Diana Cameras

["Amber" <summertime@xxxxxxxxx>]

What is a "Diana Camera"? 
What are it's special qualities?  
Where are they sold? 
What do they cost?
Does it make my Mamiya 7 obsolete?

Curious in Southeast Asia..


Hi Tom
Dianas are plastic cameras that were originally made as carnival 
prizes that actually worked.  They have not been amde for a long time 
but have two decendants, the Banner camera (which was inferior and 
also is no longer made) and the Holga which came into production over 
ten years ago and is still avialable.

They take 120 film and have a plastic lens and a viewfinder and a few 
focus settings that are not through the lens, One person, a few 
people, lots of people and mountain.  There are two f-stops which are 
sunny and cloudy roughly f8 and f11 (on the Holga at least).

They have a vignetting quality with focus only at the center of the 
frame.  The Holga has a hot shoe for a tradional flash, some Diana's 
have built in flashes.  

Plastic cameras were discovered by art photographers in the '60's and 
have been used ever sivnce for their effects.  They will not make 
your camera obsolete however.

To see some modern examples, Silvia Plachy the photojournalist has 
been using them for a long time and there must be some examples in 
her book "Unguided Tour"  which is also the name of a regualar one 
shot that she did in the Villiage voice for many years until she was 
fired a few years ago, they have wisely rehired her and she has been 
featuring plastic camera shots lately.

Amber
summertime@xxxxxxxxx
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