In Bangkok they’ll be wearing bows and fake tattoos. Food and drinks are promised in Tokyo, and in Seoul there will be cake while revelers in Hong Kong will drink shots of vodka while listening to Russian music. The Lomo Compact Automat (LC-A) will be celebrated around the world on June 19, marking its first shipment from the St. Petersburg-Leningrad Optical Mechanical Organization (LOMO) factory 25 years ago. Jump for more info and sample LC-A pics.

Over the camera’s lifespan, its cheapness has morphed from a liability to its killer feature. The unpredictable aberrations and vignetting of its lens have become artistic and fashionable, not to mention egalitarian — even the most inexperienced photographer can pick up a Lomo camera and get interesting results.

While these same features grate on many serious photographers, the fact remains that it’s fun, dirty and its cheapness makes it easy for Lomo communities to form and share their shots. In a market where competition is driven by technological innovation, Lomo found success selling simple plastic film cameras that offered uniqueness rather than features. Now Lomo’s stable includes a variety of cameras with different quirks and styles.