Sunday, November 11, 2012

Lomography's A Bunch of ...

Smart People.  Effin' crazy people.  I mean, in these "dying days" of film (which I have heard more than a few times), who in their right mind would design and sell a completely new roll-film camera that has a bellows?  Hellooo, George Eastman called and he wants his bellows back.  Say all you want about the folks of Lomography, but the latest camera being advertised by them, the Belair X 6-12 wants to separate money from my wallet in a most significant way.
Lomography Belair X 6-12, image from Lomography.com, edit by me.
Seen here is their Belair X 6-12 "City Slicker" model.  Note the 90mm and 58mm removable lenses.  The camera has auto-exposure (though the 1/125th sec max shutter might be limiting), zone focus, and 6x6, 6x9, and 6x12 cm negative sizes on 120 film.

There are other models with chrome and snazzy-looking leatherette that reminds me of the Polaroid SX-70 design scheme.

Yes, it has a bellows.  In 2013, we will be buying bellows cameras.  Take that, you damn digital sheep.

I'm turning 56 on 12-12-12.  What better way to celebrate than buy myself a Belair X 6-12.  I don't need a full-frame D600.  It can't do what this camera does.  6x12 -- even if it has that Lomography look, is something that is very appealing to me.  Is the camera pricey?  No, not really.  In today's dollars, I am betting it is cheaper than the Kodak Tourist cameras that took 6x9 620 film back in the 1940s and 50s.  So, I am pre-ordering one today.  Of course, I can't actually review the camera now, because I don't have one.  But I do want one.   Damn those Lomography folks, making cameras that people want.  They should buy Kodak, as they appear to have a better grasp of selling things than the dumbasses in Rochester.

Oh, and by the way, congratulations to Lomography for 20 years of fun.

10 comments:

Jim said...

Dang. One more thing to want. I'm gonna hold back and see what image quality others get, first, though.

Tobias W. said...

I pre-ordered mine (the limited edition thingy with 30% discount) the night they announced it. I already own a Sprocket Rocket which exposes 35mm film on two frames per exposure and I've been longing for something like that with roll film. I am pretty sure with the lens closed down enough, the camera will return sharp images, albeit not necessarily edge to edge.

I sure hope Kodak doesn't sell out their film stuff to companies like Lomography though. Have you seen what those guys charge for film in their store?!?!

Very good blog post though, I enjoyed the writing a lot.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see some real test results from this camera, non - lomographic..

christian said...

Why the "City Slicker"? It is the plastic version, better the metal "Jetsetter" Belair and the price difference is small.

mfophotos said...

I like black cameras.

iCAM501 said...

Love the camera, it looks very snazzy and if not a little chic. Is it out now to buy?

gypsy.pirate said...

Heyo, I have a question for you about your six-20 flash brownie but I can't find an e-mail. I'm hoping you see this comment and can get back to me.

My gmail is smithbc87, if you could e-mail me I would love to ask you about shooting with the brownie!

Thanks!

~bev

gypsy.pirate said...

Heyo, I have a question for you about your six-20 flash brownie but I can't find an e-mail. I'm hoping you see this comment and can get back to me.

My gmail is smithbc87, if you could e-mail me I would love to ask you about shooting with the brownie!

Thanks!

~bev

gypsy.pirate said...

Heyo, I have a question for you about your six-20 flash brownie but I can't find an e-mail. I'm hoping you see this comment and can get back to me.

My gmail is smithbc87, if you could e-mail me I would love to ask you about shooting with the brownie!

Thanks!

~bev

R. R. Alexander said...

I shoot with a Yashica Mat 124, the only medium format camera I own. I'd like to have another camera to shoot 120 and the Belair X 6-12 looks like a good candidate. Thanks for the post on it. I've bookmarked the Belair site for future reference.