@@mrzachwright I only owned the GW690III and The GW690III and both are not really on the cheap side. But I heard that the lens on the first GW690 isn't that good?
The focusing gear went off of alignment after front lens rim had fallen off. This is why photos turned soft. Nightmare with 166 B model, but still curable.
If you are going to do medium format 6x9 to me is the way to go, although I do have 6x6 cameras, for some reason I don't find square photographs aesthetically pleasing :-)
Nice. But a few points: - The loose frontal ring is an issue with your copy. I didn't have this in my experience. - Once you dropped the frontal ring (That is geared with the focusing lens) you lost your focus, due to malalignment of the gear, thus the OOF remaining films. - If you haven't toss the damaged camera yet, I have a great suggestion for you and maybe for your next clip. Very easily you can remove the lens that is in place by screws, having axis from film chamber (Back of camera). And if you dissect it out, you have a great medium formate lens that can be adapter to any mirrorless (Via a tad of ingenuity and a cheap helical focuser). And then imagine the endless opportunities to test the lens or even adding a focal reducer, speed booster for another clip of fun... Go for it, if not too late but I have feeling it is already late!
I got my one repaired due to the exact same issue, but this camera is the exact reason I'm saving for a 645 SLR. I have enjoyed 120 but want something a little more refined.
Two years ago you couldn't give these away but now, the asking price on the Bay for used ones is around £60.00 which is laughable given the quality of them. Mind you if a plastic fantastic Holga costs £40.00 what else would u expect?
Voigtländer Brilliant, Yashica A, Pentacon Six TL/Kiev 6, Kowa Six, Kiev 88, Fujifilm GX680, Fujica 6x9, Mamiya Press, 6x9 technical cameras, Moskva 4 and 5, Mamiya M645, Pilot 6 or Kalimar Reflex and similar...the list goes on! Nothing quirky here, just old-fashioned goodness.
I've shot this camera exclusively as my first medium format camera and still love it. I've also got a 6x6 Zeiss folder and an amazing Kiev 6C/ 60 that I love dearly. I enjoy the Lubitel tons still and have even made a TTL viewfinder adapter for it so I can use my Kiev 6C viewfinder on it instead of the near useless waist level finder. The Kiev 6 TTL finder also has a meter on it so my Lubitel is also able to use the light meter. I enjoy the vignetting that the lens produces although I mostly shoot at f/11 or f/16 so I hardly see it in the photos. I'd recommend the Kiev 6C or 60 to people looking for an affordable medium format camera; just make sure it was cared for or had a clr done recently. Really enjoyed this video and hope to see more "cheapest" cameras in the future!
This is refreshing! I owned two of these over 8 years, between 1989 and 1997(the first was dropped by a friend, resulting in the focusing lens being bumped, and, misaligned permanently; the second, received as a freebie with the purchase of a propack of Ilford XP4, 120 rollfilm, when I worked in Chicago in the photo retail industry. It was a fun camera; great review! As far as the camera damage....gaffers tape works wonders!😀! Thanks for the cool memories!
Ah my home city! Im a photo technician at the local uni and I love when students arrive and capture the city in a different way. Thanks for this video, really useful to know what its like as we do get a lot of interest for medium format but not everyone can spend £500 +
A model very similar to yours::: I bought and used a Lubitel-2 for a few months. Part of my motivation was to experience what a 1970s Soviet citizen experienced as a hobby photographer. (Exec. Summary: Über mediocre equipment) Mine had the same focusing lens (not a screen) with the frosted spot. And similar shutter and lens. The vignetting was tolerable at f/8 and smaller apertures. Too heavy for my tastes at f/5.6. The limited range of shutter speeds almost necessitates the use of an ND filter at times. The lens is a Cooke Triplet (designed by H. Dennis Taylor in 1893). It was revolutionary then. And not to be sneezed at today. There’s very little to fail in these cameras. The shutter is rumoured to _never_ need a CLA (clever Soviets?). Ultimately, it was a huge pain to compose and focus, had a too-limited range of shutter speeds and apertures. I parted with it, hoping someone else could enjoy it. With a good subject, proper framing, focus and exposure - no problem. Really nice images on the film… I agree. It’s a tall mountain to climb to achieve all that more than occasionally. Film loading and advance is dream-like in its simplicity. The Bakelite camera body is genius for mass-production. The geared focus system isn’t bad in theory. Everything in that realm is made to pretty low standards. An owner would be in good stead if s/he knows how to re-synchronize focus between the viewing and taking lenses. It sure is light and compact! It could be resurrected and improved in modern times. However, I cannot see it selling for under $1,000 with today’s high costs for every little thing.
I was literally looking at this camera on ebay before I watched this video! Great review and it was also cool seeing you photograph around Portsmouth. I've lived here for 3 years now since I started university and it's interesting how you find subjects more easily when you're new to a place
Yeah, double exposures are gonna happen until you get used to shooting with these TLR's, then you get your process down. You wind the film to the next shot as soon as you take the picture. So, set shutter speed and aperture, focus, cock the shutter, take the picture, wind the film. Once your mind has that, you're golden. Loved the review Kyle... sorry about the catastrophe at the end! It made my head hurt... grin.
These less expensive 120 cameras are still very capable. I use an 70 year old triplet lensed folder as the backup to my Mamiya 6 because the quality holds up really well if you shoot it right.
I shot like 20 rolls with my Lubitel 166 Universal and I was very happy with image quality. That being said, I almost exclusively do landscape and street so I never shot wide open with this lens. But the good news is that you can stop it down to F32 and still get a great image. My main issue with the camera - and the reason why I bough the Yashica Mat 124G - was the manual film advance. I too shot so many double exposures or left so many frames blank because I winded just to be on the safe side... it was just a huge waste of money... Otherwise, when you are a disciplined operator, you can decent shots out of these things...
