Film-Camera Reviews

Please, check out postings on serious digital photography forums before even considering this scanner. I would suggest the Digital Darkroom forum at www.photo.net (you can search for DSE 5400 related threads) and especially the Film Scanners forum at www.photo-i.co.uk.

Regarding my personal experience with this scanner, my unit was faulty right out of the box (the "green lines" problem, see forums for more). As of now my (less than one month "old") scanner has been at Minolta repairs service once where it was cleaned. NOTHING was actually done to repair the problem despite the truckload of info (including my original slides and their scans) that I'd assembled for the repairs service. In the next few days the scanner will be shipped out for repairs again but I have a big suspicion that my problem will be ignored just as the first time.

This is what I think about this. Yes, if you are lucky to get a perfectly operational unit, it would produce excellent scans for you. However, my feeling is that Minolta is pushing a poorly designed and tested product that is inherently faulty and susceptible to various quality problems. Currently the risk of getting such faulty unit is fairly high, and if you read this post then you know how you will be treated by Minolta repairs. Minolta appears not to be an honorable company. There is a big chance that if your unit is not operating as it should it will not be repaired but you will not get a refund for it either.

After about one month using this scanner, I am very happy with what I got for the money. In fact, I liked it so much I bought two!
It is simple to use and gives almost professional results for a much less than professional price. The HW based cleanup features work great, even on Kodachrome slides, though it slows the scanning process considerably. But hey, good things are worth waiting for. I use the scanner basically for two things: output for the internet and output for making prints. I can scan 4 slides at 72 dpi with no image cleanup in about 4 minutes, including loading and unloading the slides. The same 4 slides will take about 40 minutes with image correction turned on, at high enough resolution for 8x10 prints. The results are outstanding!
If you are serious about finally doing something with all those old family photos (slides or negatives), this is the scanner for you.

I like this scanner. It is very simple to operate for basic scanning, and it includes a great scanning software to help you with more complicated tasks. The value is incredible. I have printed my scans from this scanner in 13x19 size and larger with success. Digital ICE and Pixel Polish are two welcome features that you'll be thankful for. Compare this unit to similar from Nikon or Cannon and you'll see the value Minolta had thrown at you.
The software allows basic image manipulation, such as crop, rotate, chose resolution, size, etc. Additionally, it offers you to correct color gamma, exposure and focus. There are Photoshop like controls, if you'd like to apply changes to the image.
4 slides or 6 negative shots at a time. Not very noisy - just a high pitch sound with a little humming.
Don't base your opinion on one review from a guy with a faulty unit - what product doesn't have at least one not working unit?

After studying professional reviews (including CR), I decided on the Dual4. Forewarned by other users' comments about troublesome startup, I followed the manual's detailed installation instructions step-by-step. No problem whatever! Realize well that this is NOT a Plug-and-Play unit you just plug into a USB2 slot; if you do, Windows will use its own lame-duck generic WIA scanner driver, and gone are all the wonderful enhancements that Minolta's marvelously sophisticated scanning software offers. THE big secret is patience; precisely follow the instructions (same goes for my HP flatbed scanner) -- install the software from the CD first, and *only then* connect the USB cable when you are instructed to do so. If you don't: well just read what dissatisfied reviewers have to say. Also, when the manual tells you to initialize the scanner "with the door closed", it doesn't explicitly tell you to remove the film holder [it's the only way you can close the scanner door, after all]. Although better written and organized than an Asian DVD-player manual, there are some dense spots that you will need to explore on your own. Still, you can't unlock all the treasures of the software until you read (painstakingly, I might add) the software capabilities. I've only had the scanner for a few weeks but, once I learned how just a hair on the negative will magnify to a tree trunk on the print, it does an astonishing job of converting analog film slides to digital images that you can enhance in the accompanying complete PhotoShop Elements 2 software. A magnificent tool indeed but, like any precision tool, it needs careful adherence to instructions and some experimentation to realize its full potential. An unbeatable harware product, with software fine-tuned to provide the ultimate in quality images. Even so, lack of online tech support, such as simple driver updates, is disconcerting. Ask Amazon for tech support? You must be kidding!

I am totally impresed with this scanner. I was scanning 35mm film with an Epson 2450. What a difference! More latitude in the tonal range. Very sharp, Scanner has auto and manual focus. Professional driver software. Images consistant in color from scan to scan.
Have not used the dust remove feature yet. So far all my negs and trans are flawless. Even thou it is only 3200 dpi, if you know photoshop, the quality of the scans are so good I have no problems enlarging to 36x24 poster. I did a test and enalrged in the computer to 100 inches and just checking it out on the monitor it still held together NO PROBLEMS!
Have had the scanner for about a month and use it everyday and have had no start up problems or any other sort of problems, yet. But then again I use a MAC. Read the instruction manual before you do anything!
Anyway, well worth the $270 I spent !

