Introduction
Ah, yes, the Lomo mystique. It all started with some Austrian tourists who picked up a funny little Russian compact camera that behaved a bit more primitively and interestingly than your typical 35mm point-and-shoot. Add a little marketing magic, and the result is a lifestyle camera, maybe even a "cult," if you will.
While Lomo got off the ground with the funny little Russian camera, one camera alone is not enough to build a company. So the Lomographic Society International started creating other cameras and accessories in the original Lomo spirit.
The Colorpslash Flash is one of those items, which you don't need a Lomo camera to use or appreciate.
Description
First off, this is not a flash that can be compared to a nice Speedlight, or even an inexpensive Sunpak or Vivitar intended to mount on top of your SLR. The Colorsplash is not intended to be like those flashes, and certainly doesn't perform like them.
Instead, the Colorsplash is really a toy. It works, and it works OK, but it's a toy. And like a toy is supposed to be, the Colorsplash is a lot of fun to you.
The basic premise of the Colorsplash is simple: it allows you to have a selection of four different colored gels to put in front of your flash with just a simple turn of a wheel.
As the name implies, having the little gel in front of the flash gives you a splash of color, kind of like a mini version of theatrical lights.
Now, this is something you could easily do yourself by taping colored cellophane or plastic over the flash on your compact camera or speedlight. But it wouldn't be as easy to change from purple to blue, and it would look a bit rougher.
The Colorsplash is designed for use at a party, and the color-changing wheel is big enough for the slightly inebriated to operate without a problem.
Basic Operation
The Colorplash operates like any other hot-shoe flash. It slides right into the shoe. Because it operates off a hot-shoe, it won't work directly with most small point-and-shoot 35mm or digital cameras.
However, there is a little bottom on top that fires the flash manually. I use it with my Olympus Stylus 800 by setting the camera to take a long exposure of at least a second, then firing the flash right after I hit the shutter.
This technique works best in a darker room where you need a flash. It can also work with cameras that only have automatic exposure (no shutter priority) -- just turn off the camera's flash, and it will default to a long exposure. You can hear the shutter open and close, so just fire the flash as soon as you hit the shutter release.
The Colorplash takes one AA battery that fits into small compartment. The battery is good for a remarkable number of firings - at least several rolls of film.
Besides the manual firing button, the only other controls are the on/off button and the wheel which spins the colors in front of the flash. Simple and easy.
Changing the colored gels requires opening up the flash, so you're not going to want to do it too often. But I don't find I need more than 4 colors most of the time anyway. If you're crafty you can cut pieces of colored plastic to make your own custom gels.
Peformance
It does what it's supposed to -- instead of a bright white flash, you get a colored flash. I find blue and green often work better than orange or purple, with the colors coming out more obvious in the pictures. A lot of the end result will depend on your camera and film.
If you're shooting film, low ISO film, like 100 or 200, will show the colors more dramatically than high ISOs.
The power of the flash is about on par with most built-in camera flashes, perhaps a little stronger, but not as strong as a true external flash.
I'd say most of the time the flash is good for about ten to fifteen feet for the strongest exposure and effect. Therefore I recommend that you don't use it with a long zoom -- stay with wide and normal focal lengths.
Running off just one AA battery means the flash is small and light, but it also takes a while to recycle. A fresh battery will recycle the flash in under 30 seconds. An older battery takes longer. So don't expect to just keep popping off shots.
I often use the Colorsplash on some of my more "vintage" manual 35mm pocket cameras, like the Ricoh FF-1 and Kiev 35, which both have hot-shoes. Towards the middle of a party I find I'm waiting for the flash to recycle even after I've refocused and advanced the film.
The Pictures
That's what matters, right? The pictures are fun, sometimes weird, but always interesting. Your best results will be in darkened rooms, where the Colorsplash will be the strongest light in the frame.
The color will permeate, often with unexpected results. Sort of like taking pictures of a concert, where colored lights are used for effect.
Conclusion
There's really nothing else out there like a Colorsplash flash, especially at its price. You either want to splash color all over your pictures, or you don't -- that's what should determine if you want to buy it.
It doesn't work miracles, and it won't instantly make your photos hip and arty. But if you practice, you'll get there.
It's not the sturdiest, most well constructed flash, but it also only retails for $35.
It's about having some fun, and it works for that.
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