Lomography
Thanks to the smartphones in our pockets, we all have a basic understanding of digital photography, even if we don't own a fancy DSLR. But this casual familiarity can make delving into analog, film shooting a bit daunting, at least initially. Champion of film Lomography has made exploring the 35mm format that much more accessible today, though, launching a trio of super-cheap cameras, preloaded with its dreamy films, that even the most inexperienced of photographers can easily get to grips with.
Lomography is known for its trippy 35mm rolls and stocking a wide array of inexpensive, plastic cameras that celebrate the creative (and imperfect) side of film photography. Its new range of "simple use" point-and-shooters are extra cheap, costing $16.90/£15.90 for the 36-shot color negative and black-and-white models, or $21.90/£19.90 for the camera that includes the kooky LomoChrome Purple film. You can also get them cheaper if you buy in bulk, or pick up one of each.
The models preloaded with color films also feature gel flash filters you can mix and match to give photos different tints. And it might be worth grabbing one of those if you're at all interested, because even though the cameras are modeled after the kind of disposable you can pick up at your local grocery store, each one if fully reusable with any type of 35mm film. While opening the thing to remove the included film once you've burnt through it voids the warranty, there's nothing stopping you from loading another roll and continuing to snap away. The AA battery that powers the flash is replaceable, too.
Other than turning the flash on and off, though, you have no way to change any of the other settings. This means the aperture is fixed at f/9 and the shutter speed at 1/120, so whatever replacement film you use needs to be 400 ISO or thereabouts -- otherwise you risk wasting a whole roll on under/overexposed pictures. But if you like the sound of point-and-shoot simplicity, then remember to get digital copies alongside physical prints when it comes to getting your rolls developed. Because Instagram is life, yeah?