110 film cameras from the 1970s and 80s were horrid. So why is the format being revived decades later?
Roughly half the size of 35mm film, the miniature cameras 110 film enabled were cute fun for kids, but the soft, grainy results should perhaps be left in our childhood past The post 110 film cameras from the 1970s and 80s were horrid. So why is the format being revived decades later? appeared first on Amateur Photographer .
In the 1970s and 80s, 110 film cameras were considered subpar by modern standards. Despite digital capture's promise of speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in reviving the 110 film format. A prime example is Lomography's latest Lomomatic Discomatic 110 Camera and Flash, featuring 1980s-inspired pastel aesthetics.
The author admits to nostalgic feelings, reminiscing about their own 80s-era 110 snapshot camera and discovering the prints years later. These prints, however, were soft, grainy, and exhibited light leaks. The Lomomatic Discomatic 110 film camera offers a nostalgic glimpse of that era, with its promotional material openly discussing the 'gnarly 110 shots' as creative benefits.
This trend of rekindling interest in film photography is growing, driven by the popularity of instant film devices and the modern recreation of vintage film compacts from brands like Kodak, Lomo, and Pentax. Fujifilm discontinued 110 film production in 2009, but Lomography brought it back into production in 2012. While some argue that affordable, accessible film compacts serve as gateways to the photography hobby, potentially leading to professional careers, the author believes that encouraging the release of new retro-style cameras in 2026 is a positive step.
The Lomomatic 110 Discomatic is available for $119/£109 in various colors, with film priced at $9.90/£7.90 for black and white, and color options. Development costs range from $20 in the US to £18.49 in the UK.
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