Lomo Lubitel 166B

This camera was in production from around 1980-1990. It's a twin lens reflex camera made by Lomo in St Petersburg. It has a 75mm "triplet-22" lens, known for its sharpness and a ZT-8 shutter with a top speed of 1/250. Its plastic body makes it quite light (compared with its metal predecessors). It shoots 120 film in square format so you get 12 shots a roll. It also has a highly untrustworthy film back that can easily flip open or let in light leaks. There is a self timer, tripod mount and a B setting for long exposures. The shutter is synchronised for flash, with a PC flash socket on the lens barrel and a cold shoe on the side of the camera.

This camera took some getting used to. Focusing is aided by a tiny flip out magnifying glass above the viewfinder. Being a TLR it has a waist level viewfinder, and I have found the best way to use it is to compose the image as you want it, then, staying anchored to the spot, bring your eye close to the magnifying glass to ensure the main subject is in focus. Then return the camera to waist level, recompose the image and press the shutter release.

Being a medium format camera, the f/4.5 widest aperture produces some nice shallow depth of field. The lens is also nice and sharp. As a cheap means of getting into medium format photography the camera is excellent. Just make sure you tape the film back shut to avoid light leaks.