Diana toy camera

[VoidoidRamone]

A couple of weeks ago I found an old Diana toy camera in an antique shop for $8, I immeaditely picked it up and have been shooting around with it. My question is why are these so "treasured"? I know that they are not made any more... but they are pieces of plastic! I've seen these things go for $100 on ebay! After shooting several rolls with it I have come to the conclusion that I prefer the Holga. To me a Holga is the definition of toy camera photography (heavy vignetting, light leaks, soft focus...). The Diana is a very clean image in comparison to the Holga (perfect squares, not much vignetting, no light leaks). I'm just a little confused as to why Dianas are being cherished, but Holgas aren't... yet. -Grant

 

[Gary892]

If you want your money back I'll buy the Diana for $8.00 plus shipping.
The Diana was made to be given away at carnivals around 1967. There were very few controls in the production and the cameras vary from camera to camera. If your diana makes good images then your are one of the lucky ones. Mine has a plastic lens and several light leaks. Making for a unique picture each time.
The friends of photography, now gone, had a major show featuring Diana images made by photographers from arounds the world. It was a major success. The Diana has gained cult status for reasons that escape us all.

My offer still stands.
BTW, do you have the box and carrying strap that comes with it?

Gary

 

[Leon]

VoidoidRamone ... why dont you have a look at www.toycamera.com - I think you may understand the hype a little better there.

 

[Andy K]

Dianas are cherished because they are no longer manufactured and are now quite unusual (and becoming rarer) vintage toy cameras.

Holgas on the other hand can still be bought brand new for about 25 euro. There is a very large Holga community around the world. There are two versions of the Holga, the original with a plastic lens and the Woca with a glass lens. They are very popular among lomographers who prize the vignetting and light leaks.

 

[VoidoidRamone]

Gary, sorry but I don't think I'll be selling my Diana any time soon. I think I worded my post oddly, which gave the assumption that I wasn't happy with my Diana... which isn't true at all. I am already very familiar with Toy cameras, in fact the only photos I have sold so far have been made with a Holga. My question is, aside from the fact that Dianas are not being produced anymore, why are images made with a Diana more "special" than images made with a Holga. I find a Holga to be much more difficult to work with, since it only has 1 working aperture and 1 shutter speed (I do know that Holgas can be modified to give you a bulb setting, and if you buy one of the Holgas from www.holgamods.com you can use both a bulb setting and a normal 1/100th in the same camera... the spring is not ripped out). Whereas the Diana has 3 apertures and 2 shutter speeds, 1 of them being a bulb setting. The only technical advantage, in my opinion, a Holga has is the hot shoe. Also, Andy, in addition to the basic Holga and Woca, they make both with built-in flashes. Thanks. -Grant

 

[mark]

I found a box of these things packed way in the back of a closet that had not been opened since 1978. This turned out to be the school's darkroom. They all seem to be in fair shape but when I used them with my students they were highly unimpressed as was I. If I leave the school they will most likely go into the bin. I just don't know what to do with them. We have "digital" cameras (said with reverance around public schools these days) so no one wants to even think about using manual stuff.

 

[Andy K]

We have "digital" cameras (said with reverance around public schools these days) so no one wants to even think about using manual stuff.

How sad. That's like learning to write using a keyboard in place of a pencil...

 

[Robert Kennedy]

If you could, you would hear me weeping right now....

 

[Gary892]

I found a box of these things packed way in the back of a closet that had not been opened since 1978. This turned out to be the school's darkroom. They all seem to be in fair shape but when I used them with my students they were highly unimpressed as was I. If I leave the school they will most likely go into the bin. I just don't know what to do with them. We have "digital" cameras (said with reverance around public schools these days) so no one wants to even think about using manual stuff.

Mark, which cameras are you referring to? Holga or Diana.
Gary

 

[AndyH]

I recall teaching a photo course to younger kids in Boston in the early 1970's using Dianas and Polaroid Swingers. Simplicity in photography, forcing them to concentrate on the subject and minimize extraneous subject matter (you couldn't decipher it anyway!). I think the Dianas have a dual appeal - the five stop exposure range was pretty high tech for a box camera and the durn things are just so ugly that they have become "cute" in retrospect.

Andy

 

[mark]

Diana

 

[ksmattfish]

Kids don't appreciate toys, particularly vintage toys. The lure of the super cheap plastic camera is how the camera body itself can greatly affect the final image, and the rebelion against notions of perfection.