Keep a small pocket notebook and a pencil with you when you're shooting with this camera. Write down what each shot is and what the settings were. Don't advance to the next frame until you've finished writing and then you write the number of that frame on the next line. Ever since I adopted this system, I've never made a double exposure. As a side effect, you have a record of everything you shot on that roll for reference during development.
@@newq Yeah, it's a thing of establishing a fixed workflow to which you stick. Just to make a decision to either advance after a shot or to advance before the shot would be enough, if I could stick to it. But I never shoot enough film (especially with one camera) to develop a real routine and real muscle memory so in the heat of the moment I tend to mess up...
Nowdays, in Moscow you could probably buy this camera cheaper than a roll of portra 400. I'm gonna say, even 1.5 x CHEAPER than a roll of goddamn Kodak's 2020 stock!
@@johnjoenugent6359 that's for sure, Russia's not that nearby as Europe, you would have to be paying extra fees for a shipment + 20 - 30 % over that price, to make a profit for a local film supply or lab that's selling it.
I used to make pinhole cameras of these, as the upper lens gives a more clear idea about the composition, but nowadays I just enjoy the Lubitel with all it faults and techical surprises. Thank you!
Lubitel 2. I have just put a film through mine. It's immaculate and takes wonderful pictures. I bought it from a friend for £30. The lens is a three element Cooke copy.A brilliant lens by an English designer. It's was copied by Zeiss on their Triotar 4.5 lens and virtually every one. The Chinese Seagull 4bi tlr uses it. Another good little camera, a bit more expensive than the Lubitel. Lubitel means Amateur.
I still got mine's as it was given to me as a Present. The lens is Sharp, but very had to focus that it did not have a split or Microprism screen to focus the central portion... But again it is sharp.
Yashica A, Yashica D or the Yashica LM might be a good choice. I'm also very keen on the Minolta Autocords. Rolleicords are fantastic if the shutter is working well. I love the IV model but it's hard to get repairs on the shutters if older than the model V. Mamiya C22 or C33 with interchangeable lenses are very capable machines, but larger and very heavy. The Yashica A and the Rolleicord would be the lightest of the bunch. The 4x4 Yashica and Rolleis are very hard to get repairs on, plus 127 film is difficult to find, so I'd avoid those. For something pocketable, the Zeiss folder 6x6 without the rangefinder (guess distance) is very affordable, and has leather bellows. The Agfa Isolettes are nice too, but the vinyl bellows can develop corner holes if you open and shut too often. I started in photography with the Yashica 124G in high school in 1970. I've used view cameras up to 8x10, but medium format is still the best bet for quality and ease of use, roll film loading and development. I taught traditional and digital photo classes to college students. Many of them were using medium format cameras after I introduced them to the step up in quality over 35mm.
i've bought several of these. they are mostly in great condition. more than 5 are still with the original box. i keep 1 166 universal in sealed box and 2 166b in original box
О, да! Мы с женой тоже очень любим эту камеру! Часто берём с собой в путешествия из-за её компактности, лёгкости и качества снимков, которые получаются)
I’ve bought two of these cameras over the years. I think you have to find a suitable project, so I was interested in double exposures, which are easy to achieve as there is no automatic wind on, and sometimes mistakes can be creative. Also using the Bulb setting. I had to use the tripod, but after a while the plastic surround of the the screw thread cracked probably through pressure of screwing the the tripod thread onto it. But still they are cheap to replace. The shutter controls are fiddly and close together and it is best to use a cable release even hand held, I found.
I got two medium format cameras off FB marketplace for cheap here in Montreal. An Yashica A TRL for 80 Dollars Canadian. The viewing glass door is in bad shape but still functions ok. It takes really nice photos for the price I paid for it. Its super fun to use. The other is a Kodak Vigilant Junior six-20, a 1930s fold out camera. Shoots 6x9 I do believe but takes 620 film spools. So you either need to re-spool 120 film onto a 620 spool or buy it re-spooled. Its not an easy camera to use but I paid 50 bucks for it and its nearly in mint condition, came in the box with the instruction manual. Whoever owned it over the years must have never taken it out of the box, its in such good condition. Iv only used it about 3 or 4 times. Since i only get about 8 shots on a roll of film and hand holding this thing is very hard to get a sharp image I only take it out once in a while.
Awesome! I thought about buying the Lubitel 166B before I was convince to get a Yashica Mat-124 with the help of one your videos. I was also super interested in the Kiev 60 because of the price.
я начинал снимать такой камерой! главное не забывать перематывать кадры! наткнулся на это видео пока искал мануал по ремонту затвора, зимой вышел на улице поснимать на ЛЮБИТЕЛЬ 166В а затвор замерз.. любая выдержка работает как В. надо исправить) А видео у тебя классные! подписался с удовольствием!
One of my first medium formats was the Yashica-12 TLR camera. Worked great for 4-5 years before it became too hazy and inconsistent. Considering I only paid $124 for it, I decided to shelve it as a lovely display item, since it wasn't worth paying to fix it or CLA it. But I do plan on picking another TLR up at some point. I'm leaning towards the C220 from Mamiya (already own an RB and 645 from them) but I could see this camera as a great travel alternate watching you walk around with it.
Three days ago a friend gave me the same camera (he is not fond of photogrphy, so..) with jammed timer, so I disassembled it, fixed and now I'm going to use it. And anyway it's a good item in my collection of old cameras.
My first TLR was a Lubitel 2, great cameras, unique lens the triplet design does yield vinetteting and a swirl at wide open. I really need to wait out and find a 166 for cheap. And certainly would put the Lubitel as a good cheap medium format camera.
