Difference between revisions of "Diana"

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The '''Diana''' camera is a so-called "[[toy camera]]" that originated in the 1960s produced by the Great Wall Plastic Co. in China.
 
 
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|image_text= Diana-F No. 162B
 
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The camera was produced under many names for different markets. Some were sold as promotional items (there is a Readers Digest version, for example). Most Dianas use [[120 film]] but some versions of the camera take [[127 film|127]] or [[620 film]].
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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.
  
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The lens is plastic with some [[vignetting]] in the resulting photographs. [[Light leaks]] are a possibility and a lot of users put black tape over the seams to make the cameras leak proof. Each frame is 4cm x 4cm so a roll of 120 film 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]].
+
The camera was produced under many names for different markets; some 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 film|127]] or [[620 film]].
  
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Dianas have recently (in c.2007) become very popular for the effects their poor design and build quality can impart to a photograph - so popular that it is now again possible to buy them new, and also possible to pay as much for a Diana as for a cheap -or even a mid-range - digital camera! A revamped, re-engineered version - keeping the same 75mm plastic lens design, called the [[Diana Plus]] was produced to satisfy this demand. This has two formats, the original 16 frame 4.2x4.2cm, and a 12-frames-per-film 5.2x5.2cm, and adds features such as a tripod socket and shutter lock. Many accessories have been produced for the new Diana, including an instant-film back, a [[pinhole camera|pinhole]] lens, a [[hot shoe]] and lens converters for Close-Ups, 20mm Fisheye, 38mm Super-Wide, 55mm Wide-Angle and 110mm Telephoto. This was followed by a scaled-down version for [[35mm|35mm film]], the [[Diana Mini]].
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The lens is a simple plastic meniscus, giving noticeable corner blur, [[vignetting]], and [[Lens#Distortion | 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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The classic Diana type shows "<small> NO. 151 MADE IN HONG KONG</small>" 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+.
 
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== Alphabetical List of Diana Types (Clones) ==
 
== Alphabetical List of Diana Types (Clones) ==
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/uberj/2724249068/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2724249068_490d86fc3d_m.jpg]<br />Stellar<br /><small>by Jeff Rawdon {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/uberj/2724249068/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2724249068_490d86fc3d_m.jpg]<br />Stellar<br /><small>by Jeff Rawdon {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/49656291@N00/5145400744/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/5145400744_f0c87d4f4b_m.jpg]<br />Flocon RF 222<br><small>by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/49656291@N00/3678572868/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2439/3678572868_ddf208fa5a_m.jpg]<br />Windsor<br /><small>by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedunne/1304459489/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1155/1304459489_5e63ec5ddd_m.jpg]<br />Harrow<br /><small>by BlurDotBlog {{creative commons}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedunne/1304459489/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1