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Posts Tagged ‘Lomography’

Sample gallery and impressions: Lomography Fantome ISO 8 and Babylon ISO 13 BW films

06 Nov

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Lomography recently announced two new low ISO black-and-white films: Fantome ISO 8 and Babylon ISO 13. Both films belong to their ‘Kino’ line, which has been created from cine film stock produced by a German company. These monochromatic films offer some of the lowest ISO on the market at the moment.

The slow speed means that they will produce negatives with very fine grain, but it also means it can be challenging to capture enough light for a proper exposure. With this in mind I loaded the test rolls into my Contax T2 and hoped that New York City would grant me some sunny September days.

Babylon ISO 13 is advertised as BW film that has a ‘high dynamic range’ and can capture very subtle gradient transitions. Fantom ISO 8 falls on the opposite side of the spectrum. This film is a high-contrast stock that renders images with super crushed shadows and bright highlights. It’s incredibly moody and the grain is very fine.

Impressions

For the most part, my favorite frames from these two rolls were ones shot in bright conditions and with a flash. Frames that were captured later in the day or on overcast days just didn’t work as well. Like most of Lomography’s speciality film stocks, the Kino films aren’t necessarily for everyday use, but these black-and-white rolls do seem a little more versatile than some of Lomo’s speciality color films.

Babylon ISO 13 worked nicely for daytime portraits and urban architecture

I love the way that Fantome ISO 8 rendered urban architecture, skies and close-up detail shots. But I found it difficult to get shutter speeds fast enough for scenes with lots of subject movement. As expected, Babylon ISO 13 was a little more forgiving. It worked nicely for daytime portraits, urban architecture and the subtle gradient shifts within a frame are quite lovely.

Recommendations

Both films are definitely best shot with a camera that has automatic metering and a fast lens. Having a camera with a small flash can also be helpful. Lomography recommends that both are processed using D-96 or Kodak HC-110, something you will definitely want to keep in mind if you are dropping it off at a lab.

These low ISO Lomography films certainly aren’t going to be for everyone, and shooters should definitely expect more ‘misses’ than when they are shooting with a standard film stock. That said, I’m happy with the way my frames turned out and would definitely give these films another go. Next time I think I’ll save a roll for an aggressively sunny day at the beach though.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography introduces panoramic camera with liquid-filled lens

22 Oct

Off-the-wall photographic company Lomography has introduced a 35mm film camera that shoots 104mm long panoramic images through a lens that we are encouraged to fill with water. The company claims the HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair camera is the world’s first 35mm format panoramic camera with a liquid-filled lens. Not surprising you might think, but they had to specify ‘35mm’ as in 1859 pioneering British photographer Thomas Sutton invented a panoramic camera with a water-filled lens that recorded on curved plates.

The camera has a plastic body and a lens that offers the angle of view of a 32mm. There is a chamber in the lens construction that allows users to add a liquid of their choice to create unusual effects. The liquid as such doesn’t form part of the focusing characteristics of the lens so much as operates as a form of filter. Clear water delivers a low saturation washed-out look, while adding weak coffee creates a sepia feel. Lomography recommends colored food dyes, tea and even diluted soy milk!

Images record across the entire width of the 35mm film used in the camera, so the emulsion around sprocket holes is exposed too allowing users to include the holes in their picture or to crop them off. Focus is fixed and the lens has an aperture of F11. Other smaller apertures can be achieved with the use of aperture plates, and shutter speeds are limited to 1/100sec, B(ulb) and T(ime). Cable release and tripod sockets help to keep the camera still during long exposures as well as for multiple exposures, and a hot shoe and a PC socket provide the means for a burst of flash.

Below are a handful of sample images, provided by Lomography:

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The Lomography HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair Camera is available now and costs $ 79 / £75. For more information see the Lomography website.

Press release:

The Lomography hydroChrome SuTTon’S panoramiC BeLair Camera

GO LOOPy WITH LIQUIDS, WILD FOR THE WETLOOK AND CRAzy WITH COLORS!

  • The world’s first 35 mm format panoramic camera with a liquid- filled lens
  • Unique experimental lens to step up your creativity and craft unexpected liquid effects
  • A fixed-focus lens with extra aperture plates for versatile renderings
  • Undeniably analogue aesthetic with lomo vignetting and perforated edges across panoramic shots
  • A fun introduction to experimental photography suitable for all creative spirits

A CREATIVE NEW CAMERA IS BORN
An inspiring new invention, the HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair Camera combines some of Lomography’s best-loved features into one exciting analogue innovation.
The sweeping panoramic perspective of the Belair body meets the thrilling and unpredictable effects of the Sutton Liquid Lens with exposed sprocket holes to boot. Affordable, ingenious and incredibly simple to use with almost no need for settings, this new edition to the Lomography camera family invites creative spirits and first-time photographers alike to dive into an ocean of colorful experimentation.

