Holga 120 S Camera
by Lomographic Cameras
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $25.99
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Editorial Review

Get basic and go postmodern at the same time with Lomographic's Holga 120S. Unabashedly low-tech and ideal for beginning photographers, all the operations are completely manual, including focus, aperture, shutter, and film transport controls. Yet the camera produces an abstract, soft-focus picture that even seasoned photographers find unique. Double exposures, streaming colors, warped vignetting, and unpredictable light leaks are all possible with this camera.

The camera uses 120 color or black-and-white film.A shoulder strap and instruction manual are included. Rough it out with this affordable camera and reap the rewards of distinctly daring photography. ... Read more

Features

• Shoulderstrap and manual included
• 60mm lens with adjustable focusing
• Completely manual control
• Full double exposure capability
• Uses 120 color or black and white film

Reviews (2)

Get a Holga yourself!
Let's cut to the chase: A Holga really is a piece of [junk]. It weighs next to nothing, even when loaded with 120 film. Mostly plastic, including its "optical" lens, and with cheap metal sliding clasps on the side to (maybe) keep the back on, the camera won't win any prizes for sturdiness or durability. In other words, a Hasselblad it ain't. It's also about 1/100th the price of a Hassie system, and therein lies part of the Holga's charm.

There are other drawbacks to this plastic wonder, though.The viewfinder is so far off to the left side that it gives merely a rough approximation of what that cheesy wide angle lens is actually shooting. The camera needs a lot of light - due to apertures of about f.8 -f.11 (a "sunny" and "cloudy" slider on the lens mount) and a shutter that's around 1/100th of a second -and even then images go black at the corners of a square frame. Therefore, shooting 400 ISO film most of the time is a must. (Throw out the plastic 645 insert - you won't get the classic Holga effects described hence with the insert. Just remember to slide the counter tab on the camera's back from 16 to 12 , or you'll end up with one heck of a panorama shot.) The Holga's simple, fantastic plastic lens creates a sharp center image that blurs out until the edges are ever so less than crisp. And did I mention that the camera is manual wind, with a shutter that will create surprise double exposures if the shooter forgets to crank the film to the next frame? Yup, it does that and leaks light, too, and sometimes doesn't wind the film tightly enough around the spool so that light leaks happen even after a roll is shot. All this for $[money] U.S. (I won't go into the extra "enhancements" provided by the super deluxe flash model...)

By now, you're probably wondering why on Earth- or any other part of the Universe, for that matter - would one bother with such a cheap piece of junk. Good question. The answer, of course, it that a properly housebroken Holga will produce magical images unattainable from just about every other medium format camera. The vignetting and soft focus go a long way toward producing a dreamy, otherworldly quality, especially in black & white work, that's the very essence of Holga photography. Portraits, especially, are wonderful when shot with a Holga. Once tamed - with lots of black photo tape on the edges to seal up the leaks and keep the back on (rubber bands optional) and small bits of cardboard gently wedged under the spools to keep the film winding tightly- a Holga is easy to use. Since it's pretty much a pinhole camera, focusing the lens with its handy distance symbols isn't really necessary. Just wind, aim and click the shutter, then be sure to wind to the next frame to avoid that double exposure mentioned above. The hotshoe will accept a nice flash unit, all the better to provide fill on a sunny day. Buy more than one Holga, too. They're sure inexpensive enough. And Holgas are like children - no two are ever exactly the same - plus, unlike your kids, you can throw a few of them in a backpack, then take off for a day of spontaneous, creative shooting.

So, the word on these puppies is: Holgas are fun. They're unique. They're wonderfully creative tools for the patient shutterbug who takes the time to learn the camera's considerable quirks and who enjoys exploring the unknown, which in this case is every finished roll that comes out of the Holga in the first place. Holgas aren't for everybody, but in the right conditions, there's no other camera I'd want to use. And the real lowdown is, I'm too cheap to shell out the megabucks for a top notch medium format system. Then again, why should I when I can have my Holgas by the dozen, and save myself the hernia from lugging around all that highfalutin' Hassie gear anyway? Try a Holga. You might - just might - be glad you did. Just don't forget the black photo tape...