For the price this is the best film scanner I have ever used. I have scanned close to 9000 slides and negatives since I purchased it in February. It is easy to use and I have been quite pleased with the color balance and exposures it returns. Images are all sharp and crisp. I just wish it would scan 120 and 220 film.

(...).

LOMO cameras are marketed by a company who's primary interest seems to be selling $8 Soviet-era design cameras at boutique prices ($200). Accordingly, the cameras have very little speaking for them technically, and the defects are very cleverly hyped with a strong "revolutionary" slant, as being great new discoveries and strengths.

Their website casts a hip skew on the defects in these cameras, aiming them as a "revolution" in photography. Righhhht.

Among the most egregious re-evaluations from the marketing hype at their website:

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THE LOMO TUNNEL EFFECT
...produces an awesome effect called "Vignetting." Look closely - you'll notice that the corners of your Lomographs are slightly darker and a little softer, in contrast to the lighter and sharper center. This tunnel effect yields a clear and vivid subject, with the corners acting as a natural "frame," directing your attention to the center. You see, lomographs simply have more content!
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Keep in mind, vignetting is a powerful *defect* in the lens design, something Canon, Nikon and the other manufacturers have spent decades of advanced lens design and R&D in trying to eliminate. In Lomo's doublespeak, it's a good thing. (Yes, it can sometimes render interesting photographs, but this breathless hype's almost-mystical description of this effect/lens is misleading at best).

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LOMO WIDE ANGLE
The "all-seeing wide angle view"? It's really only a 32mm focal length. Woo hoo.
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Most SLR lens manufacturers have for decades offered extensive ranges in lenses with this view coverage and wider made to fit their SLR cameras (even old SLR's from the 60s and 70s); for wide coverage, a vintage 70's SLR+wide lens can be had for under $75 if you look right, and it'll be a vastly better machine. Any 1980s Canon, Nikon, or Olympus 35mm film SLR for instance, offers outstanding manufacture, both full manual and electronic controls available, etc...far exceeding the exposure options and build quality of Lomo's flimsy design. Typical 70's and 80's vintage SLR's like these feature supreme exposure and internal mechanisms, and today let you take advantage of low prices for former top-of-the-line professional lenses (e.g. manual focus Canon FD, Nikkor, or Olympus Zuiko SLR lenses).

Overall, the camera purposefully introduces flaws in your photographs that can render some "artsy" feeling shots, but don't be misled by the manufacturer's clever anti-establishmen skew.

If you want to take LOMO looking photos, buy its almost exact copy for much cheaper: the OLYMPUS XA (and XA2) but it is old, so only available on ebay. Good options also include the cheapest models of the "Jazz Jellies" that they sell at drugstores like Walgreens. (for only $10). Same vignetting effects, same purposefully-crappy lenses give blurred shots "artsy" type of feel."

You can even get the "much vaunted LOMO saturation" if you drop in 50 ISO or 100 ISO film. (this last point one is just beyond me. Saturation is mostly a function of the film, not the camera! LOL! Not according to LOMO though...)

If you still think this is a must for you, save your bucks, buy one on ebay for cheap (people tend to tire of these quickly; at least I did), and use it for it's artistic expression and distortions.

Certainly don't buy into all the LOMO company's clever hype without reading around the web for vintage camera offerings matching this camera, and take the Lomo society's skewed reporting with a giant grain of salt.

A simple photography course or some time spent at a website like Phil Green's excellent photo.net will better your education on this, and give you a relatively unbiased perspective with which you can then go back and see this equipment for what it is.

This is a very unique camera that can revolutionize your idea of what a snapshot is. This camera is easy to use, and with some patience and a still hand, can take unrivaled photos in any situation, even in pitch black!

I highly recommend this camera, although I got mine for $105 on eBay new... you may want to check out a cheaper source such as this.

best of, most beautiful, too much fun to be true, still surprising after many rolls of film (and it is the good surprises you get with the lomo), a true jewel of the old era
anybody who complains about dropping the camera and it not working should get a single use camera, no doubt.
for the ones that like to experiment, investigate, be free and play and get that incredible rush of taking pictures immediately and on the spot 'cause the beauty of a single moment is just simply irresistible, get a lomo and every single cent you spend on it will come back 1000 times.
i own them all, leica, nikon, elph, you name it, my lomo is my best friend. yes, she has her moods and temper, but she also gives you pictures of the sheer impossible.

There aren't many "basic" cameras out there for "artsy" photos. This one is not high tech at all, instead its made of plastic and has a plastic lens and manual feed. The color filters make it interesting but I question if it is worth the $70. Fun though, and being a part of the LoMo revolution is cool.

