Review of Lomography's Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing Camera & Flash Using LomoChrome Color ’92 Film and B&W Orca 110 Film | My First Two Rolls of Film

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I’m so excited to team up with Lomography for this blog post featuring the Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing Camera. I’ve been wanting to try out a 110 camera for years and it was honestly as fun as I’d hoped. There are a lot of things I love about this camera, but there are also a few snags I ran into that I’m hoping to sort out while shooting my next roll of film. As with any film camera, it takes some time and patience to learn a new camera, and especially a new film format. 110 film has been around since the 1970s and is known for it’s retro vibes and easy-to-load film cartridges. You can find vintage 110 film cameras on Etsy and eBay, but Lomography went above and beyond and created their own version of the 110 camera. They have tons of different styles and colors, but I wanted to share the pros and cons I discovered through my first two rolls of film with the Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing, so that your experience using 110 film goes smoothly and you end up with beautiful photos!

PROS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

  1. Perfect for Travel

    I think my favorite thing about this camera is the portability. It’s so small and convenient. It was super easy to take with me wherever I went. I used the wrist strap most of the time, which made it simple to use quickly when I stumbled across something I wanted to photograph. It’s definitely one of the smallest cameras I own, and it’s nice that I don’t have to worry about a detachable lens or anything like that that might get damaged easily. You guys know I like to travel with at least 5-8 cameras and the fact that I can squeeze this camera in any camera bag is a huge pro for me, and means I can take it with me on more adventures!

  2. The Photos are Grainy & Vibe-y

    I wasn’t expecting super sharp photos going into this process, but the photos are even more old school that I thought they’d be. I absolutely love vintage-looking photographs with lots of grain that look like they’re from hundreds of years ago. There is something so addicting about creating photographs that are strange and unusual (because I, myself, am strange and unusual). I know that not everyone feels the same way, but I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone! This camera will definitely make you do that. :) I did learn that this camera requires a lot of light to function properly, so I’d recommend only shooting in very bright conditions, or using the flash if you’re inside or in the shade. You’ll notice some of my images have motion blur or aren’t fully in focus, and that’s because the images were taken close to sunset and the shutter was too slow. Next time, I’ll be sure to shoot in full daylight with this camera. It’s also important to make sure you have the correct distance setting for each image before you take it.

  3. Lots of Creative Features for Such a Small, Affordable Camera

    I was surprised by how many different options and features this camera is capable of. If you follow my work, you know I’m obsessed with multiple exposures. The fact that this camera has a dedicated multiple exposure button is a huge plus for me. I’m actually going to be ordering more 110 film today because now that I’m sitting here writing this blog post, I feel antsy to test out another roll! I’ve learned so much with my first two rolls and can’t wait to learn from my mistakes and go into it with a little more user knowledge. It also has various distance settings, a flash, flash filters, a bulb setting, and two aperture settings - day (f/5.6) & night (f/2.8). For such a tiny camera, the creative control is really nice.

CONS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

  1. The Film Doesn’t Advance Occasionally

    The main issue I have with this camera is that sometimes the film doesn’t advance when you close it and pull it back open. The film counter will sometimes stay on the same number. I’ve watched a few videos from other photographers and they seem to run into the same issue. However, on my second roll of film, I think I figured out what was happening. You have to make sure you push the shutter button down all the way when taking your photo. I believe what happens is that you think you’ve captured your image, but really, the shutter wasn’t decompressed and you actually didn’t even take your photo! If you just make sure to fully push the button all the way, you should be totally fine.

  2. The Frames Become Misaligned

    By the end of both of my first two rolls of film, I noticed the frames became misaligned. This is probably because I began to close the camera and then changed my mind and opened it back up. So, essentially, the film began to advance a little but then was stopped. So, whatever you do, make sure to fully open and close the camera in between shots and you shouldn’t run into this problem. I’ll be testing this theory out again with my next roll of film, but it makes sense that halfway closing the camera would cause the frames to get out of line.

  3. Film Development is Expensive

    It’s difficult to find labs that will process 110 film. Personally, I used Blue Moon Camera in Portland, Oregon. I also had to buy a 110 film holder for my Epson Perfection V750 Pro Scanner so that I could save some money by scanning the film myself. It was a bit of an investment just to experiment with this camera. However, I do think that I’ll feel a bit better about the whole thing if I follow the tips mentioned above for my next roll of film. It’s definitely more of a hobby camera and not something I would use at a client photo shoot, mostly because I don’t have the functionality fully down yet. I’m hoping in the future I will feel differently.

