Lubitel 166 Universal 166U medium format TLR 6x6 4,5x6 LOMO USSR

Lubitel-166 Universal (Любитель-166 Универсал), Soviet medium format film TLR camera with lens T-22, 6x6 cm (120 film format), #87362703, LOMO, Leningrad, USSR Perfect condition. Shutter and self-timer work properly. All lenses are clear and do not have any fungus or scratches, inside there can be microspecks of microdust. Body has very-very small, almost invisible signs of age and use. One take-up spool is included. History of the camera In this listing I offer Soviet Twin-Lens Reflex camera (TLR) "Lubitel-166 Universal". It was produced by LOMO plant (Leningrad, USSR) in 1983-1996 LOMO in 412 187 pieces. TLR means that such camera has two lenses: upper lens is used for aiming (to estimate the borders of frame) and focusing, there is a mirror fixed at an angle of 45 degrees. This mirror reflects the light from the upper lens upwards. Lower lens is used to directly for taking photo. Shutter is located in lower lens. Both lenses are coupled with pinion (see the first picture). To focus you rotate the upper lens and watch from above into the waist level finder. The only feature is that the image will be inverted from left to right. As the lenses are linked, the lower lens will rotate and focus too. Also, you can use front panel of waist level finder as a simple frame viewfinder to estimate the frame borders only. Focusing is performed with distance numerals on the upper lens (1,3 - 1,5 - 1,7 - 2 - 2,5 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 8 - 15 - Infinitiy). Thus the camera will become scale-focused. Comparing with medium format SLR cameras, TLR is simplier (because mirror is fixed), smaller and are more light-weight. On the other hand, it's much more difficult to create changeable lenses for TLR ("Lubitel" family does not have it, but for example "Mamiya C220" has a line of option optics). Zoom lenses cannot be used. Parallax is not compensated (images of the upper and lower lenses will not coincide a bit). Depth of focus can't be estimmated. TLR scheme was usually used for small simple medium format cameras with non-removable lenses. "Lubitel" is a typical representative. "Lubitel" is translated into English as "amateur". USSR engineers were inspired by German "Voigtlander Brilliant". In 1946-1951 first Soviet TLR "Komsomolec" was produced by LOMO in 1946-1951, made 306 743 pieces. It was a scale-focused camera: upper lens could not be used for focusing, but for aiming only. Focusing was done with distance numerals on the upper ring. In 1950 "Lubitel" was introduced. This TLR got a possibility of focusing with upper lens. And in 1955 "Lubitel-2" changed previous model. Cameras are the same, but "Lubitel-2" got a self-timer and cable synchrocontact for flash. In 1955-1979 totally 2 232 245 pieces of "Lubitel-2" were produced. After experimental TLR "Neva" a new camera "Lubitel-166" was introduced. It was produced in 1976-1981 in 69 120 copies, but camera got a lot of complaints. In 1980 a simplified, but reliable version "Lubitel-166B" appeared and was produced till 1990 in 906 248 copies. And in 1983 "Lubitel-166 Universal" was produced simultaneously with "Lubitel-166B". "Lubitel-166B" and "Lubitel-166 Universal" are the same, but the latter can use frame size 4.5x6 cm in addition to original 6x6 cm. It's necessary to notice that this option was firstly introduced by amateur photographers at "Lubitel-166" and then the idea was borrowed by LOMO. "Lubitel-166 Universal" has two lenses. Upper is 2.8/75, has one lens, focusing is with removable waist-level finder to the dim glass. There is a removable magnifier inside the shaft. Minimal distance of focusing is 1,3 meters. If special nozzle lenses are used, minimal distance of focusing can be reduced. Waist level finder can have flank and rear light-protective metal curtains removed and used a frame viewfinder. Viewfinder has square shape with size 53x53 mm. There are two horizontal lines in the upper and lower parts that limit a rectangle used for frame size 4,5x6 cm. If you use a simple frame viewfinder and 4,5x6 cm frame size, then set a metal rectangle frame on it which will show you the frame borders, A small hint: there are red dots on the distance scale of the upper lens (between 8 and 15 meters) and at the aperture scale of the lower lens (between f/8 and f/11). If you set the pointing arrows at these red dots, camera will be focused at hyperfocal distance. All the objects farhter than 3-4 meters will be sharp. Since that distance parallax can not be taken into consideration. Lower lens is "Triplet T-22", 4.5/75, has 8 aperture blades, with one-layered anti-reflection coating. This lens is used in all "Lubitel" models. Aperture range is f/4.5-22. There is shutter cocking lever (button), shutter release lever (button), remote cable carving, self-timer, shutter speed disc and aperture setting lever. Shutter "ZT-5" is central, has 3 blades. 75mm is approximately equal for 40mm focal distance at usual 35mm film. Possible shutter speeds are: 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 sec and B. Shutter speed must be set before cocking the shutter. Camera uses 120 film which gives 12 frames with size 6x6 cm or 16 frames with size 4,5x6 cm. Shutter cocking and film rewind are not connected and made separately. For controlling film rewind there are two round windows on the rear side with red colour filter (one for 6x6 and another for 4,5x6 cm frame size). This window is closed with a screen that is removed with a near knob. 120 film has a paper layer with frame borders which are visible inside that round window. On the left side there is a film rewind barrel, which rotates clockwise only. On the right side there is a cold shoe (although late cameras have hot shoe). On the upper part except the waist-level finder there are rings for the strap and a round lock of the rear cover. On the bottom there is a 1/4" tripod socket and serial number. Body is plastic. Inside there can be removable metal frame which is used when using frames 4,5x6 cm (absent in the camera offered). When opened rear and bottom parts of the camera are reclined, opening two nests for take-up spools. Lower nest (at the bottom) is used for film, rear nest (at the rear side) is for receiving take-up spool. It's unlocked with film rewind barrel. Backwind is not possible. On the base of "Lubiter-166 Universal" its modification "Lubitel-166+ Universal", the same is "Lubitel-166U", has an adapter for 35mm film. Produced even nowadays in small numbers. Camera was exported abroad and could had its name in Cyrillic or Latin fonts. Characteristics: S/number - 87362703 Frame size - 6x6 cm or 4,5x6 cm (120 film format). Shutter speeds - 1/15-1/250, B. Body - plastic Upper lens - 2.8/75, one lens Lower lens - "Triplet T-22", 4.5/75 Dimensions (length*width*height) (mm): 89*90*124 (in transport position) Mass - 594 g ------------------------------------------ Conditions: Economy shipping to the address stated at Pinkoi with tracking number, usually sent within 3 business days after payment. See the photos for details. Photos are actual - that is exactly the camera you will receive. Please, do not hesitate to contact me for any information required. Please, watch my other items. I combine shipping - write to me what items do you want to buy, and I will calculate the discount for combined shipping. Package is packed thoroughly and carefully and marked as a “gift”. If you need to add invoice in the envelope or not to mark as a “gift”, write to me. If you are interested in terms of shipment - write to me, and I will tell the minimum, maximum and average time of shipment to your country (I accumulated vast statistics). 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