zone focus
CameraFile: Olympus XA2
Olympus XA2 (in front with A11 flash, rear: XA1 and XA3)
Camera Model: XA2
Manufacturer: Olympus
Format: 35mm film
Type: Zone-Focus Compact
Price: second-hand (anything from £5 to £30)
Reasons to Buy: Much cheaper than the XA (also slightly smaller and lighter). Built-in self-timer and battery test function (such a simple idea, but so effective). Wonderfully sharp and vivid images – indeed the results from the XA2 are very similar to those from the Lomo LC-A, making the XA2 a great low budget alternative. Easy to find functioning second-hand models (the XA2 was produced from 1980 to 1986) – and loads of online community support waiting to answer questions and help troubleshoot any problems that may occur (which are rare). Great wide angle (35mm) lens. And that clamshell design is a classic look (and stops you having to worry about losing the lens cap!) All in all: robust, unobtrusive, cheap, great results – the perfect street camera!
Processing: The XA2 shoots standard 35mm film, so can be processed absolutely anywhere. Most developers will be willing to cross-process as well, although some of the high street stores/supermarkets might require a bit of talking around – as it is true that if you process lots of E6 film in C41 chemicals it will affect the chemicals and make them less effective when processing C41 film. However it’s perfectly safe (apparently) to cross process one E6 film for every 10 or so C41 film. Just tell them I said it was okay 
› Continue reading
CameraFile: LC-A+
Lomo LC-A+ (and cool Lomo packaging)
Camera Model: LC-A+
Manufacturer: LOMO
Format: 35mm film
Type: Zone-Focus Compact
Price: £240 (from the official Lomography shop) (or £268 for a Russian Lens version)
Reasons to Buy: The LC-A (or Lomo Kompakt Automat to give it the original full title) is the classic and ultimate Lomography camera. This unassuming Russian camera spawned and inspired the entire Lomographic cult in the early 1990s (when it was rediscovered by a bunch of Viennese students in a second-hand camera store in Prague) – and even supplied it the name. Refurbished LC-A cameras are still available for around £90 to £150 (check on eBay), but the brand new LC-A+ is a perfect modern re-creation with one or two improvements.
Shots produced by the LC-A possess the trademark vignetting – with awesome clarity in the centre of shot (thanks to the legendary Minitar 1″ lens), trailing off to differing degrees of blurredness at the edges. In sunlight with a low ISO film the colours captured are bright and striking, and even more so when shooting on E6 (slide) film cross-processed as C41. › Continue reading
Recent photos
- don't you love me baby, don't you love me wooooo-o-o-o #photowired #notdead #maybe #just #sleeping
- follow us on twitter