Cheapest Medium Format Camera Ever
This is as close to you get to a disposable medium format camera.If you want to get into medium format photography, I'd reccommend getting a HOLGA first.It won't produce crisp images by any means, oh no.But there's a soft focus to the images that it produces that is very compelling.For those of you that don't know, it takes 120 roll film, which produces a 2 1/4" square negative.Square format photography puts a different perspective on things.Anyway, ... I'd recommend trying it if you have a more than average interest in photography.... ... Read more

Asin: B000069113
Subjects:  1. Camera    2. Camera (Cameras)    3. 35 mm (millimeter)    4. Photograph (Photography)   

Lomo Kompakt Automat 35mm Camera
by Lomographic Cameras
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $199.99
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Editorial Review

The unique Lomo opens up a whole new world of creative photography. Built as sturdy as a tank, the black retro-looking Lomo was originally designed by a top-secret military optics factory in the Soviet Union and is still made by hand in the St. Petersburg factory. It's easy to use, takes normal 35mm film, and gives you brilliant colors and superb night photos.

But the Lomo is more than just a cool camera--it's part of a worldwide community and a refreshingly new artistic movement, Lomography, that encourages even nonartists to be creative. The philosophy is to be quick, don't think, be open to your surroundings, absorb everything, and enjoy communicating. The Lomo craze started in the Viennese underground scene and rapidly expanded until all across the globe people became armed with Lomos, recording everything in bright colors and strange shapes. There are major Lomo exhibitions and events around the world. And famous folks such as David Byrne, The Verve, and Yassir Arafat own Lomos.

When we first heard of the Lomo, the hype and über-hipness made us quite skeptical. How could this little Soviet camera create such a stir? But we fell for the Lomo as soon as we got the package, which includes a little German hardbound book of Lomographs (plus the English translation) and two rolls of Lomo brand film--along with the "What the hell is Lomo?" instruction manual.

After we used the Lomo for a week or so, it became quite obvious why folks were raving about it--the Lomo allows for an unprecedented amount of creativity, and (most importantly) it makes photography inexpensive and easy.

The secret to the Lomo is its superb light meter and its exposure method--it exposes film for however long is necessary. This results in amazing night photographs, with glowing neon, streaking lights, ghostly people, and a real sense of motion. Daytime shots are equally interesting, filled with color and accentuated by the Lomo's slight distortion and tendency to darken photos towards the edges. The Lomo has no flash, so you won't get photos of people with red eyes and pasty skin tones or pictures with underexposed backgrounds. The Lomo lens has a coating that renders both day and night with incredible richness and brilliance. Our skies were a deep blue, our yellows scintillating, and our night scenes alive with the colors of city lights. (Click on the "More Pictures" link at the top of this page to see sample photos that were taken with the Lomo.)

Another major advantage to the camera is that the Lomo works best with cheap 100-speed 35mm film, which is readily available anywhere and is easy to process. ISO 100 film is actually best at capturing brilliant colors and enhances the Lomo's natural tendency for producing color-rich photos.

Most importantly, the Lomo is wonderfully simple to use--the only adjustments you have to make are to set the film speed and to set the focus lever (marked with four distances from 0.8 meters to infinity). All you do is point the Lomo, set the distance, press the button, and the camera decides how long to expose the picture.

The viewfinder and lens open at the same time with a single lever--a good design that makes it impossible to mistakenly leave the lens cover on. You can easily slip the Lomo into your pocket without worrying about a case. Film loading, advance, and rewind are all manual--after using these features once, you'll get the hang of loading film quickly. The distance lever is also self-explanatory, and the distance markings show up inside the viewfinder as well.

If you want a modern point-and-shoot with autofocus, auto film winding, a zoom lens, and a flash, the Lomo is not for you. You won't get perfect, always-sharp photos with the Lomo, and many of your pictures will be blurred, streaked, and bizarre looking. But that's the whole point--with the Lomo, you'll get striking, unique, artistic results. You probably can achieve these results with a normal SLR camera, but it would require much more work and money.

