LF+Lomo=True

[Joakim Ahnfelt]

The Lomographic society just released the Bulldog. EUR 275.00 seems like a fair price to start with LF. The interesting part is that they probably have a different type of customers than the traditional LF society. And with a little luck there will be more of us. Total world domination here we come!
Check it out at http://shop.lomography.com/bulldog/

[Dave Parker]

Well except for the incorrect claim of being the only LF kit in the world, it looks like an interesting project.

Dave

[Ash]

Ok everyone! Repeat after me!

<loop>
I hate Lomo
I hate LOMO
I HATE LOMO
</loop>

What you don't realise is, if you buy the bulldog from the manufacturer here http://camerabellows.com/Bulldog.html then you get it much much cheaper.

[Dave Parker]

What you don't realise is, if you buy the bulldog from the manufacturer here http://camerabellows.com/Bulldog.html then you get it much much cheaper.

Actually for me, it would not be much, much cheaper, if I were to buy from Camera Bellows it would run me $295.04 and $325.00 from Lomo so not much of a savings in the long run, and I am sure shipping would out weigh any savings I could suspect.

Dave

[Ash]

&#163;165 total UK price, posted overnight delivery.
€275 = &#163;183 prior to shipping, prior to any import duties.

In the UK add about 20&#37; for duties (17.9% VAT + duties + handling fee)

&#163;165 = $323 including maybe half the shipping costs (if overseas post costs double) excluding import duties
€275 = $358 excluding shipping and duties.

It'll still be cheaper cutting Lomo out. All they're doing is stamping a name on top of a box

I would prefer to buy direct from the manufacturer. Lomo is making money outta thin air, and the product will be travelling even further to reach you (UK to Europe, to USA) - more chance of damage in transit too.

Buy from lomo if you prefer. I wouldn't

[Dave Parker]

Ash,

With all the cameras I own, really I am not going to buy from either of them, my wife would have a fit if I brought another camera into the house :) , and being honest with you, I can make a very similar camera in a few hours if I wanted, but as far as stamping a name on it, this is done quite often in many different types of business, I was just saying Lomo says $325 on their website, and running the pound to US conversion came out to $295...and apparently who ever is making the Bulldog is fine with others rubber stamping their name on it and selling it.

Not trying to cause problems, just some observations.

Dave

[Ash]

No worries Dave. It just annoys me that the Lomographic Society are expanding into yet more areas, and making a profit for sticking another webpage up.

I was interested in a Bulldog camera to make a DIY enlarger from, but then I read the instructions and for the cost and labour, I may as well buy a used enlarger or turn an old half plate camera into one ;)

Regards,

[Helen Bach]

Funny old world. Lomo and the Lomographic Society. One is an excellent, versatile optical company who make high quality, low volume, specialised lenses that later get rebadged by other companies with little trace of their Lomo origin but with a large price mark-up. The other is a clever bunch of salesmen.

Best, Helen

[Walter Calahan]

Very nice. Clever salesmen introducing a camera to people who probably would never think about Large Format. They cut there teeth with this, and then graduate to something better down the road if their interest stays. Perfect for a high school student.

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

Folks,

I know nothing about the Lomographic Society. So, I'll leave that debate to those so inclined. However, I just want to clarify that this is not a new kit. It has been out for over a year (was actually announced at Photokina 2004, I believe, but didn't start shipping until late 2005). I built one over a year ago and wrote an article about it for the Mar/Apr 2006 View Camera.

There's an old thread about it on photo.net, here (http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00EZJH) - with a couple pictures of a completed camera.

Here's a couple photos of my completed Bulldog.

With stock knobs:

http://www.thalmann.com/Bulldog/Bulldog_1_640.JPG

With nicer, lighterweight replacement knobs from Reid Tool Supply:

http://www.thalmann.com/Bulldog/Bulldog_2_640.JPG

In addition to the other sources mentioned, Midwest Photo Exchange had the Bulldog Self-Assembly camera kit listed on their web site for $319.00.
Kerry

[Gordon Moat]

Hello Kerry,

Did you repaint yours? It certainly looks higher quality in black than the unfinished look on the website. I didn't know it took a Linhof board, or is that another modification?

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio (http://www.allgstudio.com)

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

Hello Kerry,

Did you repaint yours? It certainly looks higher quality in black than the unfinished look on the website. I didn't know it took a Linhof board, or is that another modification?

