As the Minitar-1 is so closely tied to the legacy of the LC-A, it’s impossible not to mention the connection between them. And so, the story begins in 1982, when the idea for the LOMO LC-A was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. However, before the legendary camera we all know and love could begin production, the heart of the camera, the lens, needed a design fit for such a kingly project.
The Genesis of the Minitar-1
The experts from LOMO PLC in St. Petersburg, Russia, renowned for their excellent work in lens production, were put on the case and the Minitar-1 was born. But there was a catch — the lens couldn’t be mass produced in a cost effective manner and uncertainties arose. However, goodness prevailed when a well-known and respected emeritus, Lev Sakin, took the reins. His recalculations on the Minitar-1 made the LOMO LC-A a successful endeavor. The Minitar-1 Lens was finished and the camera went into mass production in 1984.
How the Minitar-1 was Dubbed
It was Mr. Tarabukin, an optic specialist from the GOI Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, who is responsible for the naming of the Minitar-1. The ‘tar’ of Minitar-1 is taken from the first three letters of his last name. He was also responsible for finishing the Minitar-1’s original calculations. From there, it was later passed to Lev Sakin. To this day, lenses are still being finished in accordance to Mr. Sakin’s calculations.
A Bright Future
With nowhere to go but forward, we’ve found ourselves once again embracing a new and exciting idea courtesy of the LC-A. This time, it’s the fastest lens in the west — the LC-A Minitar-1 Art Lens. Capable of endless creative opportunities and compatible with a multitude of different cameras, from new and old to analogue and digital, the Minitar-1 Lens brings the joy of LC-A photography to the 21st century!
