The
Lomo Colorsplash is a simple and basic fun camera, released in the
early 2000s. The body is based on a
cheap focus free camera with a bigger flash attached which can change
the colours. They tried a "modern" design, it looks nice, but handling
suffered a lot.
Its main features are:
Wide angle lens, F8, fixed focus Shutter 1/100, B Size 153x75x35, Weight 129 gr. Coloured Flash
Camera
front. To the right: flash. No information on flash guide number.
Camera
back. In the hole near the top: tiny flash ready lamp. Viewer.
Camera
top. Film rewind crank, shutter release with setting ring (Off, normal
shutter and B), film counter and film advance with rewind release, has
to be held while rewinding. Camera bottom. Battery compartment, takes 1 AA battery, only necessary for flash. No tripod socket.
The film counter is nearly unreadable, you need good eyes, good light, but with no flare.
Flash
colour can be changed by turning the black disk. There a 3 colours and
white. 2 of these colours can be exchanged with more filter sheets that
come with the camera. The white button in the middle is a push button
for the flash. One push and it's on, another push and it's off. No
indication but the lamp. On the body: back opening button.
Camera back open. Film compartment.
In
my opinion, this is the worst handling of a camera Lomography brought
to the market so far. The design looks nice, but it's a desaster. The
plastic looks solid, but it's flimsy and quirky. Putting a film is the
first hurdle. The rewind handle cannot be lifted, so you have to wiggle
the cartridge into place. The advance wheel is too small and doesn't
give a good grip. And then there is the counter, it sits so deep that you
need good eyes, good light, but with no flare. Once the film is engaged
and wound 3 times, you are ready for the first photo. The
shutter release has a setting ring with 3 settings: Off, normal
shutter and B. Inscriptions white on white are not a good idea.
The main feature of the camera is the colour flash that could be used even in daylight to colour your pictures. Flash colour can
be changed by turning the black disk at the end of the flash. There a 3 colours and white. 2 of
these colours can be exchanged with more filter sheets that come with
the camera. The use of the flash is a bit awkward.
The white button in the middle of the black disk is a push button. One
push and it's on, another push and it's off. No status indication but
the lamp which is tiny and sits deep in its hole, invisible in
sunlight. If you forget to switch the flash off, it quickly drains the
battery. It is even not shut off when you put the camera to "Off"
position. The flash needs some power, one battery was not enough for a
36 exposure film on my camera.
If you want to change the colour filter foils of the flash, you need a
small screwdriver and tweezers. You have to pry off the inner part of
the black disk with the help of the screwdriver. If you look closely,
you can see a tiny gap and 2 little arrows to put it back into the
right position. Once open, you can see the tiny tabs of the filter
foils. Pull them out with the help of the tweezers. Putting new filter
foils in, needs some patience.
When
your film is at its end, unfold the rewind crank. It's tiny, doesn't
give a good grip and feels as if it would break at any moment. You have
to keep the rewind release button pressed when rewinding. When you are
done, open the back and pry the film canister out cautiously.
Using
the Lomo colorsplash camera is not so easy. As there is only one
shutter speed, you
have to choose your film depending on the weather conditions. On bright
days ISO 200 is fine, on dull days ISO 400 is better. Modern film is
quite flexible, so you will have usable results. Inside or at night
you'll have to use the flash. The flash is quite powerful. It's a toy
or fun camera,
all plastic. The colour flash can give fantastic pictures. There is a
book from Lomo with loads of good fancy pictures that came with the
camera.
As
I find the camera quirky, I prefer a better camera and a separate
colour flash. There is Fritz the Blitz from Lomo, which attaches to all
kinds of cameras.
Some
gereral words about Lomography and their service: There is a 2-year
warranty, at least in Europe. My personal experience with their service
is very good. As most of their cameras are made of (cheap) plastic,
there is no repair, they just exchange your defective camera. You have
to send it in to their Vienna office at your expenses, which is not cheap
if you are not based in Austria, but they try to compensate by adding
film or so to the return. You absolutely need a proof of purchase,
there was heavy abuse by fraudulent customers they told me. So if you
buy second hand or your camera is gift, be sure to put your hands on
the proof of purchase. After the 2-years warranty period it's over.
They will try to help for the expensive not-so-plastic cameras like the
LC series, but for the rest there is no repair. Keep this in mind for
the prices you pay for older gear.