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio (http://www.allgstudio.com)

Gordon,

I spent a LOT more time filling, sanding, priming, wet sanding, and painting my camera than I did on assembly. The camera is made out of MDF. So, I think some type of finish to seal out the elements will help it last longer. I think it looks nicer that way too - more like a real camera and less like a jigsaw puzzle. I actually thought about painting it hi-gloss red, but went with the more conservative black.

Yes, the camera takes Linhof/Wista boards (that's a Wista board in my pics with a 120mm APO Symmar - a great match for this litle camera).

Kerry

[Gordon Moat]

Well Kerry, you now have a very nice compact small 4x5. Considering the extra labour, the quality improvement is quite impressive. It makes me think about getting one of these. Thanks for sharing the information.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio (http://www.allgstudio.com)

[steve simmons]

This camera has been available for at least a year from Camera Bellows/Lee Filters so this should be old news.

steve simmons

[Joakim Ahnfelt]

Old news to us but not to the Lomo, Holga crowd.

[walter23]

Ok everyone! Repeat after me!

<loop>
I hate Lomo
I hate LOMO
I HATE LOMO
</loop>


Cross processed holga shots of fashionable people holding brightly coloured umbrellas!! Oh yeah!

I actually have a LOMO; a USSR-era Lubitel 166B 6x6 TLR. It cost me like $5 on ebay from some guy in Ukraine and it's a nice little camera.

[Zach In Israel]

Folks,

In addition to the other sources mentioned, Midwest Photo Exchange had the Bulldog Self-Assembly camera kit listed on their web site for $319.00.
Kerry
B&H lists it for about the same, How did you find building it, and how is it to use?

[David A. Goldfarb]

Hey, if hipster Lomo branding gets the Lomographers and Holgaphiles to buy sheet film and try out LF, it's not a bad thing.

[Former Member 8144]

so if you take the bulldog camera..add a grip..and a hotshoe and viewfinder and some infinity focussing markings on the front rail and hey presto..you have a fairly compact handholdable 54 with some limited movements..pretty good alternative to the other handhelds 54's such as the fotomans and goersis if you do not wish to use the helical focussing mounts...I assume it is pretty light?

[Andrew O'Neill]

Hey, if hipster Lomo branding gets the Lomographers and Holgaphiles to buy sheet film and try out LF, it's not a bad thing.

I couldn't agree with you more, David!

[Larry Huhn]

Hi everyone, I am new to this group and interested in moving toward LF photography. Since I like to build things the Bulldog Kit looks attractive to me. Can anyone point me in the right direction for choosing lenses for this camera. I will start watching E-Bay but I have very little idea what to look for. Thanks!

[seawolf66]

First I would suggest you get the following Book and start there before you do anything else: using the view camera by steve simmons who happens to hang out here also , but since I have the book I found it very interesting and very helpfull:
In steve's book he states that 135mm to 180mm are considered the normal lenses for the four by five camera: good luck any enjoy learning the 4x5 camera

[walter23]

No worries Dave. It just annoys me that the Lomographic Society are expanding into yet more areas, and making a profit for sticking another webpage up.

I was interested in a Bulldog camera to make a DIY enlarger from, but then I read the instructions and for the cost and labour, I may as well buy a used enlarger or turn an old half plate camera into one ;)

Regards,

Hey, I think lomography is lame too (it's a big marketing gimmick) - BUT.... if there's someone out there willing to put a ton of effort into marketing film to a new audience then hey - it can only keep us buying cheap film and paper longer. No complaints from me!

[walter23]

Hi everyone, I am new to this group and interested in moving toward LF photography. Since I like to build things the Bulldog Kit looks attractive to me. Can anyone point me in the right direction for choosing lenses for this camera. I will start watching E-Bay but I have very little idea what to look for. Thanks!


I just took a photograph two days ago with a +2 nikon eyepiece diopter attached to a suitably sized lens board made out of a cardboard box (from a case of beer :)). I used a black piece of cardboard as a shutter, holding it over the lens while I removed the darkslide from my filmholder and then removing the "shutter" as briefly as I could manage (metering called for about a 1/4 second exposure, I think I managed 1/2).

Here's the result:
http://ashphotography.ca/zenphoto/albums/ghetto-lens/Untitled-1.jpg

In other words, you can use almost anything as a lens if you can rig it to a suitable lens board.

In terms of real lenses, there are a few varieties of lenses from press cameras that can be found for pretty cheap: ektars and the likes. Just look at Crown Graphic or Speed Graphic auctions for awhile (they usually come with lenses) and then search for those lenses alone. They don't usually give you much movement but they are cheap.