The advancing wave of retro-nostalgia is growing bigger, and Lomography appears to be the slick surfer perched atop that wave, with its cool range of film cameras. Their new golden surfboard is the LC-Wide, a 17mm format-changin’ film camera ride.
Taking on where the flagship LC-A+ left off (which itself took off where the original Russian LC-A camera left off some 27 years ago), the LC-Wide has a few novel tricks up its plastic sleeve. As well as being able to take photos with a wider angle than the LC-A+’s 32mm lens shoots, users now have the power to choose between shooting in half-frame (17 x 24mm), square (24 x 24mm) and full-format (36 x 24mm). That means you can choose the best size for the sweeping vista you’re about to snap, or that doggy close-up—but if you happen to choose the half-frame format, snap away as many times as you’d like, because you’re able to fit 72 photos onto a single roll of 35mm film.
Yep, you can still find 35mm film in many stores for literally a couple of dollars/pounds/euros, and get developed at photo labs or chemists around the world for a couple more dollars. I like to get mine printed onto CDs, but if you want to wallpaper your house with all your photos, it really doesn’t cost much extra to get prints as well.
The ISO setting spans 100 to 1600, with the maximum aperture clocking in at 1:4.5; the maximum shutter speed being 1/500, and the focusing range from 0.4m to infinity. Like the LC-A+, the hotshoe lets you attach a flash for nighttime shooting (add the colour strips the Diana flash comes with, for more zany fun), and you can flick the switch for multiple exposures too. All of the usual LC-A+ accessories are supported by the LC-Wide, such as the cable release, instant back (which enables you to shoot instant film, Polaroid-style) and tripods.
If you haven’t picked up a film camera since 1998, and are curious about this whole Lomography thing—don’t be. It’s a really creative, invigorating hobby, and while I still shoot digital, I always cart my LC-A+ around with me, because of its ease of use and often unexpected, bizarre results. Newbies may want to try out the Diana Mini camera first before committing to this pricier LC-Wide, though if you’ve got the cash, this looks like a great camera to plunge into the refreshingly sparkly Lomography ocean with.
The Lomographic Society Proudly Presents
The Lomo LC-Wide
• Lomo LC-A Legacy: Welcome the new offspring of a legendary dynasty!
• Go Extreme: Go ultra-wide, go close, go double, go wild day or night with three different formats to choose from
• Ultra-Wide-Lomography: The world premiere of the ultra-wide-angle 17 mm Minigon glass lens takes you on eye-opening adventures
Lomo LC-A Legacy
It’s been 27 years since the Lomo LC-A entered our analogue life and took our hearts by storm with its shadowy framing, super saturated colours, sharp contrast and multiple exposures. To cherish this little camera in the past we even plated it with gold but never before expanded its lens. Now the day has come and we are welcoming the new offspring of the Lomo LC-A Legacy: The Lomo LC-Wide, that will challenge your Lomographic perception. It is a passionate celebration of the ultra-wide-angle: Still celebrating the classical features of the Lomo LC-A+, the Lomo LC-Wide adds a new dimension of format frenzy to its specially developed ultra-wide-angle 17 mm Minigon glass lens. Switch from half-frame, to square to full format and enjoy a new quality of wide-angle Lomography!
Go Extreme
Go close, even closer than your perception of closeness tells you to and watch your favourite caterpillar being sucked into the vortex of this 17 mm glass genius. Go wild, even wilder than your mother ever allowed you to and dive into Ultra-Wide-Angle-Lomography! To up the ante a little bit we equipped the Lomo LC-Wide with three formats to choose from: full-, square- or half-format. If you don’t want to think too much while you are shooting, switch to half-frame-format and fit an amazing amount of 72 shots onto one roll of 36 shots film. Fans of retro will stick to the classic square format while panoramic shots are most effective on the full format.
Ultra-Wide-Lomography
No matter if you are hooked on breathtaking panoramic shots or if you are more the-closer-the-better-type, we designed the Lomo LC-Wide to satisfy lovers of all extremes. Its delicate 17 mm Minigon glass lens combines the classical features of the Lomo LC-A with an ultra-wide-angle that will open your eyes to an unknown extent. Follow your curiosity and let the Lomo LC-Wide take you into the wide! With all this options, the Lomo LC-Wide catapults you in a format frenzy that triggers unbelievable creativity and proves itself to be a trusty offspring of the Lomo LC-A Legacy.
Technical Details
Exposure area: 36 x 24mm, 24x 24mm (square format), 17 x 24mm (half frame format)
Film Type: Standard 135 roll film
Lens focal length: 17 mm
Maximum aperture: 1:4.5
Angle of view: 103 degrees, 89 degrees (square format) 81 degrees (half frame format)
Focusing range: 0.4m – infinity
Maximum shutter speed: 1/500
Minimum shutter speed: Unlimited
Auto exposure mode: Programmatic
Exposure range: Unlimited ~ EV18
Multiple exposure: Manual shutter cocking with independent MX switch
Film sensitivity supports (ASA/ISO): 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Flash: X-type synchronisation hot-shoe
Tripod socket thread: Standard ¼” tripod socket
Cable release: Universal cable release socket
Overall dimensions: 108 x 68 x 44.5mm
Weight: 220g (film and battery not included)
WHAT THE HELL IS LOMOGRAPHY?
http://www.lomography.com/about
The Lomographic Society International is a globally active organisation dedicated to experimental and creative snapshot photography. Boasting over a half-million members across the world, the concept of Lomography encompasses an interactive, vivid, blurred and crazy way of life.
Through our constantly expanding selection of innovative cameras & photographic accessories, we promote analogue photography as a creative approach to communicate, absorb, and capture the world.
Through the efforts and skill of our Lomographic Society members, we seek to document the incredible planet around us in a never-ending stream of snapshots – literally a global “Lomographic” portrait as seen through the eyes of countless individuals and cultures. The Future is Analogue!
