The Lomokino is a hand cranked Super 35mm movie camera that
takes traditional 35mm still camera rolls of film. As anyone who knows me can
attest, I am a film nut. So the thought of being able to shoot super 35mm
motion pictures, and develop it at home was exceptionally intriguing.
To be honest, the Lomokino was probably designed to be a
quirky toy for hipsters. A way to shoot “old style” movie clips. However, I see
much more potential in this little device. A 35mm movie frame has a left to
right. Grain to pixel equivalent of about a 30 megapixel digital camera.
However, the average film stock has 10 layers of emulsion deep. Making a 35mm
movie frame closer to the equivalent of a 350 megapixel digital camera. (4k
video is approximately equivalent to 5 megapixels). This doesn’t even begin to
account for the subtle organic flow of film grain as opposed to the harsh
uniformity of digital pixels. Film is a far better (although far more
expensive) medium. Although I have fully embraced digital as a cost effective
substitute for film, shooting film is still better.
However, the Lomokino does have some serious disadvantages.
First, is the cranking mechanism. The lomokino will shoot 5 frames per second
if cranked rigorously. This slow frame
rate closer resembles a flip book then a movie. Stylistic qualities aside, I
would like to see a version that can shoot 15 frames per second. This would
allow it to reach persistence of vision, and make for a much smoother end
product. I understand the manufacturers reasoning behind the slow frame rate. 5
frames per second gives the user about 30 seconds of footage from a 36 exposure
roll of still film. 15 frames per second would only yield 10 seconds. Although
the average user would probably prefer the extended time to the smoother look,
it would be nice to have the option to change it. I have a 35mm Mitchel camera
with a hand crank that can be set to shoot 128 frames per second, so I know it
is possible to make the Lomokino shoot 15fps…
The lens on the Lomokino is not the best quality. It would
have been nicer if this camera came with a standard lens mount instead of a
cheapy permanently attached lens. However, it is wide enough of an angle to
have a substantial depth of field making it good for the average user.
The first roll of film I shot through the Lomokino was
ilford 400 speed B&W film. (I later processed it at home and scanned the
negative using a Wolverine 20 megapixel negative scanner) The cranking
mechanism wasn’t very fluid which resulted in a lot of camera shake in my
finished footage. I will try different ways to hold the camera, and let you
guys know what works better.
If you are into film making, celluloid, or a just a trendy
hipster wanting to do things the “old-fashioned” way, You should pick up a
Lomokino camera. For the professional film and video maker, it is a cheap back
up that can get you some striking images when you don’t have power or a charge
to your regular devices. For the indie / experimental film maker it is unique
style that will set your project apart from the deluge of digital films. And
for the film aficionado, it is an inexpensive way to shoot real motion pictures
with a tangible roll of film.
