Lomo ALMAZ 103

Almaz 103 bought (out-of-order bare body) on eBay on july 22nd, 2010 for 100$ +40$(shared) sending fees.
MC Volna 1.8/50mm bought for me on aukro.ua by Irina (570 UAH), delivered september 9th, 2010.

Between 1978 and 1990, Lomo has launched the production of "professional" 135 reflex cameras,using Pentax K mount.
After prototypes Almaz 101 and 102, some Almaz 102 were produced in 1979-1980 (63ex.), then the Almaz 103 between 1982 and 1987 (9508 ex.). Finally an Almaz 104 was presented in 1990 but never mass produced.
Features: metal curtain shutter(1s - 1/1000s) fully mechanical, interchangeable viewfinder and focusing screen. A winder was planned (but never produced). Also, a lever (plus lock button) under the shutter speed selector to disengage the film advance to make overlays, and a "Minolta SRT101" style depth of field tester button (but not locking).
The Almaz 102 (and 104) had a coupled lightmeter prism (like Nikon Photomic), the 103 has no meter (and the prism of 102 would not fit, no coupling provided).
Standard lens Volna 1.8/50mm (or Volna 1.4/50mm).

I had heard on this side of the Iron Curtain of a Soviet "Nikon F3" (the legend said in Nikon mount, confusion with Kiev?). In fact, it is closer to the F2 and if it has the inspiration, it does not have it's reliability. I read that it was because of lower quality materials than those planned, having had a look inside I agree. On this one, the cocking lever had been forced beyond its normal travel, blocking the shutter (with parts made in a more rigid steel, it would not be possible).