebay.com/RICOH-Camera-500G-500-G-w-Rikenon-Lens-and-Case_W0QQitemZ200204824824QQihZ010QQcategoryZ297QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Ricoh 500G near mint for 38bucks (http://cgi.ebay.com/Ricoh-500-G-Rangefinder-500G-Rarely-Used-Must-LQQK_W0QQitemZ160215567915QQihZ006QQcategoryZ15234 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Among others... Oh well... Maybe next month, bought too much eBay toys this month already hehe.

Scrap my last sentence, he'll ship tomorrow :D, BTW, the cam comes with a 38mm 2.8 lens BTW... Just right for my needs of street shooting.

The "V" version isn't really a rangefinder, it has no rangefinder but a zone system focusing... This should be fun hehe.

Been tracking this guy's (http://photography.search.ebay.com/_Film-Cameras_W0QQcatrefZC12QQsacatZ15230QQsassZsovdepia ) toys as well... That's where I found the Vilia for 15 bucks, he has tons of Smenas as well, but after reading the difficuties Jo Avila faced with the Smena, I had reservations hehe.

I'm still frustrated with not being able to find (and win, when I do find) EX+ condition Ricoh 500G's, though... Was bidding on a couple the past 3 weeks and they all went up to over 50 bucks... While the price is fair, hehe, I'm cheap and to factor in the shipping will make the cam no longer a toy for me (approx $80-90 landed). Plus, they all ended between 2-5AM our time, so I couldn't snipe the item that well. I usually lose by $0.50 hehehe.

Missed out of beauties like these:
Ricoh 500G for 36 bucks (http://cgi.ebay.com/RICOH-500-G-RANGEFINDER-SILVER-BEAUTY-COLLECTABLE-RARE_W0QQitemZ280208217290QQihZ018QQcategoryZ15234 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Ricoh 500G for 29 bucks (http://cgi.ebay.com/RICOH-Camera-500G-500-G-w-Rikenon-Lens-and-Case_W0QQitemZ200204824824QQihZ010QQcategoryZ297QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Ricoh 500G near mint for 38bucks (http://cgi.ebay.com/Ricoh-500-G-Rangefinder-500G-Rarely-Used-Must-LQQK_W0QQitemZ160215567915QQihZ006QQcategoryZ15234 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Among others... Oh well... Maybe next month, bought too much eBay toys this month already hehe.

patience. patience. :Grin:

ebay always smiles upon those who are PERSISTENT. haha

Hehe, bought too much toys this month anyway, good reason to wait haha.

For street photography, the zone focusing system can be an advantage for discreet shooting as you just need to set the approximate distance and snap away without even looking through the view finder. Having a semi-widish 38mm helps also. :)

hmmm i've always wanted to get a smena :D

hmmm i've always wanted to get a smena :D

the smena is coming home :)

Got a silly and cheap bnew Vivitar Wide and Slim here in SG as well... will pick it up later...

Joseph, Master Lomographer and Collector, IDOL :)

Otep ( Joseph) , Master Lomographer, IDOL :)

Donna, Master Lomographer, IDOL :)

David, Master Photographer, IDOL :)
The VIV U&W is a cool camera, jus tbe careful when loading it with 36 shots rolls because there are numerous reports on how easily the winding spool of the camera can break. :) Be prepared for cool vignettes :)

David, the vivitar uw&s can produce lots of beautiful pictures with its vignettes and flares... :) it's a pretty camera.

Koya Daniel Perfekt Go Horizon, were you able to use the elitechromes already? :) can't wait to see them

Donna, yup, will upload in the next few days, problem was that I used it with the FM2n and 105mm lens. Man!! I miss the IS/VR thing in digital. half of the shots were blurry due to the motion blur coupled with slow shutter speed :(

......, BTW, the cam comes with a 38mm 2.8 lens BTW... Just right for my needs of street shooting.

The "V" version isn't really a rangefinder, it has no rangefinder but a zone system focusing... This should be fun hehe.

......but after reading the difficuties Jo Avila faced with the Smena, I had reservations hehe.

.


The "Вилия"- Vilia actually has a 40 mm f/4,5 "Триплет-Triplet" lens. It is scale-focused (zone focussing refers to the action) with "zone" symbols. Focusing is best done by simply lining up the figure/symbol which closely resembles what is seen through the viewfinder.

The Vilia is really a Smena-Simvol, which in turn is a Smena-8M given automatic coupled film-winding and shutter-cocking actions. The Smena-8M lacks these and would lead to non- or multiple- exposures in case one forgets the wind-cock-fire sequence. Other than this, the Smena-8M isn't really difficult to use. The only difference between the Vilia and Smena-Simvol is that the former was made by a different factory- so technically, the Vilia is not a LOMO camera- only those made by the original Leningrad OMO factory in St Petersburg can be called as such.

