Category: Camera

The Art of Lomomatic 110 Photography

I explored the vibrant streets of Vienna with a unique camera. I embarked on a photographic adventure that combined nostalgia with modern creativity.
The Lomomatic 110 Camera, a recent release by Lomo, offers a blend of vintage charm and contemporary design.
The Lomomatic 110 Zebra Camera
image: Lomography.com
The Lomomatic 110 Camera, with its striking white and black design, is a compact marvel that packs a punch. Equipped with a flash, distance scale, and ISO settings, it also features multiple exposure and long exposure modes. I used Lomography 200 ISO negative Tiger film, providing 24 exposures to capture the essence of Vienna.
Challenges and Learning Curve
As with any new equipment, mastering the Lomomatic 110 presented its own set of challenges:
– Film Advancement: The manual film advancement mechanism required careful attention to avoid missed shots or unintended double exposures.
– Focus and Exposure: Remembering to adjust the distance scale and exposure modes (day/night) for each shot was crucial for achieving sharp, well-exposed images.
– Shutter Button Sensitivity: Ensuring the shutter button was fully pressed became a learning experience, as some shots were missed due to incomplete button presses.
Street Photography Experience with a Lomomatic 110
Venturing through Vienna’s streets, the Lomomatic 110 became a conversation starter. From capturing the contrast between traditional horse-drawn carriages and modern DHL delivery vehicles to engaging with locals for impromptu portraits, the camera’s unique appearance drew curiosity and smiles.
Lessons Learned
1. Know Your Gear: Before a shoot, it is essential to familiarize yourself with a new camera. Understanding its quirks and features can distinguish between capturing and missing key moments.
2. Embrace Imperfection: Film photography’s unpredictability, especially with a quirky camera like the Lomomatic 110, can lead to happy accidents and unique artistic expressions.
3. Enjoy the Process: While technical proficiency is important, the joy of photography lies in the experience itself. The laughter shared with fellow photographers and subjects adds an invaluable dimension to the art.

Final Thoughts
Despite the challenges and missed shots, the experience with the Lomomatic 110 Camera in Vienna was undeniably fun and educational. It served as a reminder that photography is not just about the result but also about the journey, the connections made, and the moments of discovery along the way.
For those considering venturing into film photography or experimenting with unique cameras like the Lomomatic 110, remember that each frame is an opportunity to learn and create.
Embrace the quirks, celebrate the imperfections, and, most importantly, enjoy the process of capturing life through a different lens.

Here, you can watch my whole photo walk with the Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing. Thomas Eisl, a local photographer from Vienna, filmed the video.

October 20, 2024
Ricoh GR IIIx will change the way you photograph!

I recently bought myself a Ricoh GR IIIx. I use it mainly for street photography. It is a perfect camera for that. In the video below I discuss how it has given me more possibilities and has changed my way of photographing on the streets.
Disclaimer: Some of the links might be affiliate links.

December 5, 2023
Happy Birthday OM-D E-M5!

Today 10 years ago Olympus started a new era, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 was launched. It started the whole OM-D series of cameras. Today there are three different OM-D cameras the E-M10, E-M5, and E-M1. The newest one is E-M1 MKIII.
Olympus OM-D E-M5
A powerful small camera!
OM-D E-M5 was a small but very powerful camera at its time. DPReview wrote about the camera in its review back in 2012:
”The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is certainly the most capable Micro Four Thirds camera we’ve reviewed and arguably the most likable mirrorless model yet. It falls down a little bit on its continuous focusing but we have absolutely no complaints about the image quality. It’s small, attractive, and a pleasure to use, and its pictures are equally enjoyable.”
I can see why they did write about it like that. I remember testing it during spring in April 2014 and was right away blown away by its capabilities. It was a bit ahead of its time, but not too much.
Olympus OM-D E-M5, M.Zuiko 17mm f1.8, 1/1600s, f5.6, ISO200
Olympus Om-D E-M5, M.Zuiko 75mm f1.8, 1/800, f4, ISO200
A new lens mount
It was also a risk. Olympus introduced a new mount for its flagship lineup. They already had used the 4/3 size sensor in their E-system cameras, but now they had a new micro 4/3 mount and the older lenses needed an adapter to work with the new system. This was not that big of an issue until the next OM-D was released, the professional model E-M1.
What about the lens selection?
When launching a new mount lens selection is crucial. If you do not have lenses for the new system it might be in trouble right from the start. Olympus had already launched an m4/3 body a few years earlier, the Pen E-P1. (2009). So there were a few lenses that were available. The only two missing lenses were a fast zoom lens and a standard lens. Especially the missing standard lens at the time was a bit odd. The fast zoom lens came in 2013. It was launched at the same as the E-M1.
Now that I look back it seems that the lens roadmap has been a bit behind the cameras. I assume that it is the case with other manufacturers too, but have not really looked into it.
Sample images from my trip to Poland
I had the E-M5 on a trip to Poland in April 2014. I also visited Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. that was the only time I had small trouble with my Olympus cameras. For some reason, the E-M5 only worked upside down. I managed to get some photos that can be seen here.
I bought a new E-M5!
E-M5 is still a quite capable camera to use. I bought a new one a few weeks ago. There is a camera store Optotek in downtown Helsinki that has some older models still available as new.
My thoughts about the camera on my latest video.

February 8, 2022