| Scale Focus 35's Though not rangefinders, scale focus 35's are 1st cousins. This forum includes such popular gems as the Rollei 35's, Petri 35's, and the Olympus XA-4. |
05-30-2012
|
#2
|
|
Registered User
eurekaiv is offline
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 106
|
I have an older russian Lomo LC-A model. Mine was a swap meet score for $5. IMO, and I'll preface that with the note that I really really like a lot of cheap cameras, the LC-A is WAAAAAAY overpriced for what you get. If I were to make pros and cons of the camera they would go something like this...
Pros: size, feel, appearance, simplicity, lens vignettes in a very nice way
Cons: not especially reliable, not the best edge to edge sharpness, lens shows a ton of distortion, price
A short list of scale focus cameras I own and have used, that all cost well under $100, and that are IMO better then the LC-A are the XA2, Pen EE, Olympus Trip 35 and even the Fed 50 which has similar image quality but in a standard lens focal length. You could buy all 4 of those for much less then the price of a new, on sale LC-A actually.
__________________
Sometimes I post my photos on flickr.
Sometimes I update my tumblr.
|
|
|
|
|
05-30-2012
|
#3
|
|
Don't call me Ron
Ronald_H is offline
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Helmond, The Netherlands
Age: 41
Posts: 1,582
|
Indeed. Lomo does some nice things, like the Spinner 360 and a wide range of quirky film, but the hype is built on the LC-A. If you try to explain to people that you'll find a better camera at any, ANY flea market, they just don't want to know. But it keeps the economy going I guess.
A friend wanted to go analogue and instead of a Lomo camera, I got her a Nikon FM10 with a Nikkor 28-70 AF-D, a 50mm f1.8 'E' and a big Agfa Sensotronic flash for less than 70 Euros. Now THAT's value for money.
|
|
|
|
|
05-30-2012
|
#4
|
|
B/W
sara is offline
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Age: 26
Posts: 290
|
Mine was also the old LC-A, I got it for £80! It was "my" camera before it got hyped up and then I stopped using it.
I've told friends to buy a proper SLR but they still go for the Lomo cameras!
It's okay for a compact point and shoot but I stopped using it a long time ago and it sits on my shelf. Want to sell it but looks kinda nice on my shelf lol! |
|
|
|
|
05-30-2012
|
#5
|
|
Thread Killer
ChrisPlatt is offline
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New York
Age: 52
Posts: 1,737
|
IIRC the same model sold for around $125-150 before Lomo started selling it.
Chris
__________________
Bring back the latent image!
|
|
|
|
|
05-30-2012
|
#6
|
|
Ride, dive, shoot.
coelacanth is offline
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,353
|
Wow. "Toy" camera's MSRP is now $389.00!! :O Toy camera stopped being fun long ago when the price got above $50.
You can score a Bessa R2 for that price.
Crazy days...
|
|
|
|
|
05-30-2012
|
#7
|
|
Real Men Shoot Film.
Chriscrawfordphoto is offline
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Age: 37
Posts: 5,870
|
$389 normal price? My GOD! I thought Lomos were overpriced back when they were $150. Also, what's up with the Sperm cell on the front??
|
|
|
|
|
05-30-2012
|
#8
|
|
Registered User
eurekaiv is offline
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 106
|
The LC-A is definitely not a "toy" camera, it's only marketed and sold by a company that markets and sells a lot of "toy" cameras. It's a lot like an XA2 really, only not quite as good IMO.
__________________
Sometimes I post my photos on flickr.
Sometimes I update my tumblr.
|
|
|
|
|
05-30-2012
|
#9
|
|
Registered User
Archlich is online now
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 362
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by coelacanth
Wow. "Toy" camera's MSRP is now $389.00!! :O Toy camera stopped being fun long ago when the price got above $50.
You can score a Bessa R2 for that price.
Crazy days...
|
The $389 price is for this "special" LC-A+ "wrapped in Italian red goat leather and decorated with fertility symbols".
The "regular" one is $250.
