If you have ever wanted to replicate the iconic look and feel of an image taken with the Lomography LC-A, but on, say, a digital camera, you are in luck. With the Lomography Lomogon you can experience Lomography’s legendary aesthetic on any film or digital SLR or mirrorless camera, with a Canon EF or Nikon F mount.
What is the Lomography Lomogon art lens?
The Lomogon is a 32mm lens that launched via Kickstarter near the beginning of 2019. It was offered in black aluminum, black brass and polished brass finishes, with your choice of Pentax, Canon EF and Nikon F mounts. I was excited for this lens, since the Lomography style really revitalized my interest in film photography. I had been thinking that I’d like to purchase the LC-A, and the thought of being able to get that look on my digital Nikon D80 was attractive.
Back in March 2019, the Kickstarter price for the single brass lens was $450USD, a 25% savings from retail. There were options to pay more for a low serial number, or to get all three colors. There was an option to get the LC-A+ Heritage Bundle, which included the LC-A+ Anniversary Edition 120 camera, the Minitar-1 Art Lens (which gives you the Lomo look but for L mount cameras like the Leica), and the Lomogon. One of the pricer packages got you the lens as well as a Lomo Lubitel camera, AND you got to visit the Lomography headquarters in Vienna. And another let you “catch up” on the Lomography lens collection by getting you 4 of their previous lenses for $1500USD. As much as I would have loved to have visited the Lomo HQ in Austria, or owned more interesting cameras and lenses, my budget at the time wouldn’t allow it. So I opted for the single brass lens for $450. According to the serial number on the front of my lens, I have brass lens #38.
How does the Lomogon art lens differ from other camera lenses?
A unique lens by many accounts, the Lomogon 32mm is a pleasure to use. When the Kickstarter completed, and manufacturing of the lens was done, I received my lens in November of 2019. It arrived along with a nicely printed book of photos that were made with the lens.
It’s a manual lens that comes in three finishes - black brass, black aluminum, or just plain brass. The brass lens is gorgeous, with a golden shine and a satisfying weight to it. It just feels special when you hold it, the aperture ring feels good to use and it definitely doesn’t feel cheap. Besides some of Lomography’s other art lenses, I don’t really know of any modern brass colored lenses out there.
To achieve the legendary Lomography look, the Lomography Lomogon features six multi coated lens elements in six groups. It’s the coatings on the LC-A, as well as the Lomogon, that help capture richer, saturated colours, fine contrast, and very high resolution.
The lens is reasonably fast at a max aperture of f/2.5, so you can capture lots of light in your images, and get a decently narrow depth of field when you want it.
The minimum focus range of the Lomogon is 0.4 meters. With such a wide focal length and close focus range, you can make some very interesting photos by getting very close to your subject.
To control the aperture, the Lomogon features a circular dial that features a selection of . Simply rotate the dial and the aperture instantly changes. The aperture can be set between f/2.5 and f/11. Rather than controlling a conventional shutter that opens and closes as the control dial rotates, the Lomogon aperture mechanism is a series of perfectly circular apertures that each represent a specific f-stop. You get a unique bokeh with these aperture, one that is unique to the Lomogon and not available on any other modern camera lens.
The aperture also allows for a bit of vignetting if desired. By leaving an aperture selection slightly off center, you can add a corner of vignetting, another common characteristic of photos taken with the LC-A. The wider the aperture, the more pronounced the vignette.
What are the benefits of using the Lomography Lomogon art lens?
Did you know that the first Instagram filters, the feature that helped Instagram gain popularity and take off, were based off the look you could get from the original Lomography LC-A camera? For a long time, you could only get that look from that camera. If you wanted to try to capture it on your digital camera, you were out of luck. Though you could have simply applied a filter to an image taken with your camera, after you uploaded it to Instagram.
WIth the Lomogon you can achieve the same look you’d get from the LC-A or LC-A+, but on any camera that you can mount it to, film or digital. I originally used it only on my Nikon D-80, but I knew I wanted to try it out on a film camera, so when I bought my first film Nikon, the Nikon FE, I was able to use it there. My D-80 doesn’t meter when a manual lens is mounted, so when it crapped out I got a Nikon to Sony adapter so I could mount the Lomogon on my Sony A7Riii. All of a sudden I was able to enjoy taking snaps much more easily, and at a higher resolution, all with the Lomography look I love.
An added benefit, in my books at least, is the look of this lens. It’s so unique with the aperture selection disc sticking out the side of the brass lens, and definitely not subtle. When I walk around populate areas, taking pictures with it, I often have people stop and ask me about it. It definitely makes for a neat talking point, when I’m doing street photography. I’ve almost always asked a person who stopped me to talk about the lens, if I can take a portrait of them.
How can the Lomogon be used to create interesting and unique photos?
There are a few approaches you can take to get real creative with the Lomogon 32.
Half Set Aperture
By manipulating the aperture ring so the selected aperture is not perfectly aligned with the center of the lens, you can introduce some vignetting. First, figure out your proper exposure. If I want a good amount of vignetting, I’ll choose a wider aperture for maximum effect. Once you have the shutter speed and aperture set, turn the aperture ring either left or right just a tiny bit. You’ll be able to see the edge of the ring start to overlap into your picture, resulting in a dark blur around the edges of your image. Choose a position you like, then take the shot.
Colorful Subjects
By default, the Lomogon lens will enrich colors that you capture with it. Find a colorful subject - flowers, sunset, a colorful outfit on a person. Combined with the sharp contrast, your subject will be rich and fun to look at.
Get Real Close
With the 0.4m minimum focus distance, you can get very close to your subject. Find some flowers, some fruit, maybe a cactus. Don’t forget to introduce some vignetting with that aperture ring.
Just Shoot
The Lomogon stays true to the Lomography golden rules. It’s fast and simple to control. It’s a great combo to capture life in motion. Just dial it in to sunny 16, don’t think, just shoot.
What are some of issues that come with using the Lomography Lomogon art lens?
There is a lot to love about the Lomogon, but it’s not perfect, especially if you compare it to other lenses. The brass version I have already shows some peeling of the clear coat on the lens cap. It’s not a terrible issue, and I barely notice it. But I have other lenses that are much older and in cleaner physical condition. I consider this part of the patina from using the lens. You might not agree.
The nature of the big, manual aperture ring is that it’s easy to manipulate. Which you may not like. I’ve had the aperture set, then accidentally knock it out of position when I go to focus the lens. Speaking of which, while the focus is quite smooth, it can take a bit more effort than other lenses to focus. Not a huge issue, but I do find it is slower for me to manually focus this lens, especially considering it takes pretty much a 3/4 to get from infinity to close focus.
How can the Lomography Lomogon art lens be used to improve your photography?
Using a new tool can introduce a new opportunity to look at your photography. By trying a different focal length or mechanism to control exposure, you change the way you are used to doing things. This can be frustrating at first, but if you go with it, you can start to think a bit differently and come up with creative new ways to take photos. With the close minimum focus, the manual focus and aperture ring, and the high contrast and saturation of the glass, the Lomogon will help you approach your subjects just a bit differently. Hopefully enough to stimulate you creatively.
Is it worth it?
The Lomogon 32mm f/2.5 now sells for $399 USD, if you buy the aluminum version, or just over $599 USD if you buy the brass version. At the lowest tier, it’s reasonably priced and you get all of the main benefits of the lens - rich color, high contrast and that great aperture mechanism. But if you can afford to go with the brass version, I’d suggest you shell out the $599. It feels so nice to use and it’s such a fun attention grabber. It’s a sharp lens, and combined with the creative features, it’s definitely worth buying if you want to try a new creative approach to your photography.
