Camera Labs

Hi,

I used to have a Lomo LCA+ but unfortunately (along with my Nikon D80) it was stolen about a month ago. Since getting a D90 back on insurance (yay, gotta love that) I haven't reallly had the time to think about getting another one. That, and the funds can't really cater for a new LCA+!
However, I miss the grainy texture and colours that my lomo made - does anyone know of cameras that can do the same kind of thing? Also, are there any polaroid cameras that can produce the same effects?

Thank you!

_________________
http://aimeeclaire.blogspot.com

Hi Aimee

Holgas are similar and about the same price.

Forget about Polaroid because film is not on production anymore. Maybe someone will produce the film later but for now supply is not a sure thing.

Cheers

_________________

Carlos - Caracas Venezuela
EOS 40D
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD/50mm f1.8II
my flickr

My only concern with the Holga is that aren't they medium format? Therefore 35mm film is useless and I can't get prints. Where I live, processing slide film costs a mint and i don't have a slide scanner in order to display the pictures...

_________________
http://aimeeclaire.blogspot.com

Hi folks,

For those, like myself, who hadn't previously heard of Lomography there's an entry in Wikipedia which you can read here which states:

The Lomo LC-A lens effect can be digitally emulated with photo-editing software such as GIMP or Photoshop.

Is this fair comment?

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

You can find a 35mm adapter for about $12, so no problem with that...


Cheers

_________________

Carlos - Caracas Venezuela
EOS 40D
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD/50mm f1.8II
my flickr

Yeap, but you know how it is... "Lomonians" love their stuff...

_________________

Carlos - Caracas Venezuela
EOS 40D
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD/50mm f1.8II
my flickr

hehe, fair comment - but the effect that film produces can't be replicated :) I've seen iPhones that have a "lomo effect" on the pictures they take and it's just extreme vignette and saturation.

You can use 35mm Film in a Holga, either you can buy an adapter as Camut suggested, or you can go DIY and do this mod.



Personally I don't think Holga/Lomo can be convincingly emulated (at least not that I have seen). There is just something unique about the images from those cameras, they are so unpredictable.

Oops double post.

It's fairly simple to get the look and feel of a Lomo image using Lightroom/Photoshop; but I think what makes a camera like the Lomo fun is the camera itself.

The DianaF+ looks pretty fun:

http://www.lomography.com/diana/products/clones

_________________
Jim Hawksworth Flickr
Canon 30D | EF 17-40 f/4L | EF 70-200 f/4L USM | EF 50 f/1.8 II | 580EX II | Berleback 2420 Tripod | and other various tools

Hi,

There are some LC-A+ alternatives that you might consider:

Original LC-A, film range ISO25 to 400 (instead of 100 to 1600 on the LC-A+), no shutter release cable, or else the same camera as the LC-A+. $100 to $150 on eBay;
Olympus XA, compact rangefinder, f2.8 Zuiko lens, less than $100;
Olympus XA2/3/4, scale focus camera like the LCA, f3.5 Zuiko lens, X4 has close-up ability, less than $50..

The Zuiko lenses are much sharper than the Minitar I, but you can still obtain severe vignetting by cross processing the color slides.

Holga is also a good choice if 120 film + development don't cost you too much. I got one from a HK ebay seller for 25€. Lomography Society will charge you a lot more.

Bob has mentioned the lomo effect can be emulated with software, which is true, but what software can't emulate is the experience of using a LCA:

35mm film camera, Canon G10 size, lighter than G10, scale focus which means no delay when you press the shutter button (I usually set the focus before taking it out of my pocket, snap, and put it back.) make it an excellent snapshot camera. Excellent ergonomics, one hand is enough to get everything done, smoothly.

I have a DSLR system which I use to learn photography. My Polaroids and LCA give me totally different user experience. With them I can forget all the photographic rules while having fun with my friends.

_________________
GALLERY