Adventures with The Lomomatic 110 Camera by rocket_fries0036

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110 film is a niche format that's been around since the 70s and was even used for espionage missions during the Cold War. The cameras made for this film stock were known to be easy to carry around and surprisingly sharp despite their size. Nowadays 110 film has been seeing a resurgence with more and more analogue lovers rediscovering this handy and easy-to-use format. The release of the Lomomatic 110 last year was the answer to the prayers of many who wanted a premium 110 camera that can showcase the format's full potential.

I recently got the chance to take the Lomomatic 110 along with me as my companion for the year's end. Let's see how the Lomomatic 110 did during the long and sweaty nights of Metro Manila.

When I first got this metal-bodied and compact camera I was excited to see what kind of results I would get with it. Fitted with its version of the famous Minitar lens, which is found on our flagship camera, the Lomo LC-A+, the combination of a sharp lens with a grainy film format is something that I was excited to see for myself. I first brought it out during a daytime party to see how well it would do in the natural light. However, because it was cloudy I instantly switched on the flash mixed with the night mode which changes the aperture of the camera to f/2.8.

The following week I was invited to a viewing of Drag Race Philippines and I think this is where I really became impressed with the camera with how well it was able to get sharp images in low light conditions. I think it helped that I was shooting LomoChrome Metropolis at 200 rather than 400 in order to overexpose the film more, but the skin tones, colors, and details truly blew me away. With the flamboyant colors of the Drag Queens' outfits, you can really tell how well the Lomomatic 110 was able to capture everything.

It took a few weeks for me to use the camera at an event again but it was constantly with me every time I went out because it was just a breeze to bring around. It could fit in my smallest bags with ease so it was a constant companion I could bring without any thought. As a nightlife photographer, I really wanted to see how it would hold up as a reliable camera during raves.

Eventually I tried it out at an underground rave called Kaput which is one of the more hedonistic parties in the country. With a no-photo policy, I felt like those Cold War spies on a mission with their own 110 cameras. Being able to conceal the camera within my bag I was very sneaky and I timed my shots well in order not to get caught. To my surprise, the grain mixed with the saturation and sharpness added a gritty layer to each photo which somehow made the pictures more raw and interesting. Playing around with the bulb mode and zone focusing created magical and dreamy-looking results as it paired well with the chaotic and unpredictable lighting.

The more I used the camera, the more I also noticed a few quirks that I had to get used to. For one, when pressing down on the shutter, there were times that my hard press led to the Lomomatic experiencing camera shake. Because of this, I did get some blurry photos, especially in more lowlight situations. Another thing I noticed is that sometimes the film did not advance properly. This resulted in some frames getting cut which was disappointing but somehow if edited properly could be a great exercise in diptychs or stitching photos together in a creative way.

Lastly, what you see through the viewfinder isn't exactly how your shot will be framed because of the distance between the viewfinder and the lens. So, as with rangerfinders, you have to watch out for parallax error when shooting up close. Despite all of these quirks the camera is overall reliable and very fun to use.

In the end, the Lomomatic 110 is a multipurpose camera that is a blast. In every situation I brought it to, from sunny city days, to dark late-night raves, and even intimate gatherings, you can see that the camera performed well and gave me memories that I can fondly look back on. Using different color films like LomoChrome Metropolis, LomoChrome Color ’92, and Color Tiger 110 the saturation and grain come together and create a gritty yet charming effect on each photo.

The next time I get the chance to use this camera I want to try out using things like the MX button and flash color gels because it could give me even more freedom to express myself. The Lomomatic 110 is a camera that truly showcases the possibilities of this almost forgotten format. Despite its compact size it truly packs a punch and will leave you with memorable pictures that you fondly look back on.


Where do you like shooting the Lomomatic 110? Comment down below!

written by rocket_fries0036 on 2025-01-20 #gear #people #places #nightlife #street #110 #color-tiger #lomochrome-metropolis #photo-story #lomochrome-color-92 #lomomatic110

Mentioned Product

Lomomatic 110

Lomomatic 110

Your passport to adventure; hit the road with the sharpest, most creative pocket-sized camera on Earth. With a sophisticated metal body featuring a powerful glass lens & advanced creative features plus a detachable flash, your 110 journey starts now!

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