Question about the GOMZ factory

Production of Smena cameras started in 1953. GOMZ might be located in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) at that time.
Did GOMZ only produce Smenas in Leningrad or were there other production facilities in other cities also belonging to GOMZ?
Thanks

Hi,

Almost all Russian versions of Smena camera were produced in Head Office of GOMZ-LOMO plant (see pictures with address and façade bellow). Starting from 1980-ties all the production facilities were transferred to a new plant's buildings (within Leningrad city again). It's important to mention, that GOMZ has transferred technical documentation of Smena, Smena-2 (and Smena-3)cameras to a new MMZ plant (Belarus) in 1957. That's why we additionally have at least 4 versions of Smena camera with Belarus origin ... [:)]

BTW production of Smena cameras started in 1954. Look at the Smena camera below - it's an earliest known sample of the particular camera.

Best regards,
Aidas

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/532015__F3C2955bw.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/532015__F3C2955bw.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/532015_IMG_6651bw.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/532015_IMG_6651bw.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/532015_Smena.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/532015_Smena.jpg

Thanks Aidas,
interesting that the surface of the advance knob on this #54000034 is in vertical shape and match the surface on the lens. The next sample I know #54000201 on Nikitin's website has the crossed surface (same like on a Zorki-1).

The Smena series from 1953 is a kind of Miraculous Project.
The aim was produce a real low cost câmera mantaining top performances.-That means, -No less than Zorki/FED or Leica results.
To do so, every part must be made with no quality loss in Picture quality.
That way body must be Strong -Precise and quickly factory made-
It was chosen bakelite which was already been proved on American Argus A and C series and also on Kodak 35 series.

Mechanics would be kept to a minimum eliminating all complex parts.
So it was eliminated rewind, double exposure lock, but it was mantained frame counter and film stop with only five moving parts inclding the knob advance.

The shutter must to be compatible with FED/Zorki 1/25 to 1/500 and B
It was choosen the ZT series of central leaf shutters already used and perfected in Komsomoletz and Lubitel câmeras. 1/10 t0 1/200 and B No self timer , no synchonization in first series.

The lens is a splendid Game Winner. - It is reported to give the same results of Indutar/ Elmar/Tessar although having only three elements.

In order to achieve the same resolution of lines/mm the lens was stopped down to 4.5 and its focal length was reduced to 40mm, giving extra depth of field.

The viewfinder is a Reverse Newtonian type direct descendant of the already proven viewfinder of pre-war VOOMP type and already used on FED and Zorkis.

A shoe was already in the câmera to mount the Smena rangefinder.
this original Russian Project was also made by the German CERTO to be complement of their câmeras.

In the meanwhile two German câmeras with similar phylosophy were made
There were the FECA from Jena and the PELAR from Berlin both from 1955 that did not reach so much success.

This smena formula was with slight changes mantained up to the Vigliyad and followed by Vesna and Vilia series


It is interesting to see why other manufacturesrs didnt follow so brilliant, performer and successfull Project.

This is probably the main reason those câmeras are seen with some disregard.

Although Smena sold 40 million câmeras durin its life.

Regards
LP

The GDR had also the 'Beirette' equipped with the Meritar, a triplet lens too. But sold less effective.

Ok that is true but not so simple in its construction!
Film advance in Beirette ismuch more complex (and fragile)
Regards
LP

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo</i>
<br />It is interesting to see why other manufacturesrs didnt follow so brilliant, performer and successfull Project.

This is probably the main reason those câmeras are seen with some disregard.

Although Smena sold 40 million câmeras durin its life.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

On Sylvain Halgand's website, there is a catalog from Foto Quelle. In 1975 a Smena Symbol was sold for 39.99 Mark in West-Germany. Not much money at that time and maybe a reason why it wasn't a success in the West. If you were serious about photography you wouldn't buy such a cheap camera and nobody in the great camera shops would have suggested to try a Smena.

What a pity, how nice it would have been to start photography with a Smena. I really love my Smena-1. Some weeks ago I asked if there is a "Must Have Smena" and now I think everybody should have a Smena-8M which should be the most produced russian camera ever.

OK but Symbol and SL (Rapid) is another class of câmera.
lever advance and self cocking shutter of higher class

I am refering to real Smenas up to 8m, 35 and Vzigliyad

Konb film advance
separate shutter cocking
permision of double exposures

Regards

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Lenny</i>On Sylvain Halgand's website, there is a catalog from Foto Quelle. In 1975 a Smena Symbol was sold for 39.99 Mark in West-Germany. Not much money at that time and maybe a reason why it wasn't a success in the West. If you were serious about photography you wouldn't buy such a cheap camera and nobody in the great camera shops would have suggested to try a Smena. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Well, not quite like that. Agfa Rapid was called "Coca-Cola camera", because it was practically free, if you sent Agfa an amount of bottle corks! The whole concept of Rapid cameras was extremely cheap, so that the old box cameras using 120 and 620 could be collected away from the market.
And what I remember, the cheapest japanese 35mm cameras in that time cost 200 FIM when a Smena Symbol cost 150 FIM. And Lomo 135BC was also priced at 200 FIM, which made the simpler Symbol a bot that good deal.
Then there was PAK (126) and Pocket (110) competing from the hearts of buyers for a simple camera. All in that priceclass of 100-250 FIM. And with a nice fix-focus lens, just like the old box cameras.

Best regards,
Juhani

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Lenny</i>
Some weeks ago I asked if there is a "Must Have Smena" and now I think everybody should have a Smena-8M which should be the most produced russian camera ever.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Seriously, don't buy a Smena-8M. Sure, it's the most produced russian camera ever, but also a piece of thermoplast garbage. My 8M is from 1993 and might be the most produced type also, but it's so much lower in overall quality than my bakelite Smena-1 from 1956 which I really really love.
I mentioned before the Foto-Quelle catalog from 1975, a Smena-Symbol was sold for 39.99 Mark in West-Germany. I'm sure I would have been disappointed with this thermoplast camera. Not a chance this could be successful in the West.
So if there is a "Must Have Smena" it should be the "1".