In mobile phone photography software, we often see a set of "LOMO" filters, which have their own vignetting, high color saturation, strong picture, strong graininess, and sharp imaging characteristics, which are deeply loved by young people. The name LOMO is derived from the L-CA cameras produced by the Leningrad Optical Instrument Plant during the Soviet era.
LOMO style was favored by the founder of Lomography, acting as an agent for the sales of L-CA cameras and independently developing and producing cameras and films, and gradually became an international experimental film photography agency in Austria.
Lomography is translated as "Joy Magic" in China, and has launched 5 different models of Lomo Instant cameras, using Fujifilm instax series of photo papers. Among them, Lomo Instant Automat and Lomo Instant Automat Glass use Fujifilm mini photo paper, Lomo Instant WIDE uses Fujifilm wide format photo paper, and Lomo Instant SQUARE is more special, not only can you use Fujifilm square photo paper, but also can install mini photo paper, so that one camera can share two different format photo paper, which is more free and flexible to use.
Unlike the Fujifilm mini series, which focuses on simple and convenient operation logic with few manual parameter adjustments, the Lomo Instant camera has no metering function and the exposure needs to be controlled by the user, so there is a certain technical threshold, otherwise there will be a high rejection rate, which is not very friendly to novices. However, for users who have a certain foundation in photography, the photography kit (including various lenses, close-up lenses, image splitters, color filters, etc.) is more playable and has a richer picture perspective.
In terms of function, Lomo Instant has many similarities with Fujifilm mini90, but mini90 is restricted by the electronic shutter, which can only achieve 10 seconds of long exposure and double exposure of the bulb, while Lomo Instant has unlimited bulb and multiple exposures, which can take more dazzling artistic and creative photos when playing with light painting or using it with an image splitter. For selfies or party photos, Lomo Instant takes a different approach with infrared shutter remote control technology, a sensor on the lens cover, and a tripod to press the remote shutter from a distance to complete multi-angle shooting, which is more practical.
In the Lomo Instant series, the SQUARE is the most cost-effective, in addition to the retro-style foldable leather cavity design, which is easy to carry, it has also been optimized in terms of performance, with the addition of a back, supporting square or mini photo paper dual-use, and the lens is also replaced from plastic to glass, with fewer light leakage problems.
On the whole, compared with Fuji and Polaroid, Lomography has only a short history of more than 20 years, and there is still a large gap in the workmanship and lens quality of its full range of Polaroids, the picture has vignetting angles, and it is slightly distorted, and the average price of 1000-2000 yuan is relatively high, plus it is difficult to get started, and it is easy to lose novice groups in the market, but it is better to have rich accessories and diverse ways to play.