Overall, we felt the Lomo lived up to its global reputation. With its simplicity, inexpensiveness, and striking results, it's an easy-to-use tool for creative fun photography. --Holly Blumenthal

SPECIAL CAVEAT: The Lomo Kompakt Automat is for the steady-handed and the artistically fearless. It is not the same thing as using a typical, modern point-and-shoot camera. Even though you may be buying it brand-spanking new, you might think of the Lomo as a clever camera you discovered in the back room of a dusty old second-hand shop during your travels through Eastern Europe. Handle it with care until you get the hang of its quirks. For example, loading the film is slightly tricky. Make sure it is properly winding around the spool before closing the back of the camera. If you have trouble getting the shutter to click, check to see if the lever that opens the lens cover has been pushed all the way to the right side. Even if the lens cover remains just slightly ajar, the shutter button won't respond when you press on it. Also, when you finish a roll of film, make certain you push in the rewind button on the bottom of the camera before you manually rewind the film. Otherwise, you will damage your film. If any of this sounds daunting, it really isn't. It's all just part of the fun of going Lomo.

Pros:

• Yields brilliant supersaturated colors
• Takes amazing night photos
• Sturdy, stylish retro construction
• Uses normal 35mm film
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Manual film loading, winding, and focusing
• Photos aren't always sharp

... Read more

Features

• Sturdy, stylish retro construction
• Easy to use, takes normal 35mm film (2 rolls included)
• Originally designed as a pocket-sized Soviet spy camera
• Renders brilliant, super-saturated colors (for sample photos, click on the "See more pictures" link above)
• Takes amazing night photos

Reviews (57)

Lomo- good pocket camera.
It's a good camera for day-to-day use because of its size, and can still take quality pictures. However for a beginner, its probally best to go for a used SLR (think ebay or good luck at garage sales) for the same price or less. With an SLR you'll find better options for lenses and be able to focus visually rather than guess (tip for lomo- guess the distance to your subject and go to the focus point further than it) and have better control of shutter speed / aperture than with the Lomo. The wide angle lens (35mm) is limiting for some shooting styles, and you'll find yourself needing to get up close to your subject. However as a second camera (one to throw in your backpack or laptop bag) that can provide good photos with little time to prepare or react, the Lomo is a good choice.

My Lomo is pre-english print and came apparently used, and after a few days the forward lens assembely appeared to be loose- with a fine screwdriver this was fixed in about 10 minutes, so dont expect the build quality to be Japanese by any means. Moving parts are for the most part reliable, though a fatal design flaw is that on a tripod mount you cannot operate the lens open/close lever. However I doubt most people will bother shooting with a tripod because this camera is for fun. Overall I am happy with it, but workmanship leaves something to be desired. Within the first few frames of a 36exp roll, it has failed to advance all the way and left a 1/8 inch (on the negative) or so overlap with the previous exposure. When shooting at night, I've found it best to turn the exposure meter down 1 notch (an iso lower). I've had the best results with Kodak Gold 100, but haven't experimented too much.

Enough with the bad, I think the camera makes up for most of these shortcomings by taking great pictures without requiring you to take time to set up the shot, calculate shutter speed, etc. Some of my favorite photos have come from my Lomo not just because of the good photo quality, but because I take it everywhere.

4 stars- Its enjoyable, good size, decent price, and I'm not dissapointed with the picture quality. However it leaves something to be desired in build quality.

Those who have flamed and given it 1 star probally do not own one, take their input with a few spoonfuls of salt. Yes, the lomography society people do hype it up a little too much, but the pictures come out nicely and that is what I value in a camera, not "hipster appeal" or other such advertising schemes.

qUiRkY but functional.
Despite the wanky marketing hype of the official site, the LOMO is a funky and useful little camera.
As an artist, I often need to take images of thangs all over the place - something inspirational in a gallery, stuff for sale at a flea market, obese people in public, etc.
In places where photos are frowned-upon, you can easily take stealth photos and get away with it - no flash/autowind or beeping to give you away.
And the robust/compact construction means one can just plop it in a pocket and forget about it until it's needed.
Another bonus of sorts is the fixed focus - one can readily take snap shots through the glass of display cases - something an autofocussing snap-happy-job just won't do.
On the down side, shots taken from within a few feet of the subject are often blurry (unless you're really accurate with the appropriate distance 80cm/1.5m etc) - but landscape shots always work well.