I have a Lubitel 166B, which I bought for £22 about 20 years ago. I was really amazed at the results; notably better than my Canon EOS 1000FN that I had at the time. I think the secret was to find a good processing lab. Fun to use, too.
I got a Pearl River TLR for around 80CAD and was incredible solid and sharp! One day something got stuck and while I was focusing only half of the front advanced and it broke various bits of mechanics and wires. Shame, it was a solid cheaper TLR while it lasted.
Did the lens element that fell off have the gearing to couple it with the other lens? If it did you may have reinstalled without ensuring both lenses were set to the same focal distance. This would mean the viewing screen focus was always leading or trailing the shooting lens. You'd have to make sure the gears were remeshed when both lenses are focused at the same distance.
@@KyleMcDougall that's a bummer man, not sure how you'd go about syncing them again. Maybe they both have a hard stop for infinity focus or position markings? Anyway, thanks for the sweet video!
@@danvarnus6336 put a roll of tracing paper in it... Focus the main lens on B with the back off. Focus the viewfinder on the ground glass dot. Re-mesh the lenses
I find the Czechoslovakian Flexaret TLR's quite nice they can be had for less then a 100 but for more as well they are made by Meopta a company that mainly focused on enlargers but they also use their own made lenses.
This camera is actually a copy of the 1930s German Voightlander Brilliant. I had one in the early 1980s bought for a princely sum of £18.00 British Pounds brand new. It does have character if nothing else.
Check out the video "TLR Lubitel 2 cameras, Lubitel 166U examples of black and white photos" which shows how this camera can shoot and is also well written about it in Giovanni Manisi's book "Lubitel Stories: Fotografare con la biottica venuta dalla terra dello Sputnik".
The old Lubitel is pritty cheap here in Serbia. I have 6 of them and i bought them from 1€ up to max 5€. And all of them are in super nice working condition.
I had one myself but found that the red counter window is annoying and it is easy to forward the frame too far and end up with blank frame! It was definitely plastic but it didn't feel too cheap in the usage experience! I later got a rolleicord iii which was such a huge upgrade including the feature where the camera has hard stops between the frames so I can't unintentionaly end up with blank frames or have to deal with the annoying red frame window!
Kyle, my experience with this camera was similar to yours - broken after 3 films! In my case one of the buttons on the side that hold the film spool in place fell out and got lost. I also found that needing to view the screen in one exact position was very frustrating. Image quality was OK. I'm glad that you gave an honest and balanced review to contrast with the Lomo hype. I paid £27 for mine - I can't imagine paying £300+
Yeah, focusing is a bugger, but you get used to it. I bought one of these brand new from Jessops back in 1989 for £18. I used it throughout my student years along with my Zenith 11. What I really lusted after at the time was a Pentagon Six, but they were hard to find back then. I still have the 166B and it still works and is in perfect condition. In fact I bought some rolls of FP4 and used it a few days ago on a trip to North Wales, I couldn't find my old light meter though. I had to download and use an app for my phone. I've yet to process the film, fingers crossed ;-)
I loved this video Kyle! Super fun to watch and definitely a useful reminder! I Got my Mamiya 645 not on a budget (330 euros) but I am so damn happy about that camera! It's getting me exactly what I ask her and compared to other choices I'm so glad I spent my money on that camera. Also, dope music in this video, great vibe!
I have one of these i bought in the early eBay days for $15. Focusing feels a bit clanky but otherwise it's held up well and been a decent and fun camera.
I have taken one of my favorite pictures ever with a Lubitel, but they are frustrating for me to use and I waste a lot of film. Very difficult for me to focus.
I inherited an old Yashica LM, which was broken; winding maechanicsam was bust. I've spent years ro find someone who can fix it, course all old dudes who fixed those cameras are either dead or in retirement. But about a year ago I finally find someone and enjoy that camera ever since...
I have two of them, and my greatest issue is exactly the fact that the "teeth" of the gears of the main lens and the focus lens often "miss" and the gears don't roll together. After every roll I have to put wax paper to check if the focus of the main gear is correctly alligned with the "focus" lens, and tighten the screws!
The first occasion of this should have the piece of junk binned. What you are saying for those who do not understand is that when used, the camera jumps out of alignment requiring a significant repair by you to be of further use.
I don't have this exact lubitel, but I do have the Lubitel 2, and it's my first medium format camera! I would say it's a good intro into medium format and TLRs
I loaded a roll before I found this video. I didn’t follow the steps you showed but I did get to the counter to show 1 but the shutter doesn’t engage. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
They go for about 500 bucks on Ebay right now and that's a starting bid for some of them. I feel the Rolleicord DBP is a better deal at around 95-130 bucks.
@@mulder19x95 I'm located in Germany, and usually see them going for 200-230 Euros. Doesn't seem like they're going up in price anytime soon either. Also, over here the Rolleiflexes came way down in price, even the 2.8 versions. They're such a great alternative to the rb67 and rz67, and really bring medium format into the realm of everyday usability.
@@jenserwig1707 Germany might have a different preference and that's why they are relatively cheap. Here in America they are pretty pricey for a working one. 200 is about the going price for one that's no longer in working condition.
Interesting that the music is from Debussy (French) and Chopin (Polish), but honestly it would be really hard to find a Rachmaninov piece that has the same slow and calm melancholy as Chopin’s preludes and nocturnes 🤗
£14.95 for 166B new in those days. I was young with little money and shooting 35mm film on a Pentax and the Lubitel was the only way I was going to be able to afford to try medium format. Focusing was always a bit hit or miss now matter how careful you were (and the focus ring never fell off mine!). Sometimes with subjects for than a few metres away it’s just best to Zone focus and an aperture of f8 or f11 for best results but you’d end up with some out if focus. You can’t beat that big neg though and it’s there’s a lot of joy in shooting waist level with a TLR. Square format gets you thinking differently about composition too!
