Forum for Toy Cameras and Polaroid Cameras

[Fintan]

While obviously most toy cameras are either 35mm or MF cameras, such is their popularity worldwide, I wonder if a new forum in "Equipment" for Toy Cameras and Polaroid Cameras might be useful for attracting new members etc?

 

[jstraw]

It would attract this current member.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

Me too, I'm quite interested in both.

 

[Sean]

Added

 

[jstraw]

Thanks Sean!

 

[Russ Young]

I'd like to see a serious discussion of what constitutes a toy camera.
Anyone want to start a thread on it?
Russ

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Feel free to start threads on any topics that are relevant.

 

[Chan Tran]

I don't know what are toy cameras? I always thought that all of my cameras are toys.

 

[dsullivan]

I don't know what are toy cameras? I always thought that all of my cameras are toys.

A toy camera is normally cheap, has a fixed shutter speed and tend to be made of plastic (including the lens).

The best known is the Holga but there are other examples such as the Quad Cam which my wife got me as a christmas present for $12. I'm planning on taking some scraps of lighting gel and taking some "quad-colour" shots as well as some action shots.

 

[Russ Young]

A toy camera is normally cheap, has a fixed shutter speed and tend to be made of plastic (including the lens).

How about the Kershaw Penguin, for instance? It's a metal folding camera but with a simple meniscus lens and one shutter speed. Results are of much less optical quality than a Holga... Or the Agfa Clack made of pressed metal, with a simple menisucs and one shutter speed? Do these cameras not qualify?

Should we include "fixed focus" cameras which are clearly more primitive than a Diana which has continuous focus from 4' to infinity?

No one ever includes the $1.00 110 format cameras that fit on keyrings and the like. Why is that?

Just thinking out loud.

Russ

 

[jstraw]

Open the threads you want. I'll bet the moderators won't bat an eye!

 

[Jim Chinn]

What about upgrades to toy cameras? For example I have been experimenting with replacing the lens in a holga with a glass lens from junk polaroid One Step and similar cameras. Does that move beyond the toy camera aesthetic?

I consider disposables a toy camera. If you deduct the cost of the roll of film included it is very cheap. As well as any old 110 instamatics if you can find film for them.

 

[mtbbrian]

Yeah!
Glad to see some toy camera love here!
Brian
Holgas ROCK!

 

[mfobrien]

We have a serious bunch of toy camera people in Ann Arbor, MI. The Krappy Kamera Club is having an exhibit of members' prints in March. Some of our stuff is online here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/krappy/pool/