Hipster camera for naive beginners
In a nutshell: save your money, don't buy into this fashion accessory, hyped camera when for the same price you can buy a decent used SLR and get real knowledge about photography.

LOMO cameras are marketed by a company who's primary interest seems to be selling $8 Soviet-era design cameras at boutique prices ($200). Accordingly, the cameras have very little speaking for them technically, and the defects are very cleverly hyped with a strong "revolutionary" slant, as being great new discoveries and strengths.

Their website casts a hip skew on the defects in these cameras, aiming them as a "revolution" in photography. Righhhht.

Among the most egregious re-evaluations from the marketing hype at their website:

_______________________________________
THE LOMO TUNNEL EFFECT
...produces an awesome effect called "Vignetting." Look closely - you'll notice that the corners of your Lomographs are slightly darker and a little softer, in contrast to the lighter and sharper center. This tunnel effect yields a clear and vivid subject, with the corners acting as a natural "frame," directing your attention to the center. You see, lomographs simply have more content!
_______________________________________

Keep in mind, vignetting is a powerful *defect* in the lens design, something Canon, Nikon and the other manufacturers have spent decades of advanced lens design and R&D in trying to eliminate. In Lomo's doublespeak, it's a good thing. (Yes, it can sometimes render interesting photographs, but this breathless hype's almost-mystical description of this effect/lens is misleading at best).

_______________________________________
LOMO WIDE ANGLE
The "all-seeing wide angle view"?
_______________________________________

It's really only a 32mm focal length. Woo hoo.

Most SLR lens manufacturers have for decades offered extensive ranges in lenses with this view coverage and wider made to fit their SLR cameras (even old SLR's from the 60s and 70s); for wide coverage, a vintage 70's SLR+wide lens can be had for under $75 if you look right, and it'll be a vastly better machine. Any 1980s Canon, Nikon, or Olympus 35mm film SLR for instance, offers outstanding manufacture, both full manual and electronic controls available, etc...far exceeding the exposure options and build quality of Lomo's flimsy design. Typical 70's and 80's vintage SLR's like these feature supreme exposure and internal mechanisms, and today let you take advantage of low prices for former top-of-the-line professional lenses (e.g. manual focus Canon FD, Nikkor, or Olympus Zuiko SLR lenses).

Overall, the camera purposefully introduces flaws in your photographs that can render some "artsy" feeling shots, but don't be misled by the manufacturer's clever anti-establishment skew.

_______________________________________
LOMO automatic shutter adjustment

Automatically adjusts the shutter to however long it takes to expose film. It's "intelligent" about it.
_______________________________________

This final one is the one to rule them all. Not to spoil the illusion or anything, but autometering has been around for decades in cameras in all film formats. (Marketing this as something new strikes me as akin to a car company marketing their revolutionary "automobile automatic drive modulator" when it's really only an automatic transmission they're selling). Caveat emptor.

If you want to take LOMO looking photos, buy its almost exact copy for much cheaper: the OLYMPUS XA (and XA2) but it is old, so only available on ebay. Good options also include the cheapest models of the "Jazz Jellies" that they sell at drugstores like Walgreens. (for only $10). Same vignetting effects, same purposefully-crappy lenses give blurred shots "artsy" type of feel."

You can even get the "much vaunted LOMO saturation" if you drop in 50 ISO or 100 ISO film. (this last point one is just beyond me. Saturation is mostly a function of the film, not the camera! LOL! Not according to LOMO though...)

If you still think this is a must for you, save your bucks, buy one on ebay for cheap (people tend to tire of these quickly; at least I did), and use it for it's artistic expression and distortions.

Certainly don't buy into all the LOMO company's clever hype without reading around the web for vintage camera offerings matching this camera, and take the Lomo society's skewed reporting with a giant grain of salt.

A simple photography course or some time spent at a website like Phil Green's excellent photo.net will better your education on this, and give you a relatively unbiased perspective with which you can then go back and see this equipment for what it is.

