5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

By Matt Evans

I can’t remember when or how I came to own my Smena Symbol, mostly because I’ve got two young kids and can barely remember what I had for dinner yesterday but at a guess I’d say I’ve had it for almost a decade. It’s one of those cameras thats always been there, not really screaming at me to use it but never failing when I do. According to the internet the Smena is a Russian made 35mm camera made by LOMO from the mid 70s. The body is an all plastic construction which is surprising because its really solid and has a bit of weight to it. Don’t be put off by all plastic though this thing can take a beating, I don’t think twice about chucking it in my bag unprotected.

The lens is a fixed length 40mm f/4 -f/16 with a leaf shutter, shutter speeds of 1/15 – 1/250 and even a Bulb mode. It’s probably one of the easiest cameras I’ve ever used, you simply turn the dial to match your ISO speed which automatically sets your aperture. Then the only things you have to worry about is zone focusing and picking your shutter speed either using the symbols on the top of the lens or the shutter speeds listed on the bottom of the lens barrel.

I have to say it’s a joy to use and can produce some great results. As you can see from my 5 frames I like to shoot with Fuji Sensia in mine and get it cross processed.

My IG – mattevansphoto

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About The Author

By Matt Evans
Professional tea drinker. Photographer. Dad. Peanut butter addict. Based in Wellington, New Zealand.
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Comments

julianhiggs on 5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

Comment posted: 02/01/2019

Matt, what lovely colours and feel to the images, may have to try the cross process thing. I assume E6 film in C41 chemistry? particularly like the first and last images, almost painterly. Beautiful.
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Mattevansphoto replied:

Comment posted: 02/01/2019

Thanks! Yes cross process is e6 film processed with c41. It can give some interesting results and varies depending on the film stock.

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Lori on 5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

Comment posted: 02/01/2019

I know this is technically a film site, but those are fantastic lenses — as your wonderful pictures certainly show.

By the way, the lenses are readily available on eBay and can be easily adapted with a helicoid to any digital camera and their size makes them somewhat of a “pancake” lens.
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David on 5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

Comment posted: 02/01/2019

Bravo, your 3 landscapes, especially the first, look something like an 19th century oil painting.
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Matt Evans replied:

Comment posted: 02/01/2019

Thanks!

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Nathalie Porter on 5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

Comment posted: 02/01/2019

Great shots, really shows what this camera can do. But while the last two look like what I thought most Fuji slides do after xpro, the first three have lovely colours - did you expose them in a different way or is it just a result of the xpro lottery?
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Matt Evans replied:

Comment posted: 02/01/2019

The first 3 are from a different roll that was devved at a different place, but they are all Shot on Fujifilm stock. I guess like you said it’s just a result of the CP lotto!

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Nigel Vernon on 5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

Comment posted: 12/03/2019

Lovely set of photos. I had one off these camera in the 1980's it was called a Cosmic Symbol. Only ever used it for black and white underwater photography. Used with a housing, it was a poor mans Nikkonos 3.
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Andy Zofka on 5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

Comment posted: 05/05/2019

The very first camera I have ever used :-) I remember when my dad was showing me how to use it but I wasn't that much into photography back then ;-) It must have been about 25-30 years ago. I actually asked him recently if he could dig it out from the loft :-)
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Camera Review Blog No. 135 – LOMO Smena Symbol – Alex Luyckx | Blog on 5 frames with a Smena Symbol – by Matt Evans

Comment posted: 07/09/2021

[…] of the LOMO Smena Symbol 35mmc – 5 Frames with a Smena Symbol – Nathalie Porter & Matt Evans Blinded By the Light – Smena Symbol Review Imaging Pixel – Smena Symbol Review BKS […]
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