The analog geeks company Lomography has been famous for its unusual cameras for many years, and as a good tradition, it releases at least one insanely cool film or instant camera every year. The Lomo'Instant Automat line of instant cameras appeared in 2017 and quickly won the hearts of photography enthusiasts, as well as a share of the market for cameras that shoot on Fujifilm Mini cassettes. In this review, we will take a closer look at the charming Lomo'Instant Automat Cabo Verde and talk about its strengths and weaknesses.
Design and Camera Controls
After unpacking, you need a few minutes to get used to the shape of the camera. For me, as an owner of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8, it took about 5 minutes to get accustomed to the "awkwardness" of the Lomo'Instant. You can take shots even with one hand; the camera is lightweight and covered in pleasant eco-leather, and the shutter button is located in an intuitively convenient place (easy to feel and press).
The main setting buttons are located on the back panel, and controlling them is very simple: press a button and the flash indicator lights up or turns off. Everything is super simple and clear. Note that when you turn on the camera, the flash will automatically be in the "ON" mode. The focus adjustment and the power button are located on the lens. By rotating the lens ring, you select one of three modes: infinity, 1-2 m, 0.6 m.
Overall, the camera is very beautiful and easy to use. You will fully learn it in 10-15 minutes.
Shooting Modes
This is the most interesting part of the Lomo'Instant Automat Cabo Verde, as this camera allows you to take very creative shots thanks to manual shooting modes. It’s worth reminding that all Lomography cameras are very easy to use because no matter how "fancy" they may seem, everything is very simple. Otherwise, the set includes detailed instructions, photo examples, and a tutorial on how they were made.
Portrait
To take a portrait shot, turn the lens ring to the "0.6" mode and turn the flash on or off. The light line on the photo is not a defect but a result of backlighting during shooting.
Multiple Exposure
The coolest thing about the Lomo'Instant is that you can make up to 20 exposures on one shot. The process is as follows: turn on the multiple exposure mode on the back panel, take a photo (you can change settings, turn the flash on, etc., at the same time), then turn off the mode—and the photo immediately appears. Done!
Moving Object Shooting
A canoe team successfully paddled down the Dnipro, and the Lomo'Instant performed well when shooting moving subjects. The auto mode with a shutter speed of 1/250 was enough to clearly capture the moment. It will also be sufficient for parties or photo walks.
Bulb Mode
The camera has a tripod mount, so you can go out and take beautiful night photos. The long exposure on the Lomo'Instant Automat Cabo Verde is 30 seconds, and you can control the camera with a remote control, which protects the photo from accidental shakes.
Lomo'Instant Automat Cabo Verde is a great camera both for beginners in analog photography and for experienced photographers looking for new ways of creative expression. The camera is easy to handle and convenient to take on walks and trips. And its bright design will definitely make Lomo'Instant Automat Cabo Verde your favorite camera.
You can see more photo examples on the Lomography website, where photographers share their shots.