During this summer, I used both my Lomography LC-A+ (loaded with Lomography Redscale film) and my soviet ЛОМО ЛК-А (loaded with Agfa Precisa film). I thought it would be interesting to shoot some photos with both cameras and compare the results.
Ever since I laid my hands on an old Soviet ЛОМО ЛК-А, I had wanted to compare it with my Lomography LC-A+. This summer, I finally decided I would give the experiment a try but, just to make it a bit more interesting and experimental, I decided to use my favourite film in one of the cameras and some film I had never used before in the other. The Lomography LC-A+ camera was loaded with a roll of Lomography Redscale Film ISO 100, and the old ЛОМО ЛК-А was loaded with a roll of Agfa Precisa CT film ISO 100.
The cameras were used on the beach and during a short trip to Scandinavia. The results were quite interesting, although it seems that my lab scanned the redscale film from the wrong side. Accidents happens, right? I could give you a summary of all the things I think I have learned about the cameras and the film, but I am more interested in hearing your opinions about the photos. So here are some of the results:
18 comments
sergio_m
shame you dint use same film, now that would be real "vs"
good reading thou
brettac
I agree w/@sergio_m. Great photos as well :)
vicuna
cool photos, but it would indeed have been more interesting for a comparison to use the same film...
I have both, a vintage 1986 LC-A and the LC-A+ (chinese lens) and the only real difference I ever noticed was a little stronger vignetting on the original LC-A...
lighttomysoul
nice! although i'm not a big fan of the redscale film, just because the darker areas sometimes end up looking blue like in some of the photos.
like the others, i would've liked to see the results using the same film :)
breakphreak
agreed with the folks above, it's more film comparison then cams comparison. also, I'd like to think that if there is either difference then it will be in contrast, gradients, crispiness, tones and colors - mean really good resolution is needed while scanning (and publishing here). in that case better to publish crops etc then then whole image :) I'd say go the whole 9 yards in that :))
cinzinc
nevertheless, good on u for comparing =)
basho
Thanks for your comments!
I do want to try the experiment with the same film. It just happened that I had three rolls of redscale I had to use, and I thought it would be nice to use one of them in the trip. However, one of my conclusions is that I don't like the redscale film very much. More than half of the shots seem to be underexposed and have that ugly greyish grain. I know you are supposed to use it in good light conditions but I shot two rolls this summer and the results were quite disappointing in both cases.
As soon as I do the 2nd part of the experiment, I'll write another review, and let you all know about it :)
alehopgm
I only know that I want to try one roll of Agfa CT Precisa, I love its colors!!!
jaalvarez
Great article !!!
I have a 1987 LC-A ... And I love the photos "she" takes ... I only press the shooter ...
sergio_m
@basho that would be great! also remember to use tripod!
neurodiaz
nice photos bro.
lomo-graf
This comparison is useless without using the same film in both cameras.... Do it again Sam ;-)
pamplemousse_mk2
Hi,
the lab has not scanned the redscale film in the wrong side. The redscale film is put back side in front: this is how to make it redscale.
basho
@pamplemousse_mk2: I know that know, but I wasn't sure at the time I wrote the piece. However, I got them scanned, and they should have reversed the images, shouldn't they? I'm getting me a film scanner this xmas and I think I'll use that to correct some of my pictures. I guess photoshop can do the job as well? I haven't tried but I'm sure it can.
superlighter
I'm 100% sure that the bad redscale effect it's only lab foult as they always use automatic corrections during the scans! once you have your own scanner take the time to do a better scan of your redscale films ;)
basho
@superlighter Thanks for the tip! I'll try that and if I get a more satisfactory result, I might give the redscale film another chance :)
tallgrrlrocks
Great experiment :) I dream of owning a Soviet LC-A+. My Chinese Lens LC-A+ is currently experiencing some sticky shutter drama. I miss shooting with it terribly!
arcadiobuendia
I will never like a chinese product the way I like my soviet love. never.