EXPERIMENTAL, ENCHANTING, LIQUID EFFECTS
The HydroChrome soaks up the scenery and drenches spectacular sprawling shots with special liquid looks. The unique Sutton lens lets you inject liquid into a
circular dial, creating distinctive filters and luscious liquified scenes. With just the simple addition of clear water, you can achieve vintage aesthetics, washed-out tones and radiant blur too – every concoction creates unprecedented, unpredictable effects. Check out the HydroChrome Liquid Guide for inspiration and tips.

UNDENIABLY ANALOGUE AESTHETICS
The HydroChrome makes experimenting easy. As well as a totally unique lens, this camera comes with a further two built-in features to explore – sprocket holes and panoramic exposures. Artistic minds can let their imagination run wild as they craft panoptic shots complete with lo-fi dreamy aesthetics, authentically analogue perforated edges, and extraordinary liquid effects, all on easy-to-use 35 mm film. Creative photographers can also experiment with multiple, long and pinhole exposures as well as four interchangeable aperture plates for versatility in a variety of lighting conditions.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Film Type: Standard 35 mm film
Exposure Area: 104 mm × 35 mm
Lens Angle of View: 32 mm
Aperture: f/11 with f/16, f/22, f/32 & f/168 pinhole aperture plates
Focus: Fixed-Focus Lens
Focus Range: Focus-Free, 1.5 m – Infinity
Shutter Speed: N (1/100), B (Bulb) T-Shutter: Individual T-Shutter Lever
Viewfinder: Sports Viewfinder
Multiple Exposure: Yes
Tripod Socket Thread: Standard Tripod Socket
Flash Sync: PC-Sync Socket & Hot-Shoe
Cable Release Socket: Yes
Price: 79 USD

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography launches new high-contrast, ISO 8 panchromatic 35mm film stock

30 Mar

Lomography has announced the impending release of Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8, a new high-contrast black and white 35mm film stock.

The panchromatic film is cut from a roll of German cinematic production film, according to Lomography, who calls it a ‘monochrome masterpiece [that] evokes the theatre in your everyday.’ As the ISO speed in the film name suggests, this isn’t exactly a high-speed film. So, to help you figure out how best to use it in nearly any 35mm camera system, Lomography has provided this handy exposure and development guide.

Below are a few sample photos provided by Lomography:

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The film is set to start shipping in June 2020, according to Lomography. You can pre-order it now for 20% off, in a 5-pack ($ 35.60) or 10-pack ($ 71.20). Lomography is also offering ten photographers the chance to test the film before it launches publicly. All that’s required to be considered is to fill out this Google Form.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography releases Simple Use Camera preloaded with LomoChrome Metropolis film

20 Feb

Lomography’s latest Simple Use Camera, the LomoChrome Metropolis, is now available to purchase from the company’s online store. The camera is loaded with Lomography’s LomoChrome Metropolis ISO 100-400 film, operates off a single AA battery and features a built-in flash. The Simple Use Camera is reloadable, as well.

According to Lomography, its Simple Use Camera loaded with LomoChrome Metropolis film can be used to capture ‘grungy shots with muted colors and distinctive shadows.’ The camera includes three Color Gel flash filters (yellow, magenta and cyan), a built-in frame counter, direct optical viewfinder, 31mm F9 lens and 1/120 shutter speed.

In addition to the LomoChrome Metropolis ISO 100 – 400 film, the Simple Use Camera is also available with Black & White ISO 400, LomoChrome Purple ISO 400 and Color Negative ISO 400 film. The camera is available from Lomography now for $ 22.90 each.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography Petzval 80.5mm F1.9 MKII Art lens launches on Kickstarter

07 Feb

Lomography has launched its twelfth Kickstarter campaign with its new Petzval 80.5mm F1.9 MKII Art lens. This 180th Anniversary Edition of the 19th-century portrait lens features 4 elements in 3 groups, F1.9 to F16 aperture, 67mm filter, 0.8m minimum focusing distance, 30-degree FOV and weighs 440g (0.9lbs).

Lomography’s new Petzval 80.5mm MKII Art lens sports a stopless aperture diaphragm, Waterhouse Aperture System, helicoid focusing mechanism, and what the company describes as a ‘velvety swirly Bokeh’ when the shot is wide open. The stopless aperture diaphragm and helicoid focusing mechanism mean users will be able to adjust the f-stop and focus while recording.

The new Petzval offering was designed for use with full-frame cameras but is said to still offer ‘great results’ with cropped sensors. The Advanced Bokeh Control Edition of the lens will feature a bokeh control ring with seven different bokeh swirl levels; this version of the lens will only be offered in black anodized aluminum.

