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Lomography's new 35mm camera has a lens you can fill with liquid
It looks like a fun way to manually add vintage aesthetics to panoramic shots.
Lomography's all-analog square camera uses familiar film
Do you prefer to shoot photos with a completely analog camera, but wish you could get in on the square photo trend that's all the rage with the Instagram crowd? Lomography thinks it can help. It's crowdfunding the Lomo'Instant Square Camera, a fully analog instant camera that takes the same square Instax film you'd use in Fujifilm's semi-digital Instax Square SQ10. You won't have to look far to restock, in other words. The camera itself, meanwhile, revels in its non-digital nature -- although there are some concessions to modernity.
Lomography's super-cheap film cameras look like disposables
Thanks to the smartphones in our pockets, we all have a basic understanding of digital photography, even if we don't own a fancy DSLR. But this casual familiarity can make delving into analog, film shooting a bit daunting, at least initially. Champion of film Lomography has made exploring the 35mm format that much more accessible today, though, launching a trio of super-cheap cameras, preloaded with its dreamy films, that even the most inexperienced of photographers can easily get to grips with.
The 12 best tech gifts for the entertainer in your life
You know the type: Someone who loves throwing parties. In fact, you will probably partake of egg nog and sugar cookies in their home before the season is up. So why not get them something that helps them do what they do best: entertain. If your friend loves to cook, you might consider an easy-to-use WiFi sous vide, a smart kitchen scale or a smokeless infrared grill. For entertaining, a countertop draft beer system is convenient -- and then your friend can serve pour-over coffee as the party is winding down. Finally, we have some ideas on how the hostess in your life can keep guests amused -- try the Cards Against Humanity science pack expansion, USB turntable or Lomography instant camera. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
Recommended Reading: Watching football without cable
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Unbundling: Beginner's Guide to Football without Cable by Joe Ovies WRAL Sports Fan As football season approaches, live sports remains a stumbling block for fans who are eager to cut the cord. If you're looking to examine your options ahead of kickoff, this piece takes a look at the current state of streaming in regards to both college and NFL action.
Lomo's latest camera is expensive and uses 120 film
The Lomographic society is committed to the preservation of analog photography in all of its forms. That's what has prompted the outfit to launch a high-end medium-format camera that'll sit alongside its similarly-priced 35mm offerings. The LC-A 120 takes 120 film, and packs a Minigon XL multi-coated 35mm four-element lens that's the equivalent to a 21mm lens on a 35mm camera. With it, creative photographers are able to shoot multiple exposures, and even take long exposures using a rear curtain flash for that retro effect. Aperture-wise, the range begins at f/4.5, and runs all the way to f/16 for big, square shots that won't get grainy when you enlarge them.
Lomography's DIY 35mm camera, now with flash
Last summer, Lomography debuted its offering that allows photogs to build their own 35mm SLR. Now, the retro-minded snapshooting outfit is lending a new model of its Konstruktor more film-shooting skills with flash kits. Thanks to a $20 accessory package, the latest version of the DIY camera can be paired with a Lomography flash should the need arise -- if you've already splurged for it and the proper lighting add-on. Those who've yet to take the leap can nab a bundle that includes the disassembled Konstruktor F, requisite accessory kit and a choice of flash for $103-$111 (depending on said selection). Not only can you put together the camera you'll use for to capture that next road trip, but you can ensure those images will be well lit, too.
'Lomo Instant' takes your standard Polaroid to the next level
Back in the good old days, you could take a photo of Fido with your Polaroid, and after a few shakes be ready to tape it to your dorm room wall. Now Lomo is looking to bring that same old-school experience into the next decade with the Instant – a self-developing film camera with a vintage feel. It has support for several different lenses, color filters and can even create images with multiple exposures of your furry friend. The company already has a pretty sizable line of toy and DIY cameras that push the envelope (like this one made out of a paint can). The Instant follows in that tradition, building off an old favorite, the Fuji Instax. The camera uses its easy-to-find credit card-sized film, but has five aperture settings, including f/8, the largest available on any instant camera. It also has three different shooting modes for tons of flexibility.
