which camera


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sumlom

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hi im new to alternative photography and i would like to know what cameras would be good for a newbie like me :)

im considering between a lomo lca+ , holga 120N , or a diana+ ? what are the prices for them? which one would u guys recommend?
 

i'd suggest to start with a holga. readily available and reasonable price. the other two can be difficult to find and quite expensive.
 

hi im new to alternative photography and i would like to know what cameras would be good for a newbie like me :)

im considering between a lomo lca+ , holga 120N , or a diana+ ? what are the prices for them? which one would u guys recommend?
get an LCA not LCA+...you wont regret it...

if you buy holga, you will be pressured(well, most holga users got pressured) to buy holga accesories, like the superheadz 35mm adaptor, filter kit, POLAROID BACK, etc etc...and the overall price will be on par with an LCA(or LCA+).

and...holga is very hard to use...you need to be very patient as your first few rolls may disappoint you...

so i suggest you to go straight to LCA. you wont regret it...

anyway, most holga users buy LCA after they realise how sucky holga is...:bsmilie:
 

i think that's a really one sided opinion. holga isn't suck. it's never about the camera. it's about the photographer. different cameras give you different effects. and you can shoot 35mm film even without the superheadz adaptor. you just have to wind it back into the canister in complete darkness. and where's the fun or learning curve without a few bad rolls?
 

why not try the olympus XA2? hahaha
after owning the XA2, XA, XA3 holga and LCA.. i think the best would be XA series
i have yet to try the cosina CX but soon i hope to find one..

holga waste money,120 flim with only 12 exposure, i rather play with 35mm film. unless you like the square cut of a picture go for 120

cheers...
 

geez, i use bluetac to attach cheap filters on to my holga. foam, rubber bands and cardboard to shoot with 35mm film. 6x6 adaptor, don't need one, just cut out the one that comes with the camera or take it out all together.

why get a polaroid back? do you really need it? at least there's one for the holga, is there one for the LCA?

hard to use? how hard can it be to point, compose and click?

all the new gadgets take the fun out of playing with 'toy' cameras.
 

is there alot of difference with pics taken on holga 120n and the 120gn ? erm like does the glass lens make a better difference?
 

get an LCA not LCA+...you wont regret it...

anyway, most holga users buy LCA after they realise how sucky holga is...:bsmilie:

i beg to differ. it's the user. the holga is a great tool in the right hands.
 

why not try the olympus XA2? hahaha
after owning the XA2, XA, XA3 holga and LCA.. i think the best would be XA series

i second this. the build quality leaves LCA wanting. film advance is smooth. focussing is equally easy with XA2 and XA3. and the feathertouch shutter release is buttery smooth to release.. not like the chunky shutter release of the LCA. Comes in cool clamshell award winning design and is no noisier than the LCA. PLUS and this is a big plus.. you dont have to worry much about the XA series dying on you.. whereas the LCA (not the LCA+.. i would imagine modern quality control would help) is infamous for dying due to wear and tear and whatnot. XA2/3 gives you exactly the same features minus the overpriceness of the LCA. i got my XA3 new in box with flash for only 90 dollars.

if you like vintage cams.. the agfa optima XX35 series is a wonderful underrated gem that not many people know. prices are equally cheap as the XA series and features are virtually the same.. 15s long programmed long exposure available for some models.. some people claim it can go longer. 1035 takes modern batteries and the big PLUS for this comes in the UNBEATABLE viewfinder.. it is HUGE and damn shiok to use.. it also has feather touch shutter release but the shutter is slightly softer.. it makes a cool "whirrtz" sound. It has cool bauhaus design.. even has a antifog cover in the film compartment incase of accidental opening of film back. now why didnt modern cameras incorporate this cool feature beats me!

these are my fav lomo beaters.. hope it helps.
 

does the xa2 like have effects lomo-liked cameras like holga has?
like vignetting ?
 

i second this. the build quality leaves LCA wanting. film advance is smooth. focussing is equally easy with XA2 and XA3. and the feathertouch shutter release is buttery smooth to release.. not like the chunky shutter release of the LCA. Comes in cool clamshell award winning design and is no noisier than the LCA. PLUS and this is a big plus.. you dont have to worry much about the XA series dying on you.. whereas the LCA (not the LCA+.. i would imagine modern quality control would help) is infamous for dying due to wear and tear and whatnot. XA2/3 gives you exactly the same features minus the overpriceness of the LCA. i got my XA3 new in box with flash for only 90 dollars.

if you like vintage cams.. the agfa optima XX35 series is a wonderful underrated gem that not many people know. prices are equally cheap as the XA series and features are virtually the same.. 15s long programmed long exposure available for some models.. some people claim it can go longer. 1035 takes modern batteries and the big PLUS for this comes in the UNBEATABLE viewfinder.. it is HUGE and damn shiok to use.. it also has feather touch shutter release but the shutter is slightly softer.. it makes a cool "whirrtz" sound. It has cool bauhaus design.. even has a antifog cover in the film compartment incase of accidental opening of film back. now why didnt modern cameras incorporate this cool feature beats me!