(example of the frames being misaligned)

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m so glad that Lomography has created their own 110 camera. It’s incredibly important as photographers and hobbyists to support these dying film formats. I love that 110 film hasn’t disappeared from the world yet and that Lomography is working to keep it alive. While I do think that the camera has a few glitches and requires a bit of a learning curve, it was still an absolute blast to use. It might even be the most fun I’ve had in years trying out a new camera. I plan to test out more of the fun features with my next roll of film.

The Lomomatic 110 is something special though. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another company that values film photography as much as Lomography. The fact that they’ve put time into developing a 110 camera, along with a handful of different film options to choose from, is truly a miracle in today’s world. I always love checking out what Lomography is up to and the new cameras that they release.

I’m honestly so excited to try this camera out again and see what I end up with. I recommend shooting only one roll for your first time so that you can learn from any mistakes you might have made. Make sure to check the aperture, ISO, and distance settings before taking each shot too. I had the wrong distance setting for a few of my images and it definitely makes a difference if you want your images as sharp as possible with a camera like this.

While it is a pricey venture to get into shooting 110 film, it’s always fun for me to try out new cameras and learn something about photography along the way. As my first 110 film experience, it was exciting and different for me. I get bored easily and this camera kept me on my toes. I’ll be sure to share my next roll of film with you!

WHERE TO BUY

Lomomatic 110 Camera & Flash

Lomography.com

eBay.com (used)

Etsy (vintage 110 cameras)

110 Film Cartridges

B&H Photo Video

Lomography.com

Amazon

Etsy (vintage 110 film)


If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.

Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine






Canon 6D Review by a Professional Photographer | The Best Budget Full-Frame DSLR For Beginners

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

The Canon 6D has been around for a while now (since 2012 to be exact). The Canon 6D Mark II is the latest version and is currently pricing around $1399. You might know that I currently shoot with a 5D Mark IV and use a Canon 6D as a backup camera, but I owe a LOT to the Canon 6D. I’ve been a full-time photographer since 2012 and I used the Canon 6D as my main camera for the majority of the growth of my business. It traveled with me around the world. It photographed dozens of weddings. It fell onto gravel driveways and into puddles. It got rained on. It was really like an extra limb to me. One of the main reasons I used it for so long was because I couldn’t seem to find a better camera for the price point! I’m a serious budget shopper, but I’m also serious about my photography. I wanted the best camera I could possibly get with the money that I had. As a beginning photographer back in 2012, spending over $1000 on a camera was terrifying to me. But I knew that if I could shoot just one wedding with it, that I’d have already made back all of the money. I looked at it as an investment for my business and it paid off ten-fold. I loved the 6D so much that I ended up buying ANOTHER one, and began shooting weddings with 2 6Ds with different lenses. When I eventually sold my first 6D in 2022, the shutter count was 279,000, which is apparently 297% of wear! I couldn’t believe I had never run into a problem with the shutter the entire time I had owned it. It was truly a workhorse of a camera and was totally worth every single penny I put into it.

I wanted to share a few of my favorite features of the Canon 6D (and 6D Mark II) so that you can decide for yourself if it’s worth it! In my opinion, the 6D is the best budget full-frame DSLR out there. And make sure to look through my sample photos at the bottom of the post so you can see what this camera is capable of!

1. THE LOW-LIGHT CAPABILITIES


The reason I was originally interested in the Canon 6D was because I photographed a lot of weddings and needed a camera that was amazing in low light. Weddings involve a lot of candlelight, dark dance floors, fast motion and candid moments. I simply don’t have time to worry about my camera focusing or making sure my shutter is fast enough. The Canon 6D had a super impressive ISO range of 100-25,600 (or up to 40,000 for the 6D Mark II), expandable to 50-102,400. If you pair this with a lens like the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L II zoom lens or the incredible Canon 50mm f/1.2 L lens, you can pretty much capture any situation with any amount of light. It’s kind of amazing. Of course, I would still bring my Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash with me and use it for fun dance photos, but as a general rule, I prefer to shoot with natural, available light.