Daily Roundup: New Nexus 5 hardware, Amazon Pantry, next-gen console sales and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Lomography's Petzval lens ships to Kickstarter backers, pre-order it now for $599
If you ordered one of Lomography's Petzval lenses on Kickstarter for as little as $300, you'd be forgiven for feeling a bit smug right now. First off, you may get it soon since the first 500 have now shipped, and secondly, it's put the brassy glass up for pre-order to new buyers for a considerably higher price of $599. The starter package does include extras on top of the lens and cap, though: a Petzval Art Lens book, seven standard aperture plates, four experimental plates and a leather pouch. If you've got a Canon EF or Nikon F camera, that'll let you take artsy shots with whirly bokeh and vignetting like the 1840 original, but with the sharpness of modern optics. Lomography said that pre-orders won't ship until May due to limited Russian production and a backlog of Kickstarter orders. If that and the new price don't dissuade you, however, you can grab one here.
Engadget's 2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Cameras
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. With smartphones like the Nokia Lumia 1020 offering outstanding photo performance, you may wonder why you'd want a standalone camera at all. Leave it to the professionals and photo enthusiasts here at Engadget to clarify why a devoted shooter is still your best bet if snapping stills and video is a serious hobby -- you won't find many of these specs in a phone any time soon.
Lomography's Experimental Lens Kit spices up snapshots with your current Micro Four Thirds camera (video)
If you're after a little more creativity in your Micro Four Thirds shooting sessions, Lomography is looking to oblige with a trio of lenses aimed at just that. The outfit's Experimental Lens Kit offers three options for image capture: 160-degree fisheye, 12mm wide-angle and standard 24mm glass. Touting a "world's first," the units boast the ability to take multiple optical exposures with a digital camera. They also allow for the use of color inserts for added effect. Sound too good to pass up? Well, the package is available now via the second source link below for $89. A closer look and a smattering of sample shots can be found in the promo video after the break, too.
Lomography reinvents Petzval lens for analog and digital SLRs
When it was invented in 1840, the Petzval lens revolutionized photography thanks to its f/3.6 aperture. It's legendary for producing images with super sharp centers and unique backgrounds with a whirly bokeh -- as such it's particularly well suited for shooting portraits. Most Petzval lenses today are defective because of age and not optimized for modern cameras, so Lomography set out to reinvent the lens for the 21st century. The company just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the Petzval lens back for $300 -- it's teaming up with Zenit to manufacture high-quality lenses for analog and digital SLRs with Nikon F and Canon EF mounts. Lomography's Petzval lens is made of brass, features a gear rack focusing mechanism and comes with a Waterhouse aperture set (f/2.2, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16). Are you as intrigued as we are? Follow the source link below for the full campaign details.
Lomography intros Konstruktor: craft your own film SLR for $35 (video)
It's easy to build your own camera if you're determined to capture images on the cheap; it's another matter if you want something just slightly more refined. If that's the case, Lomography has you covered with its new Konstruktor kit. The pack gives DIY types everything they need to build their own 35mm film SLR, including a removable 50mm f/10 lens and customizable panels. There's no control over aperture or shutter speed, but Lomography's retro-inclined crowd will like the quick toggle for long exposure shots. They'll also like the $35 price -- it's possible to buy 100 Konstructors before matching the cost of just one EOS 5D Mark III. Should that kind of math be too much to resist, you'll be glad to hear that the camera is already on sale at Lomography's shop.
Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner goes on sale for $59
Lomography's Smartphone Film Scanner has reached that moment that every crowdfunding project strives for, but often seems elusive: everyday sales. The peripheral is now sitting in stock at an ordinary, post-Kickstarter $59 price. As you'd expect, the functionality remains what we were promised earlier in the year. Slot in an iPhone, or certain Android smartphones, and scanning 35mm film or a slide is just a matter of lining things up and snapping a photo with the phone's camera. Anyone who's sitting on a treasure trove of old photos -- or is just holding on to that film SLR for dear life -- can shop for the scanner at the source link.
Insert Coin: Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner does as its name implies
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. The fine folks over at Lomography are at it again, but this time, they're out for something more than just quirky. In fact, this may be useful for many more people than those obsessed with retrofied / distorted photography. As so many established outfits are doing these days, Lomography has turned to Kickstarter in hopes of funding its latest endeavor. The Smartphone Film Scanner is a (comparatively) portable device that straps onto any iPhone and "most" Android phones. From there, you simply slide any old 35mm film you have laying around into the back, flip on the embedded backlight, and capture a photo of the negative using the included app. Once it's digitized, you can flip it into a positive, stitch together a panorama, or even create a multi-frame animation. Naturally, it can be shared around the globe from there using your social media program of choice. Head on past the break for a few demo vids, and tap the source link to hand over your credit card details -- early birds can snag one for $40 + shipping, while those coming on late will be asked to fork over a bit more.
