"Smena" is the most affordable camera of the Soviet era.

"Smena" — the name of a family of Soviet rangefinder cameras and other photographic equipment, produced from 1939–1941 and from 1953 to the 1990s by the GOMZ factory (later LOMO) in Leningrad, and from 1957–1961 by the MMZ factory (BelOMO) in Minsk (Belarus).

All "Smena" cameras were designed for the mass consumer, hence they were characterized by simplicity and low cost.

1939–1941
The pre-war "Smena" was a rangefinder camera for 35-mm movie film, structurally similar to the "Kodak Bantam" camera. It featured a 6.8/50 mm achromatic lens with distance scale focusing, a disk shutter with speeds of 1/50 sec and "B", a frame viewfinder, cassette-free loading with film rolled into 75 cm pieces. It was related to the "Liliput" and "Baby" cameras produced at the same time.

Post-War Models

"Smena-6", "Smena-35", and "Smena-8M".

All serial post-war models have common design features:

- plastic body;
- used photographic material — 35-mm perforated movie film (135-type film) in standard cassettes (except for the "Smena-Rapid" model, designed for use with "Rapid" cassettes);
- frame size 24×36 mm;
- fixed lens with a "Triplet" optical scheme and a focal length of 40 mm, equipped with an iris diaphragm and a manual distance scale focusing mechanism. The lens aperture varied from 1:4.5 (Triplet "T-22" 4.5/40) to 1:4.0 (Triplet "T-43" 4/40). The maximum diaphragm closing varied from 1:16 ("T-43") to 1:22 ("T-22");
- central lens shutter with automatic speeds ranging from 1/10 — 1/200 or 1/15 — 1/250 sec and "B" speed;
- socket for mounting an external rangefinder or flash lamp;
- separate shutter cocking and film winding (except for models "Smena-Symbol", "Smena-Rapid", "Smena-SL", "Smena-19", "Smena-20").

In the 1950s, "Smena" cameras based on a basic model developed in 1952 were produced. These include: "Smena-2", "Smena-3", and "Smena-4", as well as "Smena-M" and "Smena-2M", which were produced only in Belarus. These cameras featured an optical viewfinder.

In the 1960s, cameras with a new body with a characteristic bulge for the left hand, known as the "Smena-classic" (from the fifth to the ninth model, except "Smena-8M"), were produced, featuring a frame viewfinder.

Before the "Smena-8" (1963), cameras did not have a film rewind mechanism: the film was transported to an empty receiving cassette.

In the early 1970s, production of "Smena-8M" and "Smena-Symbol" began, which had a more modern appearance and improved ergonomics. The "Smena-8M" retained the frame viewfinder, while the "Smena-Symbol" featured a cocking lever combined with film winding.

"Smena-Rapid" ("Smena-SL") — cameras with simplified film loading using "Rapid" cassettes, did not gain wide popularity in the USSR.

From the mid-1980s, they were replaced by "Smena-19", "Smena-20", and "Smena-35" with a changed appearance.

"Smena-Symbol", "Smena-19", "Smena-20", and "Smena-35" featured a non-removable take-up spool, required film rewind after exposure, and an optical viewfinder.

Most models were equipped with a synchronization contact, and some featured an automatic shutter release. Starting from the 1970s, exposure and focusing settings were introduced based on weather symbols and distances.

The "Smena" family cameras, with very low prices, had good technical characteristics, which led to their widespread use, including as a tool for teaching beginner photographers in photo clubs and photography classes. Outside the USSR, "Smena" cameras were sold under both their original name and under brands like "Cosmic-35", "Global-35", and others.

The total production volume of the "Smena-8" (1963–1971) and "Smena-8M" (1970 – mid-1990s), which only differed in exterior design and the lack of automatic shutter release in the "Smena-8M" model, exceeded 20 million units.

"Smena-8M" is listed in the Guinness World Records as the most mass-produced camera in the world.

"Smena" cameras equipped with built-in exposure meters, exposure automation, and more advanced lenses remained as experimental samples or were produced in limited quantities.

Under the "Smena" name, accessory rangefinders for scale cameras and photo enlargers were also produced.