Some friends asked me about which Lomo/toy camera should they go for if they wanna shoot wide. In the past, I’d tell them to either get the LC-A+ with the wide angle lens attachment or the (way cheaper but needs lots more light and careful usage) Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim (UWS) (also rebranded as the Superheadz’s Wide Lens Camera).
Now with the introduction of few newer cameras from Lomography, it is harder to answer that question (which wide angle cam to go for). We now have the LC-Wide, La Sardina, UWS/Wide Lens Camera, Sprocket Rocket and the LC-A+ with wide angle lens. Of course that’s not all. You can also use the wide angle lens on the Diana F+ and the strange but fun Lomography Spinner.
Recently the experts at ThirtySix did a rather detailed comparison for some of those cameras I mentioned above …
* Click on the images for larger version. These were done by ThirtySix, so make sure you thank them if you find the info useful. 😀
The first one (above) compares the LC-Wide, La Sardina & Wide Lens Camera. The full article can be found here.
The 2nd one compared the LC-Wide and the LC-A+ (with Wide Angle Lens attached). Check out the full article here.
Image taken with the La Sardina & flash. Super fun camera!
Based on some of the questions I received, here are few common ones …
Q. ‘Which one should I buy if I wanna take photos with the sprocket holes exposed?’
A. For this … you have the choice of either the Sprocket Rocket or the Spinner.
Q. ‘Which one is easier to use?’
A. Honestly … this is one tough question. It all depends on how one defines ‘easier’. Usually I’ll tell people (for those who are new into this) to go for the LC-Wide or LC-A+ (with wide lens). The reason is simple because there is a light meter on it and that usually gives better (don’t quote me on that!) results unless one is already familiar with gauging exposures/lighting.
Image taken with the Spinner 360.
Q. ‘Which is cheap & good?’
A. Ermm … I can’t answer that. Most of them are pretty affordable except the LC-W & LC-A+ but since they are cameras of different categories … you’ve to decide for yourselves. 😛 The 2 more expensives ones are way more solidly built while the rest are rather plasticky (but fun!).
Q. ‘Which one do you like most?’
A. Tough question! I love the LC-Wide for the compactness and light meter, I love the La Sardina for the looks, I like the Sprocket Rocket for the wideness & sprocket holes and I love the Spinner … for the fun it gives when shooting (except the part where I’ll get my fat face in the photo!).
Q. ‘Do I need the LC-Wide since I already own the LC-A+? I can just buy the wide lens attachment.’
A. True. You actually don’t need the LC-Wide … unless it is compactness you are going for. The LC-A+ with the wide lens attached is pretty darn bulky.
Image taken with the LC-Wide. You can go pretty darn close!
The two cameras that are pretty close in comparison (to me) are probably the La Sardina & the UWS but the newer La Sardina has a lot more to offer with the existence of a flash, two distance settings, multi exposure capability and bulb mode.
Image taken with the Sprocket Rocket. Super wide sprocket fun!
If you are still having problem deciding which one to go for … why not just head down to ThirtySix and let the experts help you choose the perfect wide angle cam?
My vote would go to the Sprocket Rocket for the ease of use and wideness. The only downside is the loss of sharpness at the edges, kinda forcing you to compose the images with the subject in the middle. But those delicious sprockets make more than up for it.
@Nestor : I sure agree with you on the yummy sprockets! 😉
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