Lomo film for the M6

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Does anyone here have any experience with Lomo film? A friend of mine has a Lomo and his photos are indeed interesting. Very unique colors, which he attributes to the special film. I just went to the Lomo site, and the film is quite cheap (like $24 for ten 36 exposure rolls of Lomo 100). However, LomoLab has to process the film and prints ($12 per mailer). I'm thinking Lomography (quite a cult following the Lomo has) could be fun with a Leica. Anyone have any thoughts on or experiences with the Lomo or its special film?

If you're not familiar with Lomo, check out http://www.lomo.com The site is a hoot.

Thanks, Luke

-- Luke Dunlap (luked@mail.utexas.edu), December 28, 2001

Answers

Luke,

AFAIK lomo film is just 'normal' film which has been expired. That results in 'interesting' colors. You should be able to achieve similar results from an expired film well over it's date which has been stored warm and been given to an 1-hour-lab for development (and hope they don't do color correction). At least this is what lomo stood for about 2 years ago. So go ahead and try, though be aware that you musn't treat your Leica as a camera. Oh yes, and AE really helps, so maybe a Konica RF would be better suited (looks more like a Lomo as well - just kidding).

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), December 28, 2001.


You know.........on the one hand, the "Lomo" sensation annoys me. It's sort of the new holga for the photo snob set (mind you, I like holgas. for $15 who doesn't?). Sort of "my photography is so amazing and avant-guard that I don't even need to a real camera". 90% of the people I know who are using lomos fall into the young/fashion/snobbish/artist-wannabe camp. And I really can't stand those people for the most part. They just clamp onto whatever is hot at the moment without actually doing or even learning anything for themselves.

On the other hand, the cameras (while overpriced) can make interesting photos. But are they really any more interesting than what someone with a regular camera and some knowledge could make? I don't think so. From what I've seen, the "hit rate' for lomo shots is WAY lower than with your basic K1000 (or god forbid, a p&s like a yashica t4 super). Many many HORRIBLE shots for one interesting one. Then again, you've got to hand it to a company that can trick people into overpaying for "cool" old film and russian cameras.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), December 28, 2001.


The film supplied by Lomo is ordinary Agfa 100 ISO consumer film in a Lomo box -possibly an older emolution than the one Agfa sells under their own brand. It is my impression that Agfa is the main supplier of "house brand" films here in Europe and the price you quote sounds normal- not cheap nor expensive.

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), December 29, 2001.

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