these are my fav lomo beaters.. hope it helps.

hey, from what you have written, it seems that the agfa optima are fun cameras...wonder where i can get one...:lovegrin:
 

lomo? pictures which are blur and out of focus?

if take any of the XA series, Xpro the films and you can get some kind lomo pictures course of the colour.. the picture looks more nicer and sharper with XA series
 

lomo? pictures which are blur and out of focus?

if take any of the XA series, Xpro the films and you can get some kind lomo pictures course of the colour.. the picture looks more nicer and sharper with XA series

hahaha this is SO true.. i was scanning some old lomo negs of mine and i realise one thing.. almost none of the shots are sharp.. either due to OOF or too long shutter speed or just lousy lens design.. i think i overestimated the lomo's reputed low light capabilities.. it is bull.

anyway to answer some questions.. lomo's vignetting comes from lousy lens design.. modern engineers try to do away with vignetting.. if you read enough lens reviews.. but some people myself included like it.. it gives focus to the center of the picture.. however.. not ALL the pictures you take will have this effect.. it will only appear in certain conditions..usually those where the programmed exposure system opens up the aperture to 2.8. if you have a digital workflow.. you can take any camera and give it that 'lomo' effect using photoshop vignette function. but lomo aficionados may dismiss it as wannabe and your picture doesnt have that 'lomo' look..ie saturated colors..

well 'lomo' look is very much a film look in my opinion.. and saturated colors comes from long exposures which many cameras can do as well.. as for high contrast color lens.. well XA series has that so no worries.. XA may give you vignetting although i highly doubt it but you can always add that in photoshop.

all in all.. if your heart says buy lomo.. then get lca.. if your wallet outspeaks your heart.. find a lomo beater.. you wont regret.. i have spent 200 dollars(yes it cost that much years ago) on lomo.. spent 100 dollars to fix it first time.. and 1 year later.. it has died on me.. i refuse to let russia take anymore of my money.. japanese and german engineering rules.. you dont see russian cars here do you? you see toyotas and hondas and mercedes and volkswagen. haha i ramble too much

btw optima series can be found on evilbay.. camera workshop has a 535 with flash if im not wrong..bought mine for around 100 dollars with box included as a price guide.
 

ya.i agree, dont let the LOMO hype get into you!! many ppl out there play lomo but not willing to spend.. get a better camera and have better pictures!!
 

So what if you get the best lens but if you suck at photography, you just sucks.
 

lomo? pictures which are blur and out of focus?

if take any of the XA series, Xpro the films and you can get some kind lomo pictures course of the colour.. the picture looks more nicer and sharper with XA series

lomo does not mean blur and out of focus pics. if u're getting blur and out of focus pics with a lomo cam, trust me, it's not the camera, it's the photographer.
 

oo oo wo wo chill pill la bro... :bsmilie:

indirectly advertising your lomohome eh? hahaha
 

i think he's definitely angry ...... :sweat:

anyway for TS i think its advisable for you to read up on that camera and what type of film it uses first as holgas and diana+ uses 120 film which most shops (i think) doesn't process also there are cameras which uses 110 film which is even harder to get. you could also modify the holga to use 135 film or buy the adapters for it. anyways the thing is to just use the camera and have fun using it. you can even use those old SLR film cameras and use expired film to get some cool effect. Also different cameras might give you different effects as well. The point is get a camera which you think you like to use and experiment with it.well its just my POV.:)
 

well everybody is not wrong here.. blur and out of focus pics can be taken by any camera if the photographer has no skill. And it is already established that there are many other better cameras than this toy cam. The major point i think of all this is cost.
[TOY CAM] - as its standing in toy cam history.. the lca has got to be right up there with the greats.. however due to burgeoning demand.. prices have gone up ten thousand fold.. i bought mine quite late at around 200 plus.. now 400 for a new one is plausible. way back then.. less than a hundred will get you a go at this cam. i certainly dont wanna pay 400 dollars for a toycam..400 dollars gets you into rollei35s company.. as undercover has mentioned. however rollei 35 is ENTIRELY a different beast.. it would never be half as fun as the lomo in taking 'from the hip shots' because its a thinking photographer's camera.. you turn the thing wrong way it wont work.. you dont **** shutter you cant collapse lens.. etc etc.. too many steps.. lomo is slide.. click... wind

SO.. conclusion: there are cheaper toy cams out there.. or just plain old cameras that you can tote lomo style that might or might not give you lomo effects.. however one thing is for sure.. if you can justify to yourself spending that huge wad of cash and you know you will have tons of fun using it then please go ahead.. you will still be happy. my suggestion is either save money go ebay and buy a used model.. its about 125US plus shipping there.. or if you want modern china quality.. then buy from lomography.com.. my guess is they are more reliable than their russian counterparts anyway.
 

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