 

[Gustavo_Castilla]

Dianna by any other namePanax

Hi I P.U. 2 panax (same by what I can tell as Diana) for the incedible amount of
.25 US Dlls at the thrift shop one is what I call basic the other has a hot shoe of sorts (the 2 prongs) and 3 shuther speeds and 3 fstops the other is plain and simple much like the holga

 

[mark]

Kids don't appreciate toys, particularly vintage toys. The lure of the super cheap plastic camera is how the camera body itself can greatly affect the final image, and the rebelion against notions of perfection.

Or an excuse for a really crappy image. SOmetimes the lines are very obscure.

 

[gandolfi]

diana rules ;-)

After shooting several rolls with it I have come to the conclusion that I prefer the Holga. To me a Holga is the definition of toy camera photography (heavy vignetting, light leaks, soft focus...). The Diana is a very clean image in comparison to the Holga (perfect squares, not much vignetting, no light leaks). I'm just a little confused as to why Dianas are being cherished, but Holgas aren't... yet. -Grant

hi Voidoid

I LOVE the dianas - and I'd never "settle" for a Holga...

here is why: a question pops up in my head: was it the "deLuxe" version you got? (they are too "good")

I once saw an add for Holga. It said: "HOLGA : the son of Diana.." and so it is.

when I am using my Di I don't go for the heavy vignetting as you put it. it is easy to get that in any camera. so it is not the vignetting BUT the distortion that the Di gives - something simply unique in the camera world.
try to take pictures of a person with some trees in the background.
the more space there is from this person to the trees - the more it distorts.
It is like some one sits and pulls the negative in the corners..

Some Di's leaks light - some don't.
the "perfect" square I can't understand (unless it is the DeLuxe)

there should be focus on the fact that 120 film look different in the plastic reel that holds it. Some has a "X" shaped hole - some an "I" shaped.
It seems like the plastic knob, that holds the film in place has some difficulties holding the X shaped ones, and therefore winds up the film quite loose. If you want lightleaks then you should use theese..... and maybe shake the camera once in a while, while the film is in it...

you say that your Di only have one aperture and one speed setting..
you can get the Diana F (with "flash") that gives you three apertures - one speed + "B" function.. (go for that)

by the way: did you know that you can use Rolleinar close-up lenses and they fit perfectly on the Di lens.. for close up's? that's fun....

 

[VoidoidRamone]

I didn't say my Diana only had one aperture and one shutter speed, I was referring to my Holga. My Diana has the 3 apertures, etc. I don't have a DeLuxe, mine only says "Diana" on the lens. Since I've made this post I have been shooting a lot more with my Diana and have sort of "figured it out." I now choose between my Holga and Diana depending on the circumstances (I generally use the holga for darker situations since it has a hot-shoe, I like to carry my Diana for street stuff because it's a little smaller). I'll have to keep an eye out for a Diana F, I would like to try shooting at night with a flash with a Diana. Thanks.
-Grant

 

[Melisa Taylor]

"I found a box of these things packed way in the back of a closet that had not been opened since 1978. This turned out to be the school's darkroom. They all seem to be in fair shape but when I used them with my students they were highly unimpressed as was I. If I leave the school they will most likely go into the bin. I just don't know what to do with them. We have "digital" cameras (said with reverance around public schools these days) so no one wants to even think about using manual stuff."

MARK!!! YOU ARE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE! Seriously... I have dreamed of the day i discover a whole box of Dianas.

As for what to do with them when they no longer get the love they deserve? Have a contest at Apug and give them away as prizes? or... sell em on ebay?

I love Dianas...

 

[eric]

MARK!!! YOU ARE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE! Seriously... I have dreamed of the day i discover a whole box of Dianas.

I love Dianas...

Oh crap yah! A whole boxful! I've been using Holga since...well, a long time. I'm showing my age but first ones I bought, I bought at Zone VI. Remember those guys? I got it cause I couldn't find a Diana anywhere. I got so used to placing the image where I want it with a Holga. I finally have a Diana (and 2 clones) and I find it hard to compose. I guess I need an entire year to play around with it.

My newest project with the Holga is playing around with close up lenses ductape to the front. I take my $200 Acute Matte, and put it in the back to check the focus before putting film in. I have a couple of rolls not yet processed with it.