The LomoKino Super 35 (or Lomokino in short) is a simple and basic
plastic camera for motion film on ordinary 35mm cartridge film. It
takes panoramic photos, 8.5x24mm, the size of Super 35 motion picture
film. As in the beginnings of motion pictures, you have to turn a
little handle to advance the film, but even turning quickly, you will
get 3 to 5 pictures per second, whereas a motion film has about 24
pictures per second. That's why motion picture cameras had quite big
handles and film spools (and cameramen of the old days had muscular
arms). So the results of the LomoKino are rather jerky films. And, of
couse, rather short film scenes. A 36 exposure film gives about 144
pictures. At 5 pictures per second that doesn't even make 30 seconds.
Nevertheless it's fun. There was some hype around it when it came out
in 2011. Lomography even provided a little smartphone scanner, as
scanning 144 photos is an exhausting task. The scanner was still
available in 2021, but they did not update the app software. So the app
can no longer be installed on recent smartphones. The scanner, which
also could scan the Lomo Spinner format, is more or less useless now. I
wish someone would write an updated software for this.
Its
main features are:
25mm wide lens, F5.6-11 (continous), fixed focus, 1m - ∞, 60cm if you press the close-up button
Shutter
1/100, max 3-5 pictures per second Size 102x64x32, Weight 142 gr.
Camera with its dedicated viewer.
Camera
front. On top a foldable viewer. Aperture slider at the bottom. Close-up button next to the lens, has to be held.
Camera back.
Left side. Handle deployed. The button is one of the 2 opening buttons which have to be pressed simultaniously. Right
side. Film counting device, the other opening button and rewind.
Camera
top. Folding viewer with release button and accessory hot shoe. You would need an extremely powerful flash to use it.
Camera bottom. Tripod socket.
Camera back open.
Front of the viewer.
Back of the viewer.
Right side.
Left side.
Viewer open. There is a cartridge to put the film.
To load the camera, make sure that the film is well attached to the
winding spool. Lomo suggests that you pull out a bit of the film
leader, insert it into the spool and wind a turn, take it out again,
rewind it into the cartridge, insert the cartridge into its compartment
and then pull the film out again, re-insert into the winding spool and
wind one turn at least. In my opinion it's sufficient to fold about 1cm
of the leader, insert the cartridge and insert the folded tip into the
winding spool. Make sure that it attaches by winding a turn. Close the
camera. It's ready for shooting.
Adjust aperture, aim your subject and turn fast. Scenes should be
short, as there are 30 sconds in total on one cartridge. You can also
shoot sequences of single pictures, a click of the camera is a single
picture. When the cartridge is at its end, rewind. Don't forget to tell
your lab to not cut the film.
Scanning the film after developpment is a pain. If you just want to see
the film with the dedicated viewer, it's easier. Roll the film tightly
from its end. Open the viewer cartridge and insert, keeping the leader
showing out of the cartridge slit. Close the cartridge, put the
cartidge into the viewer and insert the leader into the winding spool.
Close the viewer. hold the matte screen side toward a luminous surface,
look into the lens side and turn. That's it. Your first analogue movie
scene is before your eyes.
The camera can be fun indeed, except the scanning. As I said, I would love a new app software or a new smart phone scanner...
Some
gereral words about Lomography and their service: There is a 2-year
warranty, at least in Europe. My personal experience with their service
is very good. As most of their cameras are made of (cheap) plastic,
there is no repair, they just exchange your defective camera. You have
to send it in to their Vienna office at your expenses, which is not cheap
if you are not based in Austria, but they try to compensate by adding
film or so to the return. You absolutely need a proof of purchase,
there was heavy abuse by fraudulent customers they told me. So if you
buy second hand or your camera is gift, be sure to put your hands on
the proof of purchase. After the 2-years warranty period it's over.
They will try to help for the expensive not-so-plastic cameras like the
LC series, but for the rest there is no repair. Keep this in mind for
the prices you pay for older gear.
