Lomo Kompakt Automat 35mm Film Camera

Pros: You'll be the only one on your block with this Russian spy camera!
Cons: You can buy better cameras for the money.

Your first question is probably -- what's a Lomo? Lomo is a Russian made camera that was kind of a fad about three years ago. They sold their wares through a website, and I bought two of them. One for me, and one for my brother in law. He's a real ...

Pros: Crisp lens. Sturdy construction. Automatic setting gives dynamic, unpredictable results.
Cons: Cost. Hype.

The beauty of this compact 35mm camera is the quality of the lens, the sturdy construction, and the ...

Pros: pocket sized, aperature priority,
Cons: they cease functioning

Buy an Olympus XA (just XA. not XA1, XA2, XA3. XA4) instead, you can get one off ebay for 25-50 dollars. The Lomo LC-A is a copy of japanese camera called a cx1 made by cosina. I have no experience with these cameras but my nikon FM10 is made by ...

Pros: Personality plus, only camera I have used for 6 years
Cons: They do break down

6 years ago I bought a Lomo online. I was a former photographer (MFA) and had lost interest (kids, work etc) this little camera brought the joy, the discovery, and the FUN back into my work. It is so user friendly! You just look through that bright viewfinder and cant help but want to take a picture. Also, it just fits perfectly into the human hand. I have taken so many great pictures over the years with this camera. they have PERSONALITY PLUS!!

On the other hand...I am on #4!! They do NOT last forever. They develop quirks after a while and stop working. So, if this camera is going to be a long-term investment that you will need to last a lifetime...dont buy it.

I have owned both the Bellami and Olympus XA. The Bellami was not reliable, the XA is more durable than the LOmo, just not as much fun!