It is believed that the 21st century is the time of digital cameras with a certain number of megapixels. But there is a certain number of connoisseurs of the LOMO Compact-Avtomat film camera, launched in 1983. Thanks to the qualities of this camera, a special direction of amateur photography appeared - lomography.
The history of the creation of the LOMO Compact-Avtomat camera
In 1981, the Japanese compact camera Cosina CX-2 was presented to the Minister of Defense of the USSR I. Kornitsky at the exhibition of cinematographic equipment in Cologne. The minister liked the camera parameters. The Soviet engineers were given the task of creating an analogue. The development was led by Mikhail Kholomyansky, and employees of other design bureaus were constantly involved in the brigade, since development was a priority.
Production was launched in 1983. The developers of the LOMO Compact-Avtomat camera have created their own original design based on the Cosina CX-2 camera. The camera became the first domestic small-sized camera with a program shutter.
Soon after the first release, the camera gained real popularity in the Soviet Union. But the LOMO Compact-Avtomat received real world recognition in the mid-90s.
Technical characteristics of the LOMO Compact-Automatic camera
The camera belongs to compact small-format cameras of the scale type. The exposure is controlled automatically in program mode. Frame size 24x36 mm. Apertures range from f / 2.8 to f / 16. Thanks to the automatic exposure metering of the camera, the camera is always ready for use. The power source for the camera is batteries. Shooting is possible both in automatic mode and with manual settings. Installed lens "Minitar-1" with a focal length of 32 mm. It is the lens that provides depth of field, vignetting and distortion of the image.
Lomography
The direction of amateur photography "lomography" originated in Austria in 1992, thanks to two poor students. During a trip to Prague, Austrian students took pictures with a LOMO-compact camera. Later, looking at their pictures, the young people were amazed - the pictures turned out to be bright, vignetted, interesting.
Soon, the 10 Golden Rules of Lomography were formulated, which are the basis of Lomography. The rules are simple and unpretentious, but perfect for capturing the brightest and most unexpected moments of life. Lomography is vivid and documentary. In a way, this is a special genre of art.
Today LOMO Compact-Avtomat cameras are produced specifically for the International Lomographic Society. It is a large organization with at least five hundred thousand members. The International Lomographic Society has opened its embassies in different countries. Lomographers exhibit their work at exhibitions, organize special lomographic tours.
More detailed information about the society can be found on the website
The materials used photographs from the site
