Riccardo Montanini's First Impressions of the LomoApparat

Having previously shared his shots on LomoChrome Metropolis, and Lomography Color Negative 800 films, Italian photographer Riccardo Montanini returns to our Online Magazine with his phenomenal new portraits captured with our brand new LomoApparat 21 mm Wide-angle Camera.

Hi Riccardo, welcome back! What were your first impressions when you received our new LomoApparat 21 mm Wide-angle camera?

Being used to working with film, especially on quite large SLRs, it was strange to pick up a point-and-shoot that was so small and that perfectly fits in your pocket.

Also, I didn't initially think it would come with all those accessories and it was a pleasant surprise to see all the additions provided.

What is the feature you liked the most?

Definitely the compactness of the camera. It is really handy to have it with you as a b cam when you're shooting analogue. Also, It's a camera perfect for travel photography, being so compact and with a wide angle lens, it allows you to always have it on hand and really capture so much in a single frame.

Have you tried the camera's accessories (Close up lens, Flash filters, B and MX modes, kaleidoscope filter?)

I did a couple of tests with everything except the B Mode as I never carried a tripod with me. Definitely the thing I liked the most as a feature of the camera was the gel filter slider on the flash, great for having more colours at hand at all times. Also, I did a lot of double exposures and tests with the close up and kaleidoscopic lens.

I have to say that having tested it in winter and in the Po Valley where the sun never shines at that time of year, it is a camera that must have a medium/high speed film in less than optimal lighting conditions by having an F10 aperture on the lens. Specifically I used a Lomography Color Negative 400, a LomoChrome Metropolis 100-400 and a Kodak Vision 3 500t.

Tell us about this series. How did you choose the locations and subjects?

I mainly used it as a secondary camera that I always kept in my pocket while working with my main camera and pulled it out to take a shot with a different film or using the flash with coloured gel. I think it is perfect for this kind of use.

What is your favourite photo from this series?

Difficult to single out one but if I have to I would choose the one I took with my friend Angelica in the bathroom of a car park on Vision 3 500t. It creates an interesting interplay between her, her reflection in the mirror and her shadow created by the flash. Plus the tungsten balance of the film gives it this very interesting cold blue dominant.

For what kind of photography do you think this camera is suitable?

If I had to go back during my test I would maybe shoot an extra film while travelling. It might be perfect in a place with wide open spaces, either urban or nature. Overall it is a very versatile camera that lends itself to multiple uses mainly because of the modular construction and the additional close up and kaleidoscope lenses.

What does the release of new film cameras in 2023 mean to you?

It is actually a beautiful sign. The world of analogue photography is having a golden moment, as we can notice from the market data and the general increase in film prices.

Lomography and other brands are rightly riding on the public's renewed interest in this field, and this allows the creation of new cameras and films that expand the expressive and creative possibilities of various photographers.

Follow Riccardo on his Instagram profile to see all his works.

written by melissaperitore on 2023-04-17 #gear #point-and-shoot #point-shoot #lomoapparat