Difference between revisions of "Diana"
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Revision as of 16:49, 19 June 2011
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| image by Rolf F. (Image rights) |
The Diana camera is a so-called "toy camera" that originated in the 1960s, produced by the Great Wall Plastic Co. in China. Production continued into the 1970s but ceased sometime thereafter.
The camera was produced under many names for different markets; some photographers may use the term "Diana" generically to mean any of the related Hong Kong models. Some were sold as premiums or promotional items (there is a Readers Digest version, for example). Most Dianas use 120 film but some versions of the camera take 127 or 620 film.
The lens is a simple plastic meniscus, giving noticeable corner blur, vignetting, and pincushion distortion in the resulting photographs. Light leaks are a possibility due to the flimsy back latch design; many users put black tape over the seams to make the cameras light-tight. Most Diana types expose a 4cm x 4cm image (less than the full height of the film), so a 120 roll will give you 16 frames. Focusing is done by twisting the lens to 3 zones, 4-6ft, 6-12ft, or 12ft to infinity. There are several variations in top-plate and lens-barrel style; some have fake light-meter windows and a few have flash sync.
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| Sample Diana image with light leaks image by Alan Cooper (Image rights) |
The classic Diana type shows " NO. 151 MADE IN HONG KONG" on the lever releasing the back. A variant using different plastic molds has an "hourglass" shaped panel behind the lens, and this version typically has a slightly wider lens coverage.
Along with the Holga (whose lens covers a wider view), the dreamlike optical qualities of the Diana became sought after by self-proclaimed "Lo-Fi" photographers. But Diana & clone cameras had rather brittle and flimsy construction; and their supply was finite. Thus eBay auctions for original models would sometimes reach improbable prices. Finally in 2007, Lomography issued a nostalgic replica of the Diana, called the Diana Plus. This was followed by a replica of the flash-capable Diana F, called the Diana F+.
Alphabetical List of Diana Types (Clones)
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Links
- The Diana page by Allan Dietrich, with many Diana name variations
- The Diana Legacy at toycamera.com
- Diana manifeste by Jean-Pierre Sutto
- Picture of the Banner Deluxe (Diana clone)
- dianacamera.com Site with photos, tips and How-to videos.
- Diana and clones at www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand
- User manual for Diana
 Stellar by Jeff Rawdon (Image rights) |
 Windsor by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights) |
 Harrow by BlurDotBlog (Image rights) | ||||
 Reader's Digest By Hartacnut (Image rights) |
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 Arrow by Jeff Rawdon (Image rights) |
 Mark L by Boxy Brown's Bling (Image rights) | ||||
 Zip Instant Load by Boxy Brown's Bling (Image rights) |
 Lomography Diana+ by BlurDotBlog (Image rights) |
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