That's a bit short. Lomography was founded in 1992 as a group around the Lomo LC-A camera, which made exhibitions, but also sold the camera, made in Russia. When Lomo ended the production of the LC-A in 1994, Lomography made them revive the LC-A in 1995 until 2005 and sold these cameras exclusively. The production was then moved to China and since 2006 it's the Chinese + model with superior features, but inferior quality....Lomorgrraphy is a 21st century business and photographic community that is another entity completely. The company sells cameras and lenses -- made in China -- but, as with GOZ, only a couple actually have the "LOMO" name on them...
Lomo (actually GOZ in Russian or "Factory of State Optics") was founded in 1914 in Leningrad. It made cameras and lenses but only a couple of cameras actually had the "LOMO" name on them.
Lomorgrraphy is a 21st century business and photographic community that is another entity completely. The company sells cameras and lenses -- made in China -- but, as with GOZ, only a couple actually have the "LOMO" name on them.
So you need to be specific about what camera(s) you are referring to. There are old Lubitel TLR cameras that were made in the Soviet Union from the 1940's to the 1980's, and there are newer ones made in China that are completely different -- but have the same name.
The question still remains, to which cameras do you refer? Most Lomography cameras have a single speed shutter of ~1/100. That's a pretty simple plastic mechanical shutter. You can buy the cameras at ~3€ piece and dismount the shutter. The shutters of the LC-A and its 120 clone are electronic and the cameras are quite expensive, more expensive than a standard and reliable Compur (or other brand) shutter.
Making shutters is hard.
Nidec-Copal still makes shutters and Seiko still makes components AFAIK...
Focal plane shutters are extremely rudimentary from a design and implementation standpoint. Pop open a brownie and take a look. Adding an escapement for varying the speed geometrically or operating a leaf shutter arrangement is barely any more difficult but may require more precise machining.
Insofar as current manufacturers, it's probably some some guy being paid $0.56 / hour to operate an injection molding machine. There's been at least one recent entrant into the market that might be able to provide some insight into a more modern, electronically controlled shutter assembly in the Alfie.
I don't know who makes the shutters for Edmundoptics but I doubt they manufacture them themselves. These shutters are pricey but they are probably a fraction of the price if you buy them from the manufacturer. How many do you need?Optical Shutters | Motorized Shutters | Edmund Optics
Shutters are used to control the level of light exposure in an optical lens, microscopy, or laser optics system. ✓ Shop now with Edmund Optics!www.edmundoptics.com.au
Let me ping Hugo Zhang (Chamonix large format camera distributor in US) if he knows anything from the Chinese camera industry.
This is what is limiting right now, I'm sure I could design and build one (I have access to a full machine shop), but not really willing to invest the time. Also considering using a replacement shutter assembly for a DSLR and hacking it. Would rather use an actual part number from a manufacturer with stable supply chain. Also prefer mechanical because that is cooler.
Would using a DSLR shutter be light tight? based on what I've seen on DSLR shutters, you'd have to do similar modifications to what Cosina did to their rangefinders that were based on the CT1?
But I do recall my local tab tech was was experimenting with some stuff and bought a sony a7 shutter to try to make something, but I haven't heard any progress in over a year.
On another note, there is this inexpensive German-made shutter that you might experiment with?
SALE! GERMAN ELECTRIC SHUTTER for WOOD FIELD VIEW CAMERA BRASS LENS 8X10 5X7 | eBay
ABOUT THE SHUTTER: 40MM ELECTRONIC 24VDC SHUTTER ASSEMBLY (EM3259). The shutter stays open for as long as 12V power is applied using the dark blue and red wires only. I have operated it with the 12V power cord of an electric shaver at the solenoid itself.www.ebay.com
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