EMULSIVE Elfster Secret Santa on its Way!

Weekend Plan: Mamiya-7 and Lomo Purple

We'll be out and about with my favorite camera and Lomo Purple.......

When Free Isn't a Deal

My recent Lomo Diana Purchase came with a 'free' telephoto lens.  However, there was  viewfinder adaptor, but no viewfinder.  I contacted them and was told that's how it is.......No wonder they are giving them away!

So How am I supposed to frame my image?  I guess I could attach one of my Mamiya viewfinders, but that just seems wrong!  When Free Really Isn't a Deal.........

Panorama Comparison #1 & 52 Rolls Week #13

I'm going to be posting side-by-side comparisons for several options that I have for shooting Panoramas.  You've seen some of these cameras before and others will be new options for familiar camera friends.

Today a new Option.  I will be doing another series, because I had different films in these cameras and I want to do a true direct comparison with the same films and exposures, etc.

But we will start with a new option for an Old Friend:  The Mamiya 7 with a 35 mm Panorama insert and the Horizon Perfekt swing lens Panorama camera.  I had forgotten that I had color film in the Horizon.  But the main thing to notice in the comparison is that the horizon has a much wider field of view,  and that was what I wanted to learn from this experiment.

Above (Mamiya 7 35mm) and Below (Horizon).  Reservoir at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.

Second view of the reservoir, panning north from the same position.

The Indian Peaks from Lake Waneka.

I assume that the streaking is an artifact of developing.  What do you think?

And the NOAA Satellite Communication Dishes.

Some interesting results. As I said we'll do a Redo for a more direct comparison.  I've posted the B&W images as Week #13 of the 52 Rolls Project.  I will post the color photos for Week #14.

Sundays Online: Holga Say It Ain't So!

I sadly report rumors of the Demise of Holga:

End of an era and a fun way to experiment with medium format photography!

We do still have the Diana.  And I think competition from Lomo Products and Support 

for its users was part of Holga's downfall.

Holga Image of Bird's Nest on Trellis @ My House

My Favorite Holga Image from Rhyolite Nevada:

And From the Holga Panorama Pinhole at Rocky Mountain National Park:

AReprise of My Best Holga Images can be found at this link.

It's Film Photography Day........

So get out that old film camera and get to work!  Find the Contest Details Here.

An example of Last Year's Fun:

Sponsored by Lomography

Maundy Thursday

Have a 'Filmy' 4th of July

Our Friends at Lomography had a great 4th of July image:

Composed of various Lomo  & Diana Cameras!

Have a Filmy 4th of July!

Saturdays Online: Doors Open Denver & Shoot Film Day

We will be out and about for Doors Open Denver AND shooting Film (as always) for Shoot Film Day:

Saturday's Online: Kodak Alaris and Lomography Join Forces!

The Death of film photography is way over done!  Let's just let everyone do what makes them Happy and stop talking about it!  If you like film you need to use it to keep it around, end of discussion.  Seems like enough people do like film.  So Lomography has joined forces with the surviving UK Kodak brand, Kodak Alaris, to sell film and paper through its website.

I've played with the Lomo Fisheye a bit.....But I'm really more of a Holga Fan when it comes to Lo-Fi Photography:

(These were actually taken with FujiPrint Film)

Vintage Camera News: Made in the USSR……..

But found in the ‘trash’ so to speak.  One of the old-timer scientists where Donald works was retiring and cleaning out his laboratory.  Certain items were left out for anyone to take.

So the find was a Kalimar Wide-X, swing-lens panorama camera:

Swing Lens Feature-sweeps across the field of view to limit exposure and create panorama effect.

Essential Data from Camera-Wiki.org:

Dates: 1967-1973

Origin:  An export version of the Russian of the HorizonT 35 mm swing-lens panorama camera for the American market.  Rebadged by the importer Kalimar.  Almost 50,000 were produced, sold under different names in different countries.  Since 1991 it has been produced as the Plastic Horizon Panorama:  Model Horizon-202 from 1991-2005 and Model Horizon Kompackt from 2005-2009.  I could not find any evidence of current production. But for more on Plastic Cameras visit the Lomo Society.

Yes the field of view lens is cracked but still useable.

The camera must be level to minimize distortion, so a tripod is required.

A manual we found in translation on-line warned that the shutter speed was 'only approximate' and the ASA dial 'just a reminder'.

Also a couple of compact light meters:

Sekonic Auto-Lumi L-158 and the Gossen Pilot:

About once a month I intend to write about one of the cameras I own or hope to own.  I had done some of this when I began this Blog.  I may re-post some of those oldies (with updates) for the benefit on more recent followers.

Fisheye Drama!

We’ve all seen the dramatic effects created with fisheye lenses. I have one for my Minolta cameras, and my Lomo, but do I really need a fisheye for my medium format Mamiyas? Probably not!

About five years ago I found a reasonably priced fisheye option, the Zenitar, a Russian made lens. First I was skeptical that the lens would actually arrive in one piece. I had paid through PayPal, but the lens had to be shipped from Ukraine. It arrived fine, and works well. But although I had always wanted a fisheye, I’ve used it less than a dozen times. It is really a novelty item. But I didn’t pay exorbitantly for it, and it is there when I feel like going a little crazy. The results are far superior to any Plastic Camera, but if you just want to take a spin around the fisheye, try the Lomo.








Camera: Minolta X-700
Lens: Zenitar f/2.8 16mm
Film: Ilford ISO 400
Paper: Ilford with Sepia Toning

A Little More Lomo……..

I was inspired by Natalie’s Sycamore leaf to photograph my own maple tree, but with a twist. Rather than copy her macro technique, I decided to use my Lomo Fisheye. Well, my maple leaves proved not to be so photogenic, but I ended up with some interesting shots. And you can see how well this ISO 800 film performs.













Camera: Lomo Fisheye
Film: Fuji Superia ISO 800


























I need to learn to keep my feet out of the frame, but with a rangefinder that can be tricky!

Holga and Lomo Plastic Cameras

Continuing with the Rangefinder Family of cameras, Let's talk about Holga and Lomo. To the right, one of my favorite Holga images. This one has appeared in Juried shows. For more Plastic Cameras photos check out the Krappy Kamera Korner.


I was introduced to the Holga during my photo studies in Monterey, California. The Holga is a medium format plastic camera. using an insert it can be adjusted to take 15-6X4.5 images or 12-6X6images. There is also now a 35mm version.






Holgas are FUN! So get one and try it out!















Another Plastic Camera Friend is the Lomo Fisheye. There is an entire on-line community dedicated to this camera. Check out Lomography for a test ride.










And take a look at Donald's Lomo Fisheye pic. More Also at our Krappy Kamera Korner.