I'm writing this because it is so frustrating to see the gross exaggerations and distortions made in the marketing of this camera; buyers beware! ... Read more

Asin: B00004S9WR
Subjects:  1. Compact, Automatic    2. Camera (Cameras)    3. 35 mm (millimeter)    4. Photograph (Photography)   

Pinhole Photography
by Focal Press
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (October, 1999)
list price: $39.99
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Reviews (9)

Ultimate history and reference
Fabulous book. I, like other reviewers it would seem, got a bit bogged down in the early chapters that cover the history and science that led to pinhole photography. I just really wanted to get to the "how to make a pinhole camera" part. However, having read all the other chapters, when I did get to the "how to" section, I now understood the physics behind the technique, and was therefore able to design a camera to do exactly what I want it to do - a clever way to get you there. The book is also loaded with diagrams and photos, both of equipment and of actual photography. Highly recommended.

A wonderful historical resource, not a "how-to" book.
When I first received this book, I was a bit disappointed. I'm just starting out in pinhole photography, and I wanted my hand held while learning the ins and outs of this new skill. This book doesn't do that. After it sat around for a few days, I picked it back up and started actually reading it. What the book DOES, is give you a wonderful historical perspective of this most unusual and artistic art form...because that's what pinhole photography is, an art. Photography in general, especially digital photography, is SO controlled and SO exact, that it's lost a lot of it's magic. While certain scientific aspects of pinhole photography can exert a meaningful amount of control over the subject at hand, in it's heart of hearts it isstill a wild and free spirit making images however and wherever it desires. Where else can you make an image by putting a piece of film in your MOUTH and using your lips as the aperture? Where else can you make a camera out of a shopping bag, a purse, a hole in the ground, a red pepper? (Dark red works best by the way.) This book gives you all these examples along with rich and varied historical perspective into this most fascinating aspect of the photographic world. If you are a serious pinhole photographer (...or have intentions of being one), you owe to yourself to read this book. It's not a "how to" book by any means, but it is a "where you came from" book of the 1st degree.

If you are serious about pinhole photography, read on
Simply put, this is the BEST book available on the subject of pinhole photography.Eric Renner has found a balance between the art and science of this art form and put it in to print for all of us to share.If you are going to buy only one book on the subject, this is the one to get. ... Read more

Isbn: 0240803507
Sales Rank: 399716
Subjects:  1. Photo Techniques    2. Photographic Techniques Using Specific Equipment    3. Photography    4. Photography, Pinhole    5. Techniques - Equipment    6. Techniques - General    7. Photographic equipment & techniques    8. Photography / Techniques    9. Special kinds of photography   

Adventures With Pinhole and Home-Made Cameras: From Tin Cans to Precision Engineering
by Rotovision
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 July, 2003)
list price: $30.00 -- our price: $18.90
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (2)

Inspiring blend of artistic visions and practical aspects
Ever since I own this book, I find myself picking it up again and again. It is divided into two parts: one containing an interesting array of very diverse photographers, united only by their use of non-readymade equipment. Personally, I find the way in which the hyper-sharp pictures of Alistair Thain, taken with precision-engineerd cameras of his own design, reveal their disturbing aspects as inspiring as the monochrome pinhole pictures of Walter Crump whose equipment is reduced to bare bones - and there are other very interesting artists. If there is an artistic message emanating from this part, it is about the relativity of technical aspects in photographic art: personal aims, a distinct individual perspective matter so much more than the reliance on the latest technological advance.
The second part deals with practical aspects of tinkering one's own equipment: it includes very useful hints and tables for making pinholes, zone plates, lenses, shutters, different sizes of film, camera bodies, focussing helps and view finders. While by no means exhaustive, these tips should be seen as a jumping-off place to develop one's own design - which may very well lead to much more satisfying results than buying the latest gadget.

Not for the adventurer
I was disappointed to discover that "Adventures With Pinhole and Home-Made Cameras" amounts basically to a coffee table book of photographs, with frustratingly brief sketches of the "who and how" of their making. It is not a practically-oriented book for the photographic tinkerer.

Even the most sophisticated designs in the book are explained in only a cursory way. Helpful diagrams and hints to construction techniques are rare. Detailed descriptions and breakdowns of real home-made cameras are missing altogether!

The book does offer a some clever ideas, like using a wine glass as an improvised lens. There is also a section in the back with information on making pinholes, calculating exposure, etc. These are only a precious few pages, however, and most of the information can be easily found elsewhere.