The fuzzyness you were getting was likely not due to camera shake but due to the focus ring coming off. The viewing and taking lense are linked by that gear system and if the gear of the taking lense came off that easy then it was likely the viewing lense was rotating and showing in focus but the taking lense wasnt moving and stuck at the last focus you set.
I'd be surprised if they do. It's a good entry level camera for next to nothing, but probably not something that everyone is going to be itching to get their hands on.
I got mine from a local camera and processing shop for £20. There were three for sale, not b the next week though. Self timer does not work and an elastic band to keep the cover shut. First time I used it it came open and I lost a couple of frames. Otherwise pretty good. Colour and black and white. Net roll will be a roll of Kodak Gold 120 I have just bought.
I bought a Lubitel 116U in the 90s, since I like old box and folders, this was an awesome camera!!! I was expecting Holga quality, but it was actually much better and at the time I was looking for the toy camera feel ... i would endorse all Lubitels for an entry level TLR!!!
I definitely believe that film photography youtubers' starting points are good, which is sharing their opinion on a certain camera, and they have their rights to pick up whatever cameras they want to try and see how good it is (just like any of us), it's not like they sign a deal with eBay that they will get money for mentioning certain cameras (maybe except some youtubers who apparently are working with KEH camera, but they never hide it), however, the difference between us and youtubers is that we don't have audience to influence, whereas they have, just look at some overpriced p&s cameras nowadays which have been seen used by some celebrities. Honestly I don't know what the solution is, these cameras are not manufactured any more, there will only be less and less of them existing on this world in the future, so the price will sure be higher and higher, but I think it is important to emphasize the cons of those cameras (like what Kyle did in this video, and for some reason I can see his effort trying not to hype up this camera), let's hope it will discourage some ppl from all buying this camera...
What's your pick for the best 'cheap' medium format camera?
If you want quality I'd go with a older Yashica TLR or Pentacon Six for 6x6, a Bessa RF for 6x9 or a Konica Pearl II or III for 645.
Fujica GW690!
@@mrzachwright I only owned the GW690III and The GW690III and both are not really on the cheap side. But I heard that the lens on the first GW690 isn't that good?
Zeiss Ikon Nettar!
@@mrzachwright fujica g690 is even cheaper ;)
Ha I remember buying this camera at Freestyle in LA back in the late 90's for around $30ish. I still have it. Love freestyle.
just picked up my negatives from them a couple of days ago. Love it as well!
The focusing gear went off of alignment after front lens rim had fallen off. This is why photos turned soft. Nightmare with 166 B model, but still curable.
I'd love to see more videos like this of cheap film cameras
Agreed. We don't all have the budget for a Hasselblad 500, Rolleiflex 2.8, or Mamiya RZ67
@@ATF_CA I can really recommend the czech flexaret series. lovely TLR
6x9 folding camera's can be found cheap and produce some beautiful large negatives.
Thumbs up for the improved music :)
If you are going to do medium format 6x9 to me is the way to go, although I do have 6x6 cameras, for some reason I don't find square photographs aesthetically pleasing :-)
Nice. But a few points:
- The loose frontal ring is an issue with your copy. I didn't have this in my experience.
- Once you dropped the frontal ring (That is geared with the focusing lens) you lost your focus, due to malalignment of the gear, thus the OOF remaining films.
- If you haven't toss the damaged camera yet, I have a great suggestion for you and maybe for your next clip. Very easily you can remove the lens that is in place by screws, having axis from film chamber (Back of camera). And if you dissect it out, you have a great medium formate lens that can be adapter to any mirrorless (Via a tad of ingenuity and a cheap helical focuser). And then imagine the endless opportunities to test the lens or even adding a focal reducer, speed booster for another clip of fun... Go for it, if not too late but I have feeling it is already late!
I got my one repaired due to the exact same issue, but this camera is the exact reason I'm saving for a 645 SLR. I have enjoyed 120 but want something a little more refined.
y'all really gonna gentrify every affordable/entry-level MF camera until there's no stock left at reasonable prices with these videos
Word
YES! my initial thoughts clicking the video.
So what are we not supposed to talk about anything?
Good thing they made usable medium format cameras for over 60 years.
Two years ago you couldn't give these away but now, the asking price on the Bay for used ones is around £60.00 which is laughable given the quality of them. Mind you if a plastic fantastic Holga costs £40.00 what else would u expect?
Voigtländer Brilliant, Yashica A, Pentacon Six TL/Kiev 6, Kowa Six, Kiev 88, Fujifilm GX680, Fujica 6x9, Mamiya Press, 6x9 technical cameras, Moskva 4 and 5, Mamiya M645, Pilot 6 or Kalimar Reflex and similar...the list goes on! Nothing quirky here, just old-fashioned goodness.
I love mine - I always go to it when I want to do deliberate double exposures. Once you get your eye in focusing becomes a lot easier
That double exposure was actually really great! Probably my favorite out of all you took with the camera
Thanks, Daniel!
I've shot this camera exclusively as my first medium format camera and still love it. I've also got a 6x6 Zeiss folder and an amazing Kiev 6C/ 60 that I love dearly. I enjoy the Lubitel tons still and have even made a TTL viewfinder adapter for it so I can use my Kiev 6C viewfinder on it instead of the near useless waist level finder. The Kiev 6 TTL finder also has a meter on it so my Lubitel is also able to use the light meter. I enjoy the vignetting that the lens produces although I mostly shoot at f/11 or f/16 so I hardly see it in the photos. I'd recommend the Kiev 6C or 60 to people looking for an affordable medium format camera; just make sure it was cared for or had a clr done recently. Really enjoyed this video and hope to see more "cheapest" cameras in the future!
