While many photographers carefully compose shots and know exactly what results they want and how to achieve them via camera settings, there is also the Andy Warhol School of photography which seeks to create a moment or abstraction, or to use a Warholian term, a happening. This is frequently done with willful disregard for the mechanics of the camera and composition. What is taken is taken, deal with it. Diana and Lomo cameras add to this element of surprise with mechanics that virtually guarantee unpredictable results.

The Diana

The Diana is the queen of the “toy” cameras. These are cameras never made to be taken seriously. A cheap promotional item from Hong Kong in the early 60’s, the Diana was a carnival prize, something found in fly specked souvenir shops, and an occasional fund-raising item. With a “list price” of under two dollars (and an unknown wholesale price!) the all plastic camera used 120 roll film.

I won’t go into detail about the light leaks, the poor shutter and the scratching of film. This is well documented on any toy camera website. What is magic about the camera is the single element lens of molded styrene plastic. This kind of plastic is not meant for optical use. As it is being molded, it cools, sags and forms waves. (Anyone who ever built a plastic model jet or car is familiar with the clear styrene plastic windows that never were very clear!) The result is no two lenses are alike and all produce odd effects. Images are distorted and blurry, yet often with very high contrast.

The camera became the darling of photo students in the early 70’s as an example of “it’s not the camera, it’s the person behind it.” Real Dianas are now sufficiently scarce that they fetch $50 or more on eBay. Attempts to reproduce the Diana in newer cameras or reproductions have had mixed results.

The Lomo

The Lomo is a 1970’s era 35mm camera and is a Soviet copy of the unheralded Japanese Cosina. The Lomo lens is either poorly designed, or adapted from another camera. It has severe light fall-off on the edges and produces generally soft images. I had one in the late 80’s and found it neither charming nor inspiring. Apparently others did.

Somehow, the Lomo became intertwined with the new freedoms in eastern Europe that proceeded the fall of the USSR. This undependable camera, made by the Leningrad Optical-Mechanical Amalgamated, was in great demand. You weren’t a photographer, you were a Lomographer! Google Lomography for examples from all over the world.

Today, the Lomo and the Diana are no longer made. One company is trying to remake them in (where else?) China. But it is hard to set out to reproduce qualities that were originally accidental and unpredictable.

I am searching for the digital equivalent of the Diana and Lomo. I am not alone. Charming as each may be, the idea of shooting expensive 120 roll film or an entire series of 35mm frames to find one or two “keepers” is getting expensive. It's cheaper to go digital.

But from the beginning, say ten years ago, digital cameras have the same boring sameness that afflicts 35mm point and shoot cameras. In terms of general performance, their own mother can’t tell them apart. This is due in part to the fact that many cameras use the same sensor, circuitry and lens. Many brands are manufactured or “fabbed” in the same factory.

A few early models had what I referred to as “character” (in an article I wrote years ago as John Stewart for Shutterbug magazine). But older cameras often no longer function with newer operatimg systems and hardware. Many use something called TWAIN drivers to communicate with the computer, or their own proprietary software. These often do not work with newer operating systems. And to make matters worse, these cameras connect to the computer via a serial port, now considered obsolete. Often, these same cameras have built-in memory for image storage. It is impossible to remove the storage chip and place it in a card reader.

This is a shame because one of the truly Diana-like cameras is an off-brand called "WebCam." This is not to be confused with current cameras that plug into your PC for videocasting. It is a lo-res digi that takes bizarre photos any Diana enthusiast would love!

But what about a current camera? “Current” is a moving target when it comes to digital cameras. For the past few months I have been toying with something called a Cobra DC6415. It has been sold in the $135 to $40 price range. The low end reflects the rapid decline in camera value as newer cameras with higher resolution are announced. This camera never was worth $135; that was one of those MSRP prices that hopefully few actually paid. This feature-lite camera is now only worth $40, and then only to those wanting to take unpredictable Lomo style photos.

The camera plate says 6.6 megapixels, the ads say 6.1. But in the world of art and Dianas and Lomos, these are mere road bumps on the way to creativity. To their credit, Cobra has a good website where manuals, drivers and more can be downloaded. Point your browser at www.cobradigital.com.

Find what you think is the digital Diana or Lomo? Drop me a note!