I bought this book as an educated photographer with an interest in building some unusual designs. I don't think that owning this book would have brought me any closer to that goal. My money would have been better spent on a pair of tin snips. ... Read more

Isbn: 2880467144
Sales Rank: 55479
Subjects:  1. Photo Techniques    2. Photography    3. Techniques - Equipment    4. Techniques - General   

Nikon Coolpix 2100 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
by Nikon
Average Customer Review:
Electronics

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Editorial Review

The Nikon Coolpix 2100 is a good choice for digital photography beginners, offering a compact size, 2-megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom, and a bevy of automated scene controls that are customizeable.

The 2-megapixel CCD sensor captures bright images that can be printed up to 8 x 10 inches. However, 2 megapixels just doesn’t seem enough, especially when 3-megapixel cameras--like the Nikon 3100--are becoming so affordable. The movie mode captures smooth video up to 640 x 480 pixels for 7 seconds (or a more jaggy 15-second, 320 x 240-pixel videos), but it doesn’t offer any sound.

One of the most impressive features of the Nikon 2100 is its size. From the online pictures we originally viewed, we imagined it to be large and a bit clunky. While it’s a biton the chunky side, the 2100 is surprisingly small. Plus, the rounded ergonomic hand grip rested comfortably and securely in our hand.

The Nikon 2100 offers a whopping 14 scene modes that automatically set the camera’s white balance, exposure, and focusing point for different situations. The easy-to-learn software system features large icons and text to guide you through your choices. And some of the modes even provide an "assist" feature, with outlines of figures or landscapes to help line up the shot.

We had fun playing around with the scene modes and snapping pictures that made the most out of the shooting environment. However, we felt we lost some spontaneity if we relied too much on switching through the modes.

The Nikon 2100 is an affordable choice for a point-and-shoot camera that offers sharp, bright images and brings a lot of flexibility to the party. It comes with a starter 16 MB memory card and alkaline batteries, and we recommend a higher-capacity Compactflash card and rechargeable AA-size NiMH batteries.--Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Compact size, comfortable in the hand
• Customizeable scene modes
• 2-megapixel resolution for prints up to 8 x 10 inches

Cons:

• Scene modes can be a bit too customizeable, and distract you from the shot

... Read more

Features

• Includes 16 MB Starter CompactFlash card
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• 2-megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints up to 8 x 10 inches
• 3x optical zoom
• One-touch upload to PC; 14 scene modes

Reviews (60)

Battery problems workable
Reviews of this camera, as late as the Fall of 2004, seem to place the Coolpix 2100 above all its competitors (2 Mpxl, non-SLR).

My two complaints: there is no manual focus (but you can use the focus lock, half-depressing the shutter switch, to "lock in" a focus range - except in macro mode), and a wimpy flash (really only good to 6-8' (2-2.5 m). A separate flash is the answer here.

The battery issue mentioned by others below is troublesome, but not really a big problem. In short, rechargeable batteries are a must, but they tend to carry a lower voltage, which the camera battery meter reads as being "nearly empty". So, like a car with a bad fuel gauge, you eventually learn to disregard the "low battery" warning, and always carry a backup pair of charged batteries.

I've shot - ready for this? - over a hundred flash photos in a row from a single pair of rechargeable AA's. Pretty good lifetime! But the meter claimed they were low after the first 5-10...

Problems with Refurbished Unit
I bought a "factory refurbished." It came without the compact flash card which was supposed to be included. Repeated messages to the seller have been ignored.

Also, I'm using recharageable NiMH AA batteries. After taking about 20 shots the camera shuts off and says "low battery." Recharging the battery shows that it's only about 20% drained. I'm not sure if this is normal or due to a defect with this unit.

Best little camera
I received this camera for christmas. I've never used a digital camera before so I was a little intimidated at first. I soon realized that I didn't need to be intimidated. It is so easy to use and small enough to fit in my pocketbook. I can now take pictures at any time and it is so easy to transfer the pictures onto my laptop. Since getting this camera, I am enjoying taking pictures as well as sharing pictures with my friends and family. ... Read more

Asin: B00008J639
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)