Glad you enjoyed this one. Cheers!
This is refreshing! I owned two of these over 8 years, between 1989 and 1997(the first was dropped by a friend, resulting in the focusing lens being bumped, and, misaligned permanently; the second, received as a freebie with the purchase of a propack of Ilford XP4, 120 rollfilm, when I worked in Chicago in the photo retail industry. It was a fun camera; great review!
As far as the camera damage....gaffers tape works wonders!😀! Thanks for the cool memories!
Gaff tape to the rescue! Glad you enjoyed it.
Well now that you’ve done a video on it, it’s not going to be cheap anymore ;)
After it fell apart in his hands an barely works to begin with‽
I wouldn’t be so sure.
I doubt that.
Ah my home city! Im a photo technician at the local uni and I love when students arrive and capture the city in a different way.
Thanks for this video, really useful to know what its like as we do get a lot of interest for medium format but not everyone can spend £500 +
Glad you enjoyed this Billie. Portsmouth is a nice place!
Been shooting my Lubitel since 86 :) Still have a soft spot for it. Use a tripod and a cable release.
A model very similar to yours::: I bought and used a Lubitel-2 for a few months. Part of my motivation was to experience what a 1970s Soviet citizen experienced as a hobby photographer. (Exec. Summary: Über mediocre equipment)
Mine had the same focusing lens (not a screen) with the frosted spot. And similar shutter and lens.
The vignetting was tolerable at f/8 and smaller apertures. Too heavy for my tastes at f/5.6. The limited range of shutter speeds almost necessitates the use of an ND filter at times.
The lens is a Cooke Triplet (designed by H. Dennis Taylor in 1893). It was revolutionary then. And not to be sneezed at today.
There’s very little to fail in these cameras. The shutter is rumoured to _never_ need a CLA (clever Soviets?).
Ultimately, it was a huge pain to compose and focus, had a too-limited range of shutter speeds and apertures. I parted with it, hoping someone else could enjoy it.
With a good subject, proper framing, focus and exposure - no problem. Really nice images on the film… I agree. It’s a tall mountain to climb to achieve all that more than occasionally.
Film loading and advance is dream-like in its simplicity. The Bakelite camera body is genius for mass-production.
The geared focus system isn’t bad in theory. Everything in that realm is made to pretty low standards. An owner would be in good stead if s/he knows how to re-synchronize focus between the viewing and taking lenses.
It sure is light and compact!
It could be resurrected and improved in modern times. However, I cannot see it selling for under $1,000 with today’s high costs for every little thing.
8:10 that’s why we use camera neck straps. They will also help with bracing when you are using longer shutter speeds.
More people should praise your B-roll, great video as always!
I appreciate that.
I was literally looking at this camera on ebay before I watched this video!
Great review and it was also cool seeing you photograph around Portsmouth. I've lived here for 3 years now since I started university and it's interesting how you find subjects more easily when you're new to a place
My first medium format camera! It was an original my father gave me when I started getting into film photography.
I adore my Lubitel 2. 100 speed film and you have range. My Argoflex is sweet as well, except for respoolling to 620 spool.
Hey me, I'm you.
Today I finally assembled mine. It had some serious issues, but with help of one parts donor I made it literally brand new
Yeah, double exposures are gonna happen until you get used to shooting with these TLR's, then you get your process down. You wind the film to the next shot as soon as you take the picture. So, set shutter speed and aperture, focus, cock the shutter, take the picture, wind the film. Once your mind has that, you're golden. Loved the review Kyle... sorry about the catastrophe at the end! It made my head hurt... grin.
Absolutely. Can see it bring one of those things that get's easier as you get used to it. Cheers!
I'm a big fan of the Mamiya 6 folder! I have the 645/6x6 version with Zuiko lens. So good and very affordable!
I've eyeballed those for a while. Really nice cameras from what I hear!
I had been shooting with this camera as a kid, and I still have it 😍
These less expensive 120 cameras are still very capable. I use an 70 year old triplet lensed folder as the backup to my Mamiya 6 because the quality holds up really well if you shoot it right.
I shot like 20 rolls with my Lubitel 166 Universal and I was very happy with image quality. That being said, I almost exclusively do landscape and street so I never shot wide open with this lens. But the good news is that you can stop it down to F32 and still get a great image. My main issue with the camera - and the reason why I bough the Yashica Mat 124G - was the manual film advance. I too shot so many double exposures or left so many frames blank because I winded just to be on the safe side... it was just a huge waste of money... Otherwise, when you are a disciplined operator, you can decent shots out of these things...
Yep, I suffered from forgetting to wind as well, and making way too many double exposures.
Keep a small pocket notebook and a pencil with you when you're shooting with this camera. Write down what each shot is and what the settings were. Don't advance to the next frame until you've finished writing and then you write the number of that frame on the next line. Ever since I adopted this system, I've never made a double exposure. As a side effect, you have a record of everything you shot on that roll for reference during development.
@@newq Yeah, it's a thing of establishing a fixed workflow to which you stick. Just to make a decision to either advance after a shot or to advance before the shot would be enough, if I could stick to it. But I never shoot enough film (especially with one camera) to develop a real routine and real muscle memory so in the heat of the moment I tend to mess up...
I like my 166B, I picked it up in a second hand shop in Warsaw, Poland several years ago.
Nowdays, in Moscow you could probably buy this camera cheaper than a roll of portra 400.
I'm gonna say, even 1.5 x CHEAPER than a roll of goddamn Kodak's 2020 stock!
