Sunday, 27 November 2011

Hifi and lofi

What's better? The latest sophisticated technology packaged in a fancy digital SLR, or a $30 plastic medium-format film camera?

Tough choice, I know.

I'm going to go with the $30 camera, even though it came in a cardboard box labelled 'toy camera'. Why? Because old school, lofi film cameras are cool. Film cameras are what digital are based on - the photo proportions, the ISO, the film speed, the white balance... everything is based on what film does. And the 'accidents' created by film - accidental overexposure, yellowing due to age, light leaks, all of these fantastic effects are what is copied now by digital cameras. Your hipstamatic app is just a pale imitation of the beautiful, unique images you can get on a film camera. And the best thing about film? Every shot is unique. You can't recreate it. And if you develop it in a darkroom (I know, I'm getting really old school here), every print you make is a one-off.

Now that's what I call creative.

3 comments:

  1. It does take great pics! Do you have a link to where you bought it?

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  2. I got mine on ebay so I'd recommend looking there first. Mine has a glass lens so the clarity is a bit better, but the plastic lenses do a lovely dreamy effect! Here's one I found: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Holga-H-120N-Toy-Film-Camera-BLACK-LOMO-O095-/400232563182?pt=AU_FILM_CAMERAS&hash=item5d2fb841ee#ht_2279wt_1139

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  3. Super, thanks for the info. It takes such good photos!

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