Reason Smena was abandoned was another Soviet classic - my happiest SLR Zenit-E with Helios-44-2 2/58, both built in 1982. Happiest because it was gifted by my father in July 1985 after I successfully graduated from highschool and entered university - trench overjumped, mission accomplished, uncertainty ended, SLR photography started.
Still operates as a clockwork, but not used for everyday photography for safety's sake: would be silly to damage so sweet a memory of youth. Shown with kit Helios-44-2 2/58 and further below with MC Mir-20M 3.5/20 mounted and Helios-44-2 2/58 and MC Jupiter-37AM 3.5/135 on standby.
For readers of next thread about camera costs in various years: Smena-8M in 1981 cost SUR 15.00 (around USD 20-25 at slightly varying official rate).
Zenit-E built by KMZ (in suburbs of Moscow) with Helios-44-2 was at SUR 100.00 (divide by 0.65 to get USD figures), made by BelOMO in Belorussian SSR like mine - at SUR 90.00, if fitted with Industar 2.8/50 - at USD 75.00, body alone were not sold in regular shops.
For those who forgot: SUR - Soviet Union Rouble