Lubitel 166

Lubitel 166 (1980 Moscow Olympics Edition) image by Inspiredphotos (Image rights)

Lomo made this plastic-bodied Twin lens reflex medium format camera beginning circa 1976. Of its two lenses, one exposes the film, while the other is used for the viewfinder system. The Lubitel's viewfinder differs from most true TLRs, in that only a central circle is a ground-glass focusing aid; the periphery is transparent for brighter viewing, as with a brilliant finder.

The Lubitel's three-element lens is a distinct improvement in sharpness from the toy cameras this camera is sometimes lumped together with; but there is little question the primary design goal for the Lubitel was inexpensive production.

The Lubitel 166 uses 120 roll film and exposes 6x6cm square images. Shutter speeds are from 1/250 to 1/15 and a bulb setting, aperture from f/4.5 to f/22, and the close-focus limit is at just over a meter. This model was followed by the similar Lubitel 166B and Lubitel 166 Universal.