It doesn't help that Kodak's prices are ever increasing as if they weren't expensive enough already
@@johnjoenugent6359 that's for sure, Russia's not that nearby as Europe, you would have to be paying extra fees for a shipment + 20 - 30 % over that price, to make a profit for a local film supply or lab that's selling it.
Mercedes benz 6.9
I used to make pinhole cameras of these, as the upper lens gives a more clear idea about the composition, but nowadays I just enjoy the Lubitel with all it faults and techical surprises. Thank you!
Lubitel 2. I have just put a film through mine. It's immaculate and takes wonderful pictures. I bought it from a friend for £30.
The lens is a three element Cooke copy.A brilliant lens by an English designer. It's was copied by Zeiss on their Triotar 4.5 lens and virtually every one.
The Chinese Seagull 4bi tlr uses it. Another good little camera, a bit more expensive than the Lubitel.
Lubitel means Amateur.
I still got mine's as it was given to me as a Present. The lens is Sharp, but very had to focus that it did not have a split or Microprism screen to focus the central portion... But again it is sharp.
Debussy intro? Daaamn nice!
dude, amazing opening. Great story telling and beautiful shots
Yashica A, Yashica D or the Yashica LM might be a good choice. I'm also very keen on the Minolta Autocords. Rolleicords are fantastic if the shutter is working well. I love the IV model but it's hard to get repairs on the shutters if older than the model V. Mamiya C22 or C33 with interchangeable lenses are very capable machines, but larger and very heavy. The Yashica A and the Rolleicord would be the lightest of the bunch. The 4x4 Yashica and Rolleis are very hard to get repairs on, plus 127 film is difficult to find, so I'd avoid those. For something pocketable, the Zeiss folder 6x6 without the rangefinder (guess distance) is very affordable, and has leather bellows. The Agfa Isolettes are nice too, but the vinyl bellows can develop corner holes if you open and shut too often. I started in photography with the Yashica 124G in high school in 1970. I've used view cameras up to 8x10, but medium format is still the best bet for quality and ease of use, roll film loading and development. I taught traditional and digital photo classes to college students. Many of them were using medium format cameras after I introduced them to the step up in quality over 35mm.
i've bought several of these. they are mostly in great condition. more than 5 are still with the original box. i keep 1 166 universal in sealed box and 2 166b in original box
О, да! Мы с женой тоже очень любим эту камеру! Часто берём с собой в путешествия из-за её компактности, лёгкости и качества снимков, которые получаются)
My first medium format camera was a lubitel 2. Good fun.
Who is singing the soul song that starts at 7:45 and what is the name of the song?
The song is not listed in the credits.
I have an older version of this camera...never used it😂 but sparks great conversation with friends when they visit
I’ve bought two of these cameras over the years. I think you have to find a suitable project, so I was interested in double exposures, which are easy to achieve as there is no automatic wind on, and sometimes mistakes can be creative. Also using the Bulb setting. I had to use the tripod, but after a while the plastic surround of the the screw thread cracked probably through pressure of screwing the the tripod thread onto it. But still they are cheap to replace. The shutter controls are fiddly and close together and it is best to use a cable release even hand held, I found.
I got two medium format cameras off FB marketplace for cheap here in Montreal. An Yashica A TRL for 80 Dollars Canadian. The viewing glass door is in bad shape but still functions ok. It takes really nice photos for the price I paid for it. Its super fun to use. The other is a Kodak Vigilant Junior six-20, a 1930s fold out camera. Shoots 6x9 I do believe but takes 620 film spools. So you either need to re-spool 120 film onto a 620 spool or buy it re-spooled. Its not an easy camera to use but I paid 50 bucks for it and its nearly in mint condition, came in the box with the instruction manual. Whoever owned it over the years must have never taken it out of the box, its in such good condition. Iv only used it about 3 or 4 times. Since i only get about 8 shots on a roll of film and hand holding this thing is very hard to get a sharp image I only take it out once in a while.
Awesome! I thought about buying the Lubitel 166B before I was convince to get a Yashica Mat-124 with the help of one your videos. I was also super interested in the Kiev 60 because of the price.
я начинал снимать такой камерой! главное не забывать перематывать кадры! наткнулся на это видео пока искал мануал по ремонту затвора, зимой вышел на улице поснимать на ЛЮБИТЕЛЬ 166В а затвор замерз.. любая выдержка работает как В. надо исправить) А видео у тебя классные! подписался с удовольствием!
I actually really like the shot at 6:43. The softness works in that one!
Just ordered a Holga! I'll be very keen to see if I can coax some decent images out of it.
One of my first medium formats was the Yashica-12 TLR camera. Worked great for 4-5 years before it became too hazy and inconsistent. Considering I only paid $124 for it, I decided to shelve it as a lovely display item, since it wasn't worth paying to fix it or CLA it. But I do plan on picking another TLR up at some point. I'm leaning towards the C220 from Mamiya (already own an RB and 645 from them) but I could see this camera as a great travel alternate watching you walk around with it.
For the price, there's not much to lose with this one, especially if you don't drop it like me.
lens falls off
"actually doesn't feel that cheap"
😂 Besides that it felt pretty good.
Three days ago a friend gave me the same camera (he is not fond of photogrphy, so..) with jammed timer, so I disassembled it, fixed and now I'm going to use it. And anyway it's a good item in my collection of old cameras.
My first TLR was a Lubitel 2, great cameras, unique lens the triplet design does yield vinetteting and a swirl at wide open. I really need to wait out and find a 166 for cheap. And certainly would put the Lubitel as a good cheap medium format camera.
Started with Mamiya C330. TLR. Then Bronica, then Hasselblad. Loved the Mamiya??? Don’t know why.
