Lomography

DCodd

Has any one had any experience with these cameras?
http://uk.shop.lomography.com/cameras

They appear to be a relatively cheap introduction to the 120 format, just concerned about the quality of the camera itself.

fwor

I suspect that the quality will be "basic" - they have one for £55 which apparently makes a virtue of the fact that it has a plastic lens!

The thing is that film cameras are in so little demand that you can pick up a quality vintage 120 camera on eBay for much less than buying new Chinese-made rubbish, and it will look the part as well as performing better.

If you haven't already done so, research the cost of film and processing - it's no longer cheap!

pogofish

The camera is absolute c*ap!

As for the image quality - I suppose pushing the term "Lomography" and making it trendy was the best way to have images from a very peculiar poor-focus and rather distortion-prone plastic lens. Esp with cross processing and over-brewed/saturated home jobs.

Given that a colleague recently sold his stunning quality Mamiya RZ-outfit for less than three hundred quid recently, I'd reckon you would easily pick-up a quality 120 TLR on Ebay for around the same price as a Lomo. Which would be a much more versatile tool.

MassiveBosons

It depends what you're after, if you want a true introduction to using 120 film in a professional sense, then Lomography isn't the way to go, they are designed to be cheap and quirky with little control over exposure. This can be cool and get some really interesting, fun images.

A lot of 'professional' photographers scoff at Lomography because the whole ethos goes against their years of formal training. Personally I think it's an interesting take on things and is breathing life back into analogue film, which is nice.

With regards to getting your films processed there are still plenty of places and it really isn't that expensive. I can recommend a place in Leeds called CC Imaging or the Fuji Processing Lab because they're way better than places like Boots because they actually know what they're doing and they have a mail order service.

Hope this is helpful.

LucianH

They are really a novelty/craze. Go back 40 odd years for a cheap point and shoot camera and that's what you've got. Low quality plastic housing and plastic lens. Just single speed shutter or "B" setting and 2 or 3 aperture settings (with the ability to do pin-hole photography).

They appear to be more aimed at the artist rather than the true photographer.

Mr_Toad

DCodd wrote: »

They appear to be a relatively cheap introduction to the 120 format, just concerned about the quality of the camera itself.

That's the whole point.

They are cheap and nasty and have a cult following. The trick is to make the best of the rubbish lens and produce pictures that look like they were taken by a 14 year old from the old Soviet Union.

There's a bunch of users at work who rave about them.

You can even buy a crappy Lomo lens in an adapter that fits modern DSLRs. One of my colleagues has one that he uses on his £2500 Canon 5D :eek:

peteb23

I've got the Super Sampler: http://uk.shop.lomography.com/cameras/camera-best-sellers/supersampler-rubberized-blue and it's great.

Yes it a piece of plastic junk with no view finder and no flash but it's also a lot of fun and produces some great (and often unexpected) images

DCodd

Thanks for the replies.

Apologies for the late response as I didn't realise that the thread had been revivied.

We bought her a Diana+ and although she is struggling to get the photos she wants as yet, she has produced some very "interesting" photos. She has used them in her art projects to rave reviews (and great marks:)). So all good really. However there are better secondhand cameras for this format out there but as many have said, it is not about professional quality photgraphs (I suppose).

paddyrg

Lomo, or ЛОМО are a Russian brand, and they banged out some really rugged and amazing value cameras for hard currency during the cold war. As they were cheap, the optics on the cheapest weren't amazing, and some even leaked light, but they got a bit of a cult following.

I think the 'new' LOMO is just a licensed brand for Chinese tat - fun, but nothing anyone would take seriously. If you take good pictures, it will be more by accident than design!

tonyh66

Stick your digital camera onto manual and pick some random exposure and shutter value, Result instant LOMO without the cost and time delay of seeing your rubbish photos.
Alternatively use photo editing software and apply a lomo effect, easy