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Lomo Diana Mini Camera
by yazzy_bum
Extremely lightweight, in fact it feels a bit like a toy as it is made from plastic, also alot smaller than the original Diana+ and therefore perfect to keep in your handbag.
The camera does not produce high quality photos rather the plastic lens gives photos a warm retro feel, and produces interesting pictures. There are lots of ... features to play around with, for example long exposure etc. I am a total beginner and I have managed to take some lovely pictures just through experimenting, with no expertise needed. The Diana Mini is also compatible with the Diana flash which I would highlight recommend if you intend on using this product inside, or in the evening etc when lighting isn't as good.
One disadvantage to this product is the fact that it is a small camera and can be quite fiddly to load, espoecially for those with bigger fingers and thumbs! However it takes standard 35mm unlike the Diana+ which makes processing easier.
Overall a cool product to experiment with and produce lovely vintage feeling photos however be careful with it-it is not very resilient. I broke my first one quite easily through sheer clumsiness.
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Lomo Diana Mini Camera
by professorlamp
I bought the Diana Mini when I was first starting to get into Lomography photography as something new to experiment and practice with. I had read that it was perfect for beginners, and I was proved right and then some!
The Diana Mini not only looks great, but has many functions to help you experiment, which is what I found ... very appealing. One of the greatest qualities of this camera is its capability to change between the retro square format and the rectangular half-frame format. The square format allows you to take the standard 36 images per film; this feature creates very aesthetically pleasing images. The rectangular half-frame format allows you to take 72 images in one film, which is ideal for those who want to get more for their money. It is also amazing for experimentation as this feature also allows you to create panoramas and abstract images, as long as you have the imagination, your shots should come out amazing as there are endless things to do with this format. It is also possible to create overlapping multiple exposure images in both functions, it's easy to do, you just take another image over the last you took by not winding the film on, often creating beautiful unique images.
There is also a possibility to change between the functions in the middle of the film, and the results can turn out to be fantastic, but in my experience the guys at the photo lab were a little confused at my film at first! If you're able to, it may be a good idea to just get them to process your film and you scan the negatives in yourself to get the desired effect you want!
There is also a function within the camera that lets you take images with long exposures, this is the 'B' function, and is very easy to use and again creates beautiful images. There are also 'Sunny' and 'Cloudy' settings on the camera, to makes sure you get your images just right in the weather you find yourself in.
The camera has a wide angle lens, which means that you can choose what focal distance to use when taking an image, ranging between close up and far away.
I have found whenever I have shot with my Diana Mini, the images always have a warm vintage feeling to them, which is very desirable and look great! At first I found slight difficulty in getting my images right, but it is so easy to correct this!
The Diana Mini takes 35mm film, so therefore needs the standard 35mm film development.
Because of the camera's miniscule size and light weight, I found that it was easy to take along with me in my bag and just point and snap as needed. It is also very useful as it has a tripod mount on the bottom, ideal if you are taking portrait snaps.
The camera comes with a book entitled 'Shoot forever' which gives you some great inspiration in taking your images. There is also a very detailed instruction book included in the package, making it easy to understand your Diana Mini.
Overall I would recommend this camera, it doesn't matter whether you are a beginner or not, it is fun for all and can bring out the creative side in anyone!
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Lomography ActionSampler Camera
by professorlamp
When the Action Sampler was first in production, it was marketed towards children, which is why some more avid photographers will call it a 'toy camera', even though that is basically what it is, the more creative photographer like me find it as a new means of experimentation and a whole lot of fun!
In my own experience I have ... found that using ISO 200 film has worked well with the camera, although I mostly shoot the outdoors, and usually in bright conditions, so a film with a higher ISO such as 400 may be more affective for lowlight conditions and the indoors. At first I had a slight bit of difficulty loading the film into the camera, but as soon as you get the hang of it once, you won't forget for next time!
There is little control over how the images will turn out on this camera, as there is only a shutter release button and a small view finder (which I find only approximates the area in image), but I think that the surprise of how your images will turn out adds to the charm of this camera. When I have taken this camera out in sunnier weather conditions I have found that the images come out in a more vintage style, e.g. slightly blurred, hazy colours and only emphasis on contrast on certain colours, which is rather desirable. I have had no trouble in getting the films developed from this camera, just ensure that you take it to a decent photo lab (e.g. Boots or Jessops if in the UK) or develop it yourself.
For making the best out of the 4 frames the camera takes, try moving around with it and taking a picture, or taking pictures of things that are moving, just experiment in whatever way you find works for you! You'll often find that the moving images often come out rather abstract. Others who have had this camera suggest that it is not the greatest for portrait images, but I think that's debatable as I have found some of my portrait shots of my friends rather amusing, there is a whole load of fun this camera can give, so just have fun experimenting!
When taking images on this camera make sure you don't have your fingers near the front by the lenses, or you will find yourself with sneaky fingers creeping into your images like I found when I first started using this camera!
Overall I would recommend this camera for those looking to have fun with their photography, whether that is experimentation or just candid shots of their friends.
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