2. WI-FI AND GPS FEATURES


When I first got my 6D, one of the most exciting features to me was the built-in Wi-fi and GPS system, which was pretty innovative at the time. I loved that after a shoot, I could transfer images from my camera to my phone and immediately edit them and upload to instagram or share them with others. I ended up using it a lot more than I even thought I would! It also allowed for remote control of the camera from your phone, so I was able to take fun self-portraits without having to use the self-timer. The GPS is so nice too because I travel a LOT, and often forget what town I was in! I love that I can look into the image data and find out exactly where I was when I took the photo.

3. FULL-FRAME FOR A LOWER PRICE


Another reason I opted for the 6D was because I didn’t want to pay the price tag of the 5D Mark III that was also available at the time. The 6D was the more affordable, sister version of the 5D by a long-shot and honestly, offered a lot of the same things, including a full-frame sensor! The 5D Mark III was around $3499 at the time (!!!!) and the 6D was $2099. I managed to get mine for $1899 during Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, and then purchased my second one for $1399 in 2015. Now, the original 6D is actually quite hard to get your hands on unless you get a used one, but the newer version, the Canon 6D Mark II is around $1399 for the body only, or you can spring for a full kit with a 24-105mm f/4 lens for around $2000. I always recommend going for the L series lenses, but if you’re just starting out, a kit lens will help get your feet wet!

4. FULL HD 1080P VIDEO AT 30 FPS, OR FULL HD 1080P VIDEO AT 60FPS FOR THE 6D MARK II

Around the time that I bought the 6D, I was also starting to get into video. The fact that the 6D had full 1080p video was a huge plus for me. I used the 6D to film a handful of wedding videos and even started my YouTube channel with it! Of course, these days the high-end cameras can shoot 4K (or even higher!) but if you’re interested in learning about video and getting some high-quality footage, the 6D has everything you need to get started. I still use my DSLRs for video from time to time and I always love how it turns out. Simply put, both the original 6D and the 6D Mark II have the option to create some amazing video work and plenty of professional videographers and photographers still use them as part of their arsenal. :)

5. COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT BODY


Another important feature of the original 6D was the compact and lightweight body. It weighed less than the majority of cameras out there at the time and just felt a lot smaller and easier to manage in my hand. It weighed 1.7 pounds (or 1.69 for the Canon 6D Mark II) while the 5D Mark III weighed 2.1 pounds. It might not sound like a big difference, but trust me, every little bit counts when you’re standing on your feet for 8 hours at a wedding. Plus, I’m a relatively small person and my body is always beat after a wedding. I typically need at least two days to recover, no joke! The weight of a camera is a huge factor for me when deciding what to purchase. I also bring at least 6 cameras with me to a wedding, so the compact body helps too when trying to squish them all in my bag!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I guess what I’m trying to say is, the 6D is super special to me. It carried me through the early stages of my business and helped me to grow exponentially. Though I am a firm believer that it doesn’t matter what gear you use, it does help when you have a camera that has high functionality in the areas that you need it most. And a photographer that prefers natural light, the 6D just made sense for me. I used it for fashion shoots, portrait shoots, food, music, concerts, bands, events, product photography and so many other types of photo shoots. I still have my second 6D that I purchased and I’m not sure that I’ll ever get rid of it. It definitely holds a soft spot in my heart.

If you’re a beginning professional photographer, dreaming of starting a photography business, the 6D or the 6D Mark II is an absolutely excellent place to start. For what you’re getting, the price is pretty impressive when comparing to other brands. I’ve considered switching to other camera brands many many times, but I always end up coming back to Canon because of the pricepoint and features. It’s just always made sense for me.

Make sure to check out my blog post about the Canon 5D Mark IV if you’re leaning towards the more pro version of the 6D. Or the Canon EOS R if you’re thinking of going mirrorless and prefer an RF mount. The Canon 6D and 6D Mark II has an EF lens mount, so you have to make sure to buy EF mount lenses to pair up with them, unless you decide to buy an adapter. I use EF lenses, even with my EOS R, but I did end up buying this adapter to make it work.

Scroll down to the bottom of the post for more example photos with the Canon 6D!


WHERE TO BUY THE CANON 6D (ORIGINAL VERSION)

Amazon

KEH Camera (used)

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON 6D MARK II

Amazon

B&H Photo

Adorama

KEH Camera (used)

LENS RECOMMENDATIONS


Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L II Lens

Amazon

B&H Photo

KEH Camera (used)

Canon 50mm f/1.2L Lens

Amazon

B&H Photo

KEH Camera (used)

If you found this post helpful or if you’d like to see more of my work, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a lovely day!

<3 Myles Katherine




(click to enlarge photos)