I use an old Flexaret, which was about the same price as the Lubitel and I absolutely love it. 😍
I have a Lubitel 166B, which I bought for £22 about 20 years ago. I was really amazed at the results; notably better than my Canon EOS 1000FN that I had at the time. I think the secret was to find a good processing lab. Fun to use, too.
I got a Pearl River TLR for around 80CAD and was incredible solid and sharp! One day something got stuck and while I was focusing only half of the front advanced and it broke various bits of mechanics and wires. Shame, it was a solid cheaper TLR while it lasted.
very nostalgic, I bought one of these many years ago for £15. great review.
Did the lens element that fell off have the gearing to couple it with the other lens? If it did you may have reinstalled without ensuring both lenses were set to the same focal distance. This would mean the viewing screen focus was always leading or trailing the shooting lens. You'd have to make sure the gears were remeshed when both lenses are focused at the same distance.
Yeah, it did. I definitely was not careful re-installing it, and I think you're right. The two lenses were likely out sync.
@@KyleMcDougall that's a bummer man, not sure how you'd go about syncing them again. Maybe they both have a hard stop for infinity focus or position markings? Anyway, thanks for the sweet video!
@@danvarnus6336 put a roll of tracing paper in it... Focus the main lens on B with the back off. Focus the viewfinder on the ground glass dot. Re-mesh the lenses
@@StreakyP brilliant, that is so much more straightforward than I'd pictured it. Thanks Ian
love the music! one can clearly see how much thought you put in your videos! great work!
Thank you! Cheers!
Nice vid, I have been thinking about getting that camera.
I find the Czechoslovakian Flexaret TLR's quite nice they can be had for less then a 100 but for more as well they are made by Meopta a company that mainly focused on enlargers but they also use their own made lenses.
I've heard great things!
@@KyleMcDougall i have one myself it has some problems cuased by bad care haven't used it mutch yet as i was taking a break from photography.
Bought the lubitel when it came out , late 80's i think cost me £16.95, Still got it
I bought mine roundabout 1985 - £14; it's up in the loft so I must dig it out
There was a shop in Holborn sold them - Russian Technical and Optical Equipment - I got me Zenit 12XP from them too. Awesome place.
Your videos are a joy to watch Kyle, even the ones about Soviet cameras! Regards from Portugal :)
Thank you, Andre.
This camera is actually a copy of the 1930s German Voightlander Brilliant. I had one in the early 1980s bought for a princely sum of £18.00 British Pounds brand new. It does have character if nothing else.
I don't mind being bothered by the edges of the taking lens in my view finder $50-60 camera with super cool image captures!
Ektar is really growing one me. Think Im gonna do a roll of Ektar and Portra for my reviews cause its such a nice range! Havent shot a lot of bw
I go back and forth on it with every roll I shoot. I really liked the results from this one though.
Thanks for this usefull reminder. Light price, light weight... make the Lubitel or similar options attractive. And I really like your compositions.
Thank you. 🙏
Check out the video "TLR Lubitel 2 cameras, Lubitel 166U examples of black and white photos" which shows how this camera can shoot and is also well written about it in Giovanni Manisi's book "Lubitel Stories: Fotografare con la biottica venuta dalla terra dello Sputnik".
The old Lubitel is pritty cheap here in Serbia. I have 6 of them and i bought them from 1€ up to max 5€. And all of them are in super nice working condition.
Nice! Can't go wrong for that price.
I had one myself but found that the red counter window is annoying and it is easy to forward the frame too far and end up with blank frame!
It was definitely plastic but it didn't feel too cheap in the usage experience!
I later got a rolleicord iii which was such a huge upgrade including the feature where the camera has hard stops between the frames so I can't unintentionaly end up with blank frames or have to deal with the annoying red frame window!
Yeah, the film advance/red window really burned me.
Kyle, my experience with this camera was similar to yours - broken after 3 films! In my case one of the buttons on the side that hold the film spool in place fell out and got lost. I also found that needing to view the screen in one exact position was very frustrating. Image quality was OK. I'm glad that you gave an honest and balanced review to contrast with the Lomo hype. I paid £27 for mine - I can't imagine paying £300+
Cheers, Kevin. Yeah, seems to be mixed reviews with this camera. Some people love it, others hate it.
Yeah, focusing is a bugger, but you get used to it. I bought one of these brand new from Jessops back in 1989 for £18. I used it throughout my student years along with my Zenith 11. What I really lusted after at the time was a Pentagon Six, but they were hard to find back then. I still have the 166B and it still works and is in perfect condition. In fact I bought some rolls of FP4 and used it a few days ago on a trip to North Wales, I couldn't find my old light meter though. I had to download and use an app for my phone. I've yet to process the film, fingers crossed ;-)
My first film camera! Glad I sold it tho, I'm keeping my rolleiflex. Thanks for this, Kyle! :)
Hey there, try also meopta flexaret 6, it should be quite cheap TLR with an very sharp (tessar like) optics.
I loved this video Kyle! Super fun to watch and definitely a useful reminder! I Got my Mamiya 645 not on a budget (330 euros) but I am so damn happy about that camera! It's getting me exactly what I ask her and compared to other choices I'm so glad I spent my money on that camera.
Also, dope music in this video, great vibe!
That’s awesome! Glad you’re enjoying the Mamiya. Great camera. 🙂
This is cool and all, but what about the Flexaret?
Dude the moment I saw that little jetty at the start I knew it was Portsmouth :D Great video man keep it up!
Glad you enjoyed it
Great review of a cheap camera. Thanks for doing this and helping me save $75!
The death of the Lubitel, so sad.
that proves even if u camera is acting up or optics aint the best that u can take amazing photos .awesome
Kyle can you make a video on the Olympus trip 35 I want to hear your thoughts on it.
