The CMEHA SMENA 8M is a Russian 35mm camera made by the Lomo factory in Russia. It has all manual controls. It has a plastic body and a T43 lens F4 – F16 and B, 15, 30, 60, 125 and 250 shutter speeds. You can set the shutter speed by the number or use the cloud symbols on the barrel. The shutter is cocked by pushing down a lever on the right side of the lens. It has a view finder and zone focus controls. This one came with a leather case that looks good but has a few scrap marks when you look close. I bought it on ebay from a seller in the Ukraine.
It is simple to use but you need to perform each step every time or your photo will not come out as intended. You set the F stop on the front of the lens. Set the shutter speed and then set the zone focus. Cock the shutter. Press the button on the top (which is not smooth or easy to push) to make a exposure. Because the shutter is cocked manually you can make double exposures if you want, or, if you forget to wind the film. You have to remember to keep you fingers out of the way, or the shutter level will hit on them when the shutter is released. Holding the camera vertical for a shot takes some practice to make a smooth release. After taking the picture you need to wind the film via the button on the back of the camera.
I was disappointed in the first roll. It was TMAX 100 film. All the pictures were very flat when they came back from Dwayne’s. I ran all the images through the computer auto enhance and they were more like they should have been. Several of the pictures are fuzzy or blurred because I forgot to focus, did not guess the correct focus, or the shutter lever hit my finger causing me to move during exposure. A very basic fundamental camera that is capable of taking good pictures if you do your part. If you want to learn good film photography this camera would be a good one to start with before you move on to more advanced models.
It is simple to use but you need to perform each step every time or your photo will not come out as intended. You set the F stop on the front of the lens. Set the shutter speed and then set the zone focus. Cock the shutter. Press the button on the top (which is not smooth or easy to push) to make a exposure. Because the shutter is cocked manually you can make double exposures if you want, or, if you forget to wind the film. You have to remember to keep you fingers out of the way, or the shutter level will hit on them when the shutter is released. Holding the camera vertical for a shot takes some practice to make a smooth release. After taking the picture you need to wind the film via the button on the back of the camera.
I was disappointed in the first roll. It was TMAX 100 film. All the pictures were very flat when they came back from Dwayne’s. I ran all the images through the computer auto enhance and they were more like they should have been. Several of the pictures are fuzzy or blurred because I forgot to focus, did not guess the correct focus, or the shutter lever hit my finger causing me to move during exposure. A very basic fundamental camera that is capable of taking good pictures if you do your part. If you want to learn good film photography this camera would be a good one to start with before you move on to more advanced models.
