A lot of people go on about Diana+ cameras as the definitive of this type of lo-fi photography. The problem is, a lot of of it is hype. The guys that created this lomography resurgence were extremely shrewd marketing students who back in the 90′s saw there was a market for the plastic lensed cameras and re-made the Diana models and the sold them for £50+ (while costing probably £2.50odd to make, no doubt). They created this ‘lomographic society’ as a community for people using the camera, when really it is just a mahoosive marketing ploy to sell more cameras and increase business (this sort of community ‘responsible’ advertising has increased immensely over the last 10 years, and bugs me when it is blatantly there predominantly to make money and not campaign for a certain cause).
Don’t get me wrong, the lomographic society cameras can create fantastic results, but there is a large price to pay, when you can get similar results with a Holga shipped from Hong Kong for £10 (the same Holgas cost £55 from the lomographic society website.) They also need to be praised for re-introducing old cameras, although that does have the problem of pushing the price up of the originals. Also the society gets people interested in film, which can only be good for it’s long term prospects (with polaroid stopping making film, and rumours of ilford not doing so great).
There may also be a ‘trend’ thing kicking in here; the Lomographic Society have done a fantastic job marketing these cameras for the skinny jean wearing hipsters, and I’m just jealous I can’t fit into skinny jeans 
.
So what say you? trendy piece of rubbish, or worthwhile engaging community?
Comments
where do i order a hong kong holga? i got mine from amazon, but it was a lomography package. anyone have a good place to get not-new holgas?
Hi Veronica,
ebay is the best place, check the xmas buying guide post for some links. ALternatively Randy@Holgamods is back in action after a layoff, so if you are in America, he should be able to sort you out easily.
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I just read this for the first time I think, it must have been burried pretty deep in the old format.
lomography.com is a great marketing result, they lift up the plastic lens popularity, back the film to the cameras, make the society and sell piece of plastic for high prices….i think its great success;) personally i use Original Diana from ebay and many more old cameras which i get in low prices….i buy cheap Holgas from china to….so if you want be in big lomo family go to society, if you want be original, find own style or old camera:) why spend so much money, if on ebay you can find lot of low prices great used cameras? first its not ecological;)
Recently found your blog while looking for reviews/tips/suggestions working with the PX 100 film from TIP. Great blog and an excellent no-hype approach to this type of film photography. I share your impression of the Lomography Society – its pretty much all marketing, but very well done marketing – but, even still, on balance I think they have been a positive force. Yes, those trashy little toy cameras (and I say that will deep love and affection) now go for an arm and a leg because you are not just paying for a cheap plastic camera, but a “lifestyle,” but the LS and the toy camera trend have kept film alive and kicking. For those of us who still like to shoot film, the LS and the rest have been a boon. I can still find film for my 110 cameras because the kids in their skinny jeans think 110 is retro and cool, my SX-70 may not end up being just a dust-gathering showpiece on the mantel thanks to TIP and there are still dedicated film processing/printing labs in my town even though all the pros are now all digital all the time. Given these positives, the downsides are bearable.
I know this is an old post but the Diana+ is only £35 w/o flash on the lomography website… I think that’s a fair deal given that it comes with a warranty…
Personally I won’t buy from eBay, sure you can get a deal…. sometimes but once you add in the P+P and the fact so many sellers offer no warranty or support it fast becomes a bad bargain.
I got my Holga from Holgarama for £40… if you have a link to a £20 Holga please share.. i’ll buy one of every model!!