I got this for Christmas and have used it several times. The results have been terrific! With some experimentation, I learned that the red filter is very strong so I use it less than the others, but it has been great for taking pictures at parties and concerts and clubs and bars. Rock and roll photos! I lost my little packet of filters, and the wonderful people at lomo international sent me two replacement packs for free! Customer service is great. I do not like the skin bag, however. It is inconvenient and gets in the way. After having it block the lens on a roll of film, I just ditched it altogether. Otherwise, I recommend this camera fully.

this is the most fabulous invention ever. i had been experimenting quite a bit with colorgels, but to find this put together in a camera is simply fantastique! thanks to the lomo people, thanks, thanks, thanks,
in addition to the colorflash this camera also has different exposure settings, very simple and working really great.
enjoy and splash your world in colors, there are no limits anymore, it is all up to you and what color you want your world and surrounding to be!!!

I've had this camera for a few years, and it's great fun. The editorial review is accurate- don't expect great pictures, but almost any subject can become strangely compelling when captured by this camera. My own favourite photos came from a nighttime visit to a carnival- the pics were surreal!

I've found that being within 3-8 feet of the subject is best, and use film that's rated to your light conditions. The big secret to successful photos is to move the camera strongly while you are taking the picture (or have your subject moving). The resulting photos are all slightly different, off centre and skewed.

The more you experiment, the more fun you'll have. Just remember to warn your developer that these photos are going to come out a little 'differently' than usual!

I don't care about whether pix taken with this camera are good or asthetically pleasing, if you like blur or vignetting or whatever, well great you can take pix like that with this camera or any other camera. and you can take sharp pix too. LS (lomographic society) makes several inaccurate claims about this camera.

1 they say it is sturdy, and robust: It's not. mine broke from a drop that wouldn't break an egg. (i'm not exaggerating). Ive heard of many other people having similar experiences, There are even glowing reviews and testimonies of the lomo that mention getting second and thirds because the first and second broke.

2 They say it is unique. Rollei 35 (series). Minox 35 (series). Olympus XA (series). Chinon Bellami. Cosina CX (series). The lomo is a copy, a poor copy, of Cosina's CX1. need i say more.

3 Dazzling supersaturated colors. If you put Portra VC through it you will get that. If you put Portra NC through it you get normal colors. If you put HP5 through it you won't get any colors. Generally lower speed film has greater color saturation and since it is only 400 fast (i think 800 is the begining of fast) results are generally saturated. it has nothing to do with the lens. I've seen the comparisons.

4. it's hip. Maybe four years ago it was.

5. It's a russian spy camera. Never was. it was a camera for the glorious prolatariat. Can you find mention of it in any KGB history/trivia/fan sites?

investigate your options before you buy if you are willing to pay big monies get a minox 35ml if you want it on the cheap get a olympus XA.

I've had this adorable camera for a year, and take it with me wherever I go. While other reviews recommend this for experienced photographers, I'm not convinced that would make much of a difference.
No, it is not a point-and-shoot in the traditional respects, but it is vastly simple. I've gotten fantastic shots in dimly lit bars and sunny Hawaiian beaches, all on the same "automatic" light setting. The compact size allows me to tuck into wee little evening purses and pester my friends all night long; yet it has a wonderful solid weight that means business and provides a cool retro feel.
My big issue continues to be with focusing, but sometimes the blurry shots are actually the best ones on the roll. There are four focul lengths-- 0.8 meters, 1.5 meters, 3 meters, and infinite. I find it hard enough to estimate distance in feet; switch to meters and it's even trickier. As the camera style provides no way to verify your subject is precisely in focus, this may lead to some disapointing results if you badly misjudge the distance.
My favorite thing about the lomo is the unexpected qualities in each shot. You may think you've got a roll of normal me-and-the-guys shots, but they come back from the developer with beautifully rich colors, amazing light effects, and a remarkable (and most pleasing) improvement to everyone's skin tone. If your goal is plain and simple shots, save a few bucks and go for whatever point-and-shoot is in your price range. If you want something a little more unusual, something that doesn't always provide the expected,and something that makes your and yours look like superheros,the lomo's what you want.
A note: there are nine small screws that hold the various parts together. It's a good idea to check these over and tighten them before you use your lomo the first time, as at least one has been loose in every lomo I've seen. They tighten with a phillips eyeglass screwdriver.

I've been a photographer for 10+ years and the Lomo has made me fall in love with photography all over again. You can take similar pictures with a good 35mm and a filter, but it's really all about the size of the Lomo that makes it outstanding. This thing fits in my pocket so that I can take it anywhere, and the results are incredible.

The Lomo is a whole lot of fun if you want to randomly shoot and don't mind blurry or streaked photos when the pictures come back. But it's a little difficult to use if you know what you want to do but don't know a whole lot about photography. Because it's a 2.8 wide-angle lens, depth of field and lens speed are welcome features for the experienced but may be a little mystifying for the novice. It takes some practice before you start to really know what you're doing and how to do it.

But it's unlike any other compact camera out there, and in terms of creativity, it offers an unprecedented amount of leeway. If you're dedicated enough and love photography, then this is for you. If you want a point and shoot for family pictures, don't bother.