The relationship between a Lomographer and their Lomo LC-A+ can be a complex one. To help you try and understand, here are ten reasons why I love mine.
1. It’s compact. It fits in your pocket and you can hold it in one hand so you can easily shoot from the hip (or from wherever you fancy!)
2. The vignetting. This may well have started off as an unfortunate characteristic of Eastern Bloc manufacturing, but now is an essential part of the Lomo LC-A look that adds personality to all your pictures.
3. The lightmeter. This simple device means all your pictures will be correctly exposed. It’s as simple as that. Whether it’s a super bright day in a ski resort or the dead of night the light meter keeps your shutter for exactly the right amount of time.
4. Flexibility. The medium of film is still going strong. There’s a 35mm film for all situations – and they’ll all fit your LC-A+!
5. They’re tough. I’ve dropped my Lomo LC-A+ several times (including one slightly embarrassing incident in my work’s car park involving a client’s car bonnet – car bonnet came off worse!) and it has never missed a beat.
6. The focusing is simple. The zone focus system means that you don’t have to wait for a slow autofocus system to measure, calculate and finally allow the shutter to fire – it all happens instantly.
7. It always takes the picture. Get too close with other compacts, they’ll just say “no”. Sometimes a bit of soft focus is just what you’re after – you make the decisions, not the camera.
8. The MX feature. I was skeptical about this feature at first, but have recently come to enjoy making ‘doubles’. The MX feature gives you the option to do doubles as you go along. Or not. And then maybe do another. As often as you feel like, it’s up to you!
9. It helps to start conversations. People want to know “why are you still using film?”, it’s a real ice-breaker. Oh, and children find it funny that you can’t see the picture on the back of the camera after you’ve taken it!
10. You stand out from the crowd. So everybody else has got ‘Fancy Dan’ digital compacts? Well that’s fine if all you want to do is just record a bland image of exactly what’s in front of the lens – but me, I want to see my memories recorded with a bit of analogue warmth and charm!
My Lomo LC-A+ – I never go anywhere without it!
Now it’s disdis’ turn to interview a friend – who knows, it could be you!
15 comments
northwardnimbus
digital sucks
abcdefuck
photo 7 is incredible. :O
mattydk
great article! :)
mattcharnock
i agree with the how tough comment, mine was dropped and cracked and still worked, however now it is missing...sniff - great gallery
mattcharnock
oh yeah and in response to number 10... i was shooting stills for a film and we were about 4 photographers with big lensa nd we were joking and saying that its not the size of your lens, in fact the smaller the lens the better the photographer, so i got my LC-A out! Showed them a thing or two!
herbert-4
Nice photos, especially #7. I have an older Russian Lomo LC-A and mine seems to vignette a lot less than yours. Variable tolerances??
ethermoon
i agree with abcdefuck. number 7 is a greaat photo taken with the powerful LCA!
@northwardnimbus: digital sucks, literally.
stouf
Exxxxxcellent review ! Awesome gallery !
lomosexual_manboy
You got it right on the nose and with a great gallery to boot.
ethermoon
@herbert-4: my LC-A refurb often has intense vignettes too. maybe it depends on lens differences???
day3hugger
wow # 7!! did u use a cable release? how long did the shutter stay open?? i agree i've dropped my lca several times too and it still is my best partner in crime :)
d_i_hunter
Thanks all!
Just to make it clear, it's the Russian lens model - there was no other version when I got it.
@day3hugger yeah I used a cable release (and a tripod). I don't know exactly how long the shutter was open - I got tired of waiting after about 2 or 3 minutes and went into the house to have a hot drink...
eva_eva
Agree with all the rules :)
alessandroleen
I completely agree on every level/point. I never owned a digital camera, and recently got the LC-Wide... Sure, you can't see the result instantly (unless you use the instant back) but once you have your results, they're so much more than just "a picture of a thang", they're ... using a word to describe it is impossible. Ah, I love my Lomo. :)
clownshoes
A drop-able camera is very important