The automatic features can actually be a bane to Vilia and Smena cameras. The coupling
mechanisms can fail- these were adapted, or more accurately, retrofitted to a camera whose design isn't too hospitable to accomodate automation. I've seen a few Smena-Simvol cameras fail intermittently (shutter won't cock, or fire, but frame advances) but otherwise work perfectly in most instances. You just have to brace for the fact that the some photos will come out blank- and you'll never know when will this happen, and which frames would be. :)

In contrast, a properly working Smena-8M used conscientiously will almost never do this.

And you're absolutely correct. The Vilia, Smena, and other similar cameras are not rangefinders. They have big optical viewfinders but no optical/mechanical rangefinder systems which measure subject to camera distance or couple with the lens for accurate focusing.

Jay

Jay: Thanks for the info, but the message that you quoted was for my Konica, not the Vilia hence the 38mm lens comment... My fault since I did start a thread about the Vilia and ended up being other cams discussed hehe...

:)

@Daniel: Thanks for the Vivitar W&S warning :D Plasticky pa naman...
@Donna: Can't wait... :D

(Hmm, 3 names with 'D's so far hehe

Joseph, Master Lomographer and Collector, IDOL :)

Otep ( Joseph) , Master Lomographer, IDOL :)

Donna, Master Lomographer, IDOL :)

David, Master Photographer, IDOL :)
The VIV U&W is a cool camera, jus tbe careful when loading it with 36 shots rolls because there are numerous reports on how easily the winding spool of the camera can break. :) Be prepared for cool vignettes :)

haha, ive gotten rid of almost my entire collection na nga eh.

smena actually went to jay javier to be fixed haha

and then my lubitel was sold but i was surprised to find a package the other day.. the mailman brought it to my house and i was shocked when i opened it. it contained another lubitel! apparently i ordered another one and COMPLETELY forgot about it. so i have nanaman! my LC-A was sold narin. twasnt worth it for me, i actually love my yashica electro more than the LC-a.

David -

im gonna be in the states this may i think, if there are any toys that you might want in E-Bay, you can address it to my house there in LA and i can bring it back home for you if you want.

The "Вилия"- Vilia actually has a 40 mm f/4,5 "Триплет-Triplet" lens. It is scale-focused (zone focussing refers to the action) with "zone" symbols. Focusing is best done by simply lining up the figure/symbol which closely resembles what is seen through the viewfinder.

The Vilia is really a Smena-Simvol, which in turn is a Smena-8M given automatic coupled film-winding and shutter-cocking actions. The Smena-8M lacks these and would lead to non- or multiple- exposures in case one forgets the wind-cock-fire sequence. Other than this, the Smena-8M isn't really difficult to use. The only difference between the Vilia and Smena-Simvol is that the former was made by a different factory- so technically, the Vilia is not a LOMO camera- only those made by the original Leningrad OMO factory in St Petersburg can be called as such.

The automatic features can actually be a bane to Vilia and Smena cameras. The coupling
mechanisms can fail- these were adapted, or more accurately, retrofitted to a camera whose design isn't too hospitable to accomodate automation. I've seen a few Smena-Simvol cameras fail intermittently (shutter won't cock, or fire, but frame advances) but otherwise work perfectly in most instances. You just have to brace for the fact that the some photos will come out blank- and you'll never know when will this happen, and which frames would be. :)

In contrast, a properly working Smena-8M used conscientiously will almost never do this.

And you're absolutely correct. The Vilia, Smena, and other similar cameras are not rangefinders. They have big optical viewfinders but no optical/mechanical rangefinder systems which measure subject to camera distance or couple with the lens for accurate focusing.

Jay

jay javier for film president! :Grin:

Joseph, how long are you going to be there? I am tempted to get the deadstock LCA which is available only to the US market. :)

jay javier for film president! :Grin:

*waves jay for film president signs furiously

hi joseph, can i give you a flattened refrigerator box and fill that up with somepraysh isulayde peelms (fresh slide films) ? (remembers NU Rock Awards teaser praysh bayjtabols hihihi :))

hehe joke,but i'm really serious in asking you to buy slide film. just not that many :Grin:

Joseph: thanks for the offer pare... :) (but home for me now is singapore, hehe, but still... pwede!)

Joseph: thanks for the offer pare... :) (but home for me now is singapore, hehe, but still... pwede!)

the film idea is tempting hehe i actually saw a lot of mixed expired film that's going really cheap but only ships to US hehe.

*waves jay for film president signs furiously

hi joseph, can i give you a flattened refrigerator box and fill that up with somepraysh isulayde peelms (fresh slide films) ? (remembers NU Rock Awards teaser praysh bayjtabols hihihi :))

hehe joke,but i'm really serious in asking you to buy slide film. just not that many :Grin:

ill probably lug a lot anyway. im known to horde. haha