Plastic Camera Recommendation?

<p>I currently have a DSLR and a point and shoot but want to expand into the plastic camera world. Right now I'm considering the Blackbird Fly and also the Diana, does anyone have any recommendations? I've read some reviews for both but nothing actually compares them. Can someone offer some insight?</p>

<p>I love my Golden Half. Well made feels good and solid and takes great pictures.<br>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jokerphotography/sets/72157622728959282/<br>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jokerphotography/sets/72157622663556564/<br>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jokerphotography/sets/72157622409333696/</p>

<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/3934028820_b6e4d2e8e7.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="325" /><br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2506/4073886150_2d4743e649.jpg" alt="" width="387" height="500" /></p>

 

<p>Friends don't let friends Lomo, or Superheadz, or whatever. Why go plastic when you can go bakelite? For the price of that stuff you can get raft of classic low-fi; Hawkeye Flash, Argus A...the list goes on. The ORIGINAL Diana is a classic, I'm still waiting for my thrift store find. </p>

<p>i say go Hawk-eye . You can get them for a couple bucks at a thrift store or 10 bucks o less on the auction site. I like the golden half but wouldn't pay more than 10 dollars 4 it</p>

<p>I also have fun with my fake SLR an Olympia 10 it is called... it cost about $10.00 and came with a huge looking potato masher flash.</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=590813</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=594881</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4374208-lg.jpg" alt="" width="511" height="326" /></p>

<p>As far as 35 mm plastic toys go, I have had lots of fun with the lomo fisheye. My absolute fav however is the super sampler. It takes 4 shots in sequence (fast or slow) and the results are most always fantastic. The focus and color the lenses yield is fantastic. If you are looking for straight up shooting I would also recommend staying away from Lomo and hit up the local Goodwill. Some fun cheep cameras like split cam <a href="http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/15475">HERE</a> and quad cam <a href="http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/7336">HERE</a></p>

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<p>Larry,<br>

I really like the look of your Olympia. Does the flash sync actually work? Might be a great bar camera. My local thrift store has these all the time, but since it looks like a pro camera, they think it is and usually price them at $25!<br>

-Matthew</p>

<p>Yep it works I use it as fill all the time and even in the dark..... New they sell for $25.00 with a warranty from http://www.fourcornerstore.com/collections/frontpage/products/olympia-el-1124-35mm-cam-set</p>

<p>Just look for a cheap new Holga 120n on the big auction site, about 30 bucks! :-)</p>

<p>Asking for a plastic camera recommendation seems to miss the point of using them entirely.</p>

<p>"Asking for a plastic camera recommendation seems to miss the point of using them entirely"<br>

It could be a lot worse; you could always ask what the MTF curve is like for the Holga lens.... :-)</p>

<p>Ok I find that funny for the point I was recently asked if the lens on a Golden half camera was coated.</p>

<p>Funny Ross. Careful, you might start an argument about which plastic lens has the best bokeh, or whatever.</p>

<p>Oh it is this one....... :)</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4326663-lg.jpg" alt="" width="511" height="799" /></p>

<p>Jared; "Careful, you might start an argument about which plastic lens has the best bokeh, or whatever"</p>

<p>Which side of the lens though? That's the next part of the problem. My usual Holga has wonderful bokeh on the left side of the lens; the right''s pretty crappy though!!! Is bokeh the same thing as blurry? :-)</p>

<p>If you scour the thrift stores, you might snag a Vivitar "Wide & Slim". Plastic lens, 22 mm (quite wide) lens, no focus or exposure adjustment, use ISO 100 or 200 film outdoors, 400 if overcast. Should be less than $5. You can buy them new for over $20, but I wouldn't. It's a cheap way to do wacky wide work. Web searches will turn up lots of sample images.</p>

<p>Another shout for the Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim (in Asia its named Superheadz). The Holga 135s are also fun to play with, though it can be tricky finding a flash that actually works for it.</p>

<p>With a bit more budget I'm absolutely in love with my Olympus XA2 and Konica Pop</p>

<p>Vivitar PN2011s were selling brand new on eBay for $6.20 when I got mine. Still probably are. Get one and then search for mods (on this thread).</p>

<p>I have an original Diana. I prefer a Holga, personally. But my absolute favourite is the Lubitel, just because much more artful results are possible when you have real aperture settings and shutter speeds to work with. It's not really a toy camera though. Another one I like is the Agfa Click (and the Clack too). But if you want to find something in a flea market or something, any old box type camera will do, as long as the shutter works. They were all just one speed, and never were too accurate even when new.</p>

<p>If it's 35 mm you want, another good one is the Beirette VSN with the Meritar lens.</p>