The Petzval 80.5mm F1.9 MKII Art lens will be made available in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts in black anodized, brass satin and black painted brass colors. Lomography is offering the lens to Kickstarter backers who pledge at least $ 290. The lens is estimated to start shipping to backers in June.


Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography launches LomoMod No.1 DIY cardboard camera with a liquid-filled lens

22 Oct

Lomography has introduced LomoMod No.1, a DIY medium-format camera constructed from cardboard, as well as a new lens with a shutter and aperture unit. The lens can be filled with liquid from a syringe, according to Lomography, in order to produce ‘unique artistic aesthetics’ using tea, coffee, and more.

Much in the same way as Google’s cardboard virtual reality headset, Lomography’s new LomoMod No.1 ships as flat-packed sustainable cardboard that the customer assembles at home. This process appears fairly straightforward, as the construction doesn’t require glue or screws to put together. In addition to being moddable, the cardboard camera is also doubled-sided to offer matte black and UV pattern options.

Below is a gallery of sample images taken with the camera:

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Beyond the cardboard camera body, the LomoMod No.1 features a unique lens that replaces traditional filters with an injectable design. The companion shutter and aperture module feature both normal and bulb modes with support for long exposures. The unit features customizable aperture plates, as well, for creating ‘unique’ bokeh. Rounding out the design is a tripod mount and PC-sync and cable release socket.

The full kit ships with:

  • 11 Sheets of Cardboard Cutouts
  • 1 Sheet Aperture Plates Set
  • Sutton Lens Module
  • Aperture and Shutter Module
  • 120 Film Spool
  • Tripod Nut
  • Tube
  • Syringe
  • Valve
  • Colorful Stickers
  • Photo Book & User Manual

The Lomography LomoMod No.1 is available to pre-order for $ 59 USD. Units have already started shipping in Hong Kong but won’t start shipping in Japan, the United States or Europe until early next month.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography launches preorders for Berlin Kino B&W 2019 Edition film

11 Oct

Lomography has released its new Berlin Kino B&W Formula 2019 35mm ISO 400 film product. The new model follows the company’s previously released Berlin Kino Film, which it described as being inspired by the New German Cinema movement. The new film, Lomography says, offers photographers ‘an upgrade in their freedom of creative choice, no matter if they shoot with 35mm or 120 format.’

The most notable aspect of Lomography’s ‘refined’ Berlin Kino formula is its ability to offer ‘huge amounts of photographic details’ in heavily shadowed and bright environments, the company explains. The film has an ISO 400 native sensitivity but can be pushed to 800, 1600, or 3200 without compromising detail levels or tonal range, according to Lomography.

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The 2019 Edition of Lomography’s Berlin Kino B&W film can be preordered for $ 8.90 USD per roll or in a 5-roll bundle for $ 44.50 USD. The company currently estimates that its new film will start shipping next month.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography announces Petzval 55mm F1.7 lens for full-frame mirrorless systems

25 May

Lomography has announced it’s opened pre-orders for the Petzval 55mm F1.7 MKII, its first lens designed specifically for full-frame mirrorless cameras.

According to Lomography, the lens ‘is created with discerning photographers and filmmakers in mind’ and ‘designed to allow full creative flexibility, with its 7 levels of Bokeh Control and Dual Aperture system.’ Like other Lomography lenses, the Petzval 55mm F1.7 MKII comes with various plates to shape the bokeh in images.

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Below is a gallery sample photos captured with the Petzval 55mm F1.7 MKII and shared by Lomography:

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The lens is available Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts and comes in three varieties: black brass, satin-finish brass and black anodized aluminum for $ 499, $ 449 and $ 399, respectively. Pre-orders are open now; the first aluminum units are expected to ship in July 2019 and brass units will follow shortly after in August 2019.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review: Lomography Diana Instant Square

21 Mar

Lomography Diana Instant Square
Shop.Lomography | $ 99.00

The Diana Instant Square camera from Lomography mashes the charm of a Diana F+ toy film camera with the novelty of the Instax Square format. Lomography has long offered an instant back for the F+, but this takes the concept a step further. The Diana Instant Square is the only instant camera with truly interchangeable lenses and like most Lomography products, offers unpredictable and often lo-fi results.

Key specifications:

  • 75mm F11 (38mm equiv.) kit lens
  • 1/100 sec fixed shutter speed
  • Four aperture settings
  • Zone focus
  • Removable viewfinder
  • Auto frame counter
  • Double exposure and bulb mode
  • Attachment flash (sold separately)

Compared to peers

See our complete instant camera guide

The most obvious competitor to the Diana Instant Square is the Fujifilm SQ6 – it also uses Instax Square format at a similar price tag. But unlike the Diana – which is manual focus with manual aperture control – the Fujifilm is more automatic in its operation.

Operation

The camera operates on four AAA batteries that you load into the bottom, and a pack of Instax Square film pops into the rear of the camera. The camera has three settings: Off, On and MX (multiple exposure). When you turn it on the film counter on the back glows green to show you how many shots you have left. It ships with an optional viewfinder that slides onto the top.

Before you shoot you will probably want to triple check that you aren’t in pinhole mode, which my camera kept seeming to click into

Shooting with the camera is very straightforward. The lever to select your aperture is found on the bottom of the lens. Aperture settings are cloudy (F11), partly sunny (F19), sunny (F32) and pinhole (F150).

Left of the lens is the shutter release, on top is a shutter speed toggle (1/100 sec or bulb) and below the lens is a lever to adjust the aperture setting. Focus is set on the front of the lens.

Focus settings are found on the front of the lens and can be set to one person (1-2m), a small group of people (2-4m) or many people with mountains (4m – infinity). On the top of the lens you will find a lever to switch shutter speeds – there are two options: N (1/100 sec) and B (Bulb Mode, Unlimited). The camera’s shutter release is found on the right side of the lens. Before you shoot you will probably want to triple check that you aren’t in pinhole mode, which my camera kept seeming to click into.

Usability

The body is large and chunky.

The Diana Instant Square is more of a toy than an actual photographic tool, and although operating it is quite simple, getting it to produce images that you actually want to share with the world takes some finesse. The results were certainly unpredictable.

The Diana Instant Square seemed to work best when shooting outdoors, without a flash on very bright days. Although you have the option to attach any type of flash, the dedicated Diana F+ flash made the camera feel the most balanced. The results when shooting with the flash were also unpredictable. Sometimes photos turned out totally overblown, and other times they shot out totally black even when the settings on the camera were altered slightly. The Diana Instant Square essentially seems to do what it wants.

Getting the Diana Instant Square to produce images that you actually want to share with the world takes some finessing

A few times the back door that keeps the film in place popped open on me, so I decided to secure it with a large piece of gaff tape. Unfortunately, when this happened I ended up losing a few of the Instax sheets inside and it reset my film counter. The metal levers that control shutter speed and aperture are covered with a small piece of plastic; the one on the aperture lever fell off almost immediately, exposing the metal edge. It isn’t particularly sharp, but over time I did notice that the lever began to bend.

Image Quality

A multi-exposure example from the Diana Instant Square.

The image quality of the Diana Instant Square was expectedly unpredictable. Sometimes I ended up with a double exposure that I didn’t expect, some images had major vignetting, and others had interesting focal fall off that gave them a dreamy quality.

The Diana Instant Square seemed to work best when shooting outdoors, without a flash on very bright days

Sometimes frames that appeared totally black could be rescued once they were scanned and photoshopped. Other frames came back totally overblown or completely dark. When it worked, it worked well, but getting it to work was a bit of a guessing game.

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Conclusion

If you’re a perfectionist or a control freak, you are better off shooting with a different instant camera. Similarly, for the money, there are far better-built options. But if you can lean into the camera’s unpredictability, appreciate its history or like the aesthetics of Diana’s plastic lenses, this kitschy camera might be for you.

Ultimately we had a lot of fun with the Diana Instant Square when the shots came out, but it hurt a bit every time one didn’t.

What we like:

  • Classic look of the Diana Camera
  • Manual exposure control
  • Double-exposure mode
  • Interchangeable lenses

What we don’t:

  • Fiddly controls are easy to knock
  • Manually driven focus
  • Unpredictable exposure results
  • Accessory flash needed for indoors Flimsy build quality

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography announces 120 version of its B&W Potsdam 100 Kino Film stock

31 Jan

Lomography has announced it’s bringing its recently released black and white Potsdam 100 Kino film to 120 medium format rolls.

The 120 rolls, which will be cut from the same sheets as the 35mm stock, which itself is ‘cut from old stocks of a cinematic emulsion produced by a legendary German company.’ In Lomography’s own words, the ‘B&W 100 120 Potsdam Kino Film combines gorgeous antiquated aesthetics with the quality and professional capabilities of medium format photography.’

Below is a gallery of images taken with the 35mm variant of Potsdam Kino Film. Lomography notes ‘you can expect similar results’ from the 120 variety since it’s cut from the same jumbo.

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The B&W 100 120 Potsdam Kino Film is available exclusively for pre-order on Lomography’s online shop for $ 8.90 a roll and is expected to hit Lomography Gallery Stores in May 2019.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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