I'll keep that in mind for the future. Have a few other Olympus cams lined up for the near future.
Sounds good
I have one of these i bought in the early eBay days for $15. Focusing feels a bit clanky but otherwise it's held up well and been a decent and fun camera.
I have taken one of my favorite pictures ever with a Lubitel, but they are frustrating for me to use and I waste a lot of film. Very difficult for me to focus.
I inherited an old Yashica LM, which was broken; winding maechanicsam was bust. I've spent years ro find someone who can fix it, course all old dudes who fixed those cameras are either dead or in retirement. But about a year ago I finally find someone and enjoy that camera ever since...
I have two of them, and my greatest issue is exactly the fact that the "teeth" of the gears of the main lens and the focus lens often "miss" and the gears don't roll together. After every roll I have to put wax paper to check if the focus of the main gear is correctly alligned with the "focus" lens, and tighten the screws!
i have exactly the same issue! i find the screws are impossible to tighten. the outer ring of the lens is in the way
The first occasion of this should have the piece of junk binned. What you are saying for those who do not understand is that when used, the camera jumps out of alignment requiring a significant repair by you to be of further use.
No way! Just as I bought one haha! We were probably looking at the same sellers
I don't have this exact lubitel, but I do have the Lubitel 2, and it's my first medium format camera! I would say it's a good intro into medium format and TLRs
excellent and informative as always!
Thanks, dude!
I just bought a really nice condition late model Rolleicord for the equivalent of around £70. There are definitely some great deals out there.
For sure. You can still definitely find deals, but it takes time and some searching.
I loaded a roll before I found this video. I didn’t follow the steps you showed but I did get to the counter to show 1 but the shutter doesn’t engage. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
Rolleicord VB . Trust me, it's the real deal.
Agreed. I bought a Va for around £70 recently. Seriously beautiful camera
They go for about 500 bucks on Ebay right now and that's a starting bid for some of them. I feel the Rolleicord DBP is a better deal at around 95-130 bucks.
@@mulder19x95 I'm located in Germany, and usually see them going for 200-230 Euros. Doesn't seem like they're going up in price anytime soon either. Also, over here the Rolleiflexes came way down in price, even the 2.8 versions. They're such a great alternative to the rb67 and rz67, and really bring medium format into the realm of everyday usability.
@@jenserwig1707 Germany might have a different preference and that's why they are relatively cheap. Here in America they are pretty pricey for a working one. 200 is about the going price for one that's no longer in working condition.
One of the family cameras is Ye Olde Rolleicord V, which continues on, even if it isn't as Hip as a Va or Vb.;)
Interesting that the music is from Debussy (French) and Chopin (Polish), but honestly it would be really hard to find a Rachmaninov piece that has the same slow and calm melancholy as Chopin’s preludes and nocturnes 🤗
£14.95 for 166B new in those days. I was young with little money and shooting 35mm film on a Pentax and the Lubitel was the only way I was going to be able to afford to try medium format. Focusing was always a bit hit or miss now matter how careful you were (and the focus ring never fell off mine!). Sometimes with subjects for than a few metres away it’s just best to Zone focus and an aperture of f8 or f11 for best results but you’d end up with some out if focus. You can’t beat that big neg though and it’s there’s a lot of joy in shooting waist level with a TLR. Square format gets you thinking differently about composition too!
The fuzzyness you were getting was likely not due to camera shake but due to the focus ring coming off. The viewing and taking lense are linked by that gear system and if the gear of the taking lense came off that easy then it was likely the viewing lense was rotating and showing in focus but the taking lense wasnt moving and stuck at the last focus you set.
you have great intentions showcasing this sick camera, but prices are bout to go UPPPPP
I'd be surprised if they do. It's a good entry level camera for next to nothing, but probably not something that everyone is going to be itching to get their hands on.
I got mine from a local camera and processing shop for £20. There were three for sale, not b the next week though. Self timer does not work and an elastic band to keep the cover shut. First time I used it it came open and I lost a couple of frames. Otherwise pretty good. Colour and black and white. Net roll will be a roll of Kodak Gold 120 I have just bought.
Can you help me what song starts at 4:30?
Great vid though.
I had Flexaret Va and kinda liked it. Best medium format camera for beginners.
I bought a Lubitel 116U in the 90s, since I like old box and folders, this was an awesome camera!!! I was expecting Holga quality, but it was actually much better and at the time I was looking for the toy camera feel ... i would endorse all Lubitels for an entry level TLR!!!
Kudos for the Debussy intro👌🙏
What is the song at the end? It has a Muscle Shoals (or maybe Memphis) sound.
I definitely believe that film photography youtubers' starting points are good, which is sharing their opinion on a certain camera, and they have their rights to pick up whatever cameras they want to try and see how good it is (just like any of us), it's not like they sign a deal with eBay that they will get money for mentioning certain cameras (maybe except some youtubers who apparently are working with KEH camera, but they never hide it), however, the difference between us and youtubers is that we don't have audience to influence, whereas they have, just look at some overpriced p&s cameras nowadays which have been seen used by some celebrities. Honestly I don't know what the solution is, these cameras are not manufactured any more, there will only be less and less of them existing on this world in the future, so the price will sure be higher and higher, but I think it is important to emphasize the cons of those cameras (like what Kyle did in this video, and for some reason I can see his effort trying not to hype up this camera), let's hope it will discourage some ppl from all buying this camera...
This is what I thought after seeing Kyle posted Lubitel 166, Jason posted Contax T2 and Willem posted RB67 at almost the same day ...
Lovely video, love the music!
Glad you enjoyed it!
You captured Portsmouth really well, incredible work Kyle
Thank you, Mark. Much appreciated.