For the same $389, however, the recently released LC-W is well-worth it. You don't get a 17mm (no matter how "lomo" it is) for the price often. |
|
|
|
|
06-04-2012
|
#10
|
|
Registered User
btgc is offline
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,743
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Archlich
For the same $389, however, the recently released LC-W is well-worth it. You don't get a 17mm (no matter how "lomo" it is) for the price often.
|
I think you get Tokina SL17 with a hood and proper body on the back for $200 or about that. Real lens, real body, real controls on lens and body. Just bigger than P&S. Choice is yours. |
|
|
|
|
06-04-2012
|
#11
|
|
Registered User
thegman is offline
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: London
Age: 33
Posts: 2,949
|
Used to have the LC-A+, I did like it, but the build was shocking. If it was just a little better put together, I'd quite rate them as cameras. So simple, and a pleasant lo-fi output. They are very small and quick to use too.
You just get the feeling it's going to crumble to bits in your pocket though. I'd like to see Lomography make a metal one or something. I really like what they're up to, making film fashionable, and appealing to younger people.
|
|
|
|
|
06-04-2012
|
#12
|
|
Registered User
eurekaiv is offline
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 106
|
The LOMO LC-A+ isn't built of metal? My LC-A is but it's an older Russian "ЛОМO." I just assumed the newer LC-As were the same.
__________________
Sometimes I post my photos on flickr.
Sometimes I update my tumblr.
|
|
|
|
|
06-04-2012
|
#13
|
|
Registered User
thegman is offline
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: London
Age: 33
Posts: 2,949
|
There is metal on it, but the top bit is plastic, and off the top of my head, the central lens column is too. I think the back is metal though.
|
|
|
|
|
06-04-2012
|
#14
|
|
Registered User
nightfly is offline
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,436
|
Very fun camera. I quite like the lens and wish I hadn't gotten rid of mine. I would say for around a $100 they are worth it. Like it better than an XA2 which I think is the closest competition. The lens has a unique look.
However at the prices they sell for now, I wouldn't consider it. Get an XA2.
Or keep an eye out for a Cosina CX-2 which is the Japanese camera the Lomo is based on. Rumored to be better quality.
|
|
|
|
|
06-04-2012
|
#15
|
|
Registered User
damonsong is offline
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 132
|
One day I was at the film developing shop, some punk rock artsy style kid walked in to pick up her roll, and found out there are only 2 visible shots in the whole roll, others are all under exposed(way under cuz they were black)! Lol
Actually, she's my cousin, so I bought her an Olympus mju 2, so she can stop wasting money and films on the Diana lomo whatever...
|
|
|
|
|
06-11-2012
|
#16
|
|
Registered User
steveniphoto is offline
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 245
|
the l-ca+ i have is actually pretty nice. i shoot it with 800 film (usually fuji pro) and get some nice results. definitely not a "toy" in my opinion.
|
|
|
|
|
08-29-2012
|
#17
|
|
Marcelo
umcelinho is offline
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sao Paulo
Age: 30
Posts: 1,291
|
I've had an LC-A (russian, though) that I had bought for £50 at a camera shop in Hampstead, NW London. It was a pretty good camera and very easy to handle without needing to look down to know what you're doing. I ended up selling it because I was just not using it that much... but I regret it, really, it would be a great camera to take where I didnt want a bigger one or even to lend to friendds travelling to awesome places. So I ended up getting a mju-II for these purposes. Still finding the LC-A a more friendly camera though, due to the manual controls.. having to always turn off the auto flash is a bit annoying and I keep missing the viewfinder when I take the camera to my face quickly! But to lend to friends being an AF is better, I guess...
__________________
Gear:
• right eye
• right index finger
• cameras & lenses
What I've seen around: flickr
|
|
|
|
|
09-03-2012
|
#18
|
|
Registered User
pdexposures is offline
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: PDX
Posts: 184
|
I own one, and enjoy using it. It has given me some fine shots as well. However, I paid $15 and would never imagine paying the insane prices they sell for. The crazy thing about the distortion is that some images I have taken show gobs of it, while others (like the one below) show none at all.
Boston BW 5 by pdexposures, on Flickr
__________________
The Kit:
Leica M6 Classic - 35mm Summicron V3/90mm Elmar
Hasselblad 500cm - 80mm Planar/60mm Distagon
NPC 195
SX70 Model 2
www.pdexposures.tv <- Film camera reviews, podcast, flim news and general tom foolery
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:42. |
|
|
