Lubitel 166B

I was born during communism, but lived in the capitalist world. I will never forget the images of the Berlin wall, and even more so of the disbelief in the eyes of Ceausescu just before Christmas, as he is addressing a crowd that no longer listens to him. My wife was born during communism and lived in the communist world. But she was 10 when the wall fell, or the "changes" happened, as they say here in Bulgaria with a large dose of understatement.

Not the kind of people with nostalgia towards socialism, communism and all its rotten features. And yet. After years of constantly upgrading our equipment (better phones, better shoes, better photo cameras) we have taken a sharp U-turn. First came the increase in the numbers of Converse Chuck Taylor shoes. They must be a hundred years old. This was followed by the replica record player, with a crappy sound but a great 'feel'. And the last items on the road into the past are toy cameras and 'amateur' cameras. In came the Diana, followed by good old 'sots' cameras like the Smena, and, as of today, the Lubitel.

The Lubitel. My wife gave me a Lubitel as a present today! And it is not even my birthday. The purchase itself felt like one of those exchanges you see in bad B-movies. Changing time and place, to finally meet in the rain with the seller in front of a cinema that has been closed for years. (Well, the truth is, we moved to a pastry shop because of the rain, but that would sound less exciting, wouldn't it?).

Lubitel. Look twice. Double-lens? Yes. Why? I don't know. It is a mystery, but a beautiful one. Peering down from the top trying to focus almost causes you a headache. This is not a professional camera, hence its name 'Lubitel' (Amateur) but it is not a toy camera like the Diana either. I actually may take a good picture with this one.

It has a good 'feel', is somehow much lighter than I expected and smells of... well, I think it smells of Russian cabbage and potatoes. But it may also be the smell of the plastic, which is now almost thirty years old. I hope to be able to soon take my first pictures with this Black Beauty. And will keep you posted on the results.

For now, long live the USSR!