Ikea cardboard digital camera: when Instagram isn't authentic enough (video)
Forget TVs. Want something more whimsical and lo-fi than Instagram? This is a digital camera made of cardboard that Ikea included with its press kit at this year's Milan Design Week. It runs on two AA batteries (Ikea-branded, natch) and features a swing-out USB plug, viewfinder cutout, shutter key and paperclip-friendly erase button. While there are no details on the sensor, lens or storage capacity, the camera holds up to 40 pictures. It's expected to land in Ikea stores at some point but exact pricing and availability are still a mystery. No matter -- this camera is sure to impress hipsters everywhere (and yes, that includes us). Awesome demo video after the break.
Lomography LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker hands-on (video)
"Unique and precious pieces of movie art." That's what Lomography is promising to deliver with the LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker -- the company's very first movie camera. Announced earlier this month, the LomoKino is hardly a technological game changer. In fact, it's anything but. Much like every other camera to come off of Lomography's assembly line, the Movie Maker is entirely analog. Users must spool their own 35mm film and manually operate the device's crank to capture images at a frame rate of three to five frames per second, with a shutter speed of 1/100 second. From there, you can either send the film off to get developed and digitally formatted, or cut it yourself and scan it into your movie editing software of choice. You won't find any sound, many frills, or, for that matter, a ton of convenience, but that's also the idea -- to return filmmakers to the roots of early silent cinema, with a pared down device that reignites some of the photographic mystery lost with the dawn of the digital age. For those too young to remember the analog era, just think of it as a physical manifestation of Instagram, minus the "insta" part. And the results can be pretty stunning, as many in the Lomography community have already demonstrated with collections of hauntingly silent, washed out shorts. With our curiosity piqued, we decided to stop by Lomography's boutique in Paris to learn more about the LomoKino. Check out our hands-on gallery below, and click past the break for our initial impressions. %Gallery-139288%
LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker lets you channel your inner Charlie Chaplin for $80
Ever wish you could return to a simpler cinematic era -- one characterized not by 3D graphics and Spielberg, but by silent images and Eisenstein? Well, you can now spearhead the movement yourself, with Lomography's new LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker. With this device (pictured above), amateur filmmakers can manually produce their own frill-free movies on any roll of 35mm film. All you have to do is load your film into the so-called "magic box," turn the crank and let the LomoKino work its magic. The camera, which boasts a 25mm lens and max aperture of f/5.6, will capture 144 shots on a single roll of film, good for about 50 to 60 seconds of footage. It also supports a wide array of effects, including slide film, color negative, redscale and black and white. Once that's developed, you can run it through Lomography's LomoKinoScope, direct it toward a light source, and watch your homemade Baby's Lunch or Nanook of the North unfold before your eyes. You won't find any sound, special effects, or fancy post-production tools here -- just moving images, plain and cinematically pure. Lumiere enthusiasts can grab one now for $80, or opt for both the LomoKino and the LomoKinoScope, bundled together for $100. For more details, roll past the break for a sample video and the full PR, or get a closer look at the LomoKino in the gallery, below. %Gallery-138276%
White Stripes get their own Lomography cameras
Don't look now, but Jack and Meg are at it again. Yep, the White Stripes are once more reaching out to the retro lovin', geeked-out crowd by offering up a set of "all-plastic," limited edition Lomography cameras. The JACK Holga and MEG Diana+ seem to only differ from their standard counterparts externally, but fans of the band are sure to appreciate the Rob Jones-designed motifs. Notably, the JACK Holga Starter Kit includes "an additional Fisheye lens, three filter set and a custom Peppermint lens filter," while MEG's version comes with the "Nobody Knows How To Talk To Children" ringflash and a custom Peppermint Film Mask filter. Both kits are available as we speak for $180 apiece, but you better make haste, as only 3,000 of each camera were constructed. Check out a few more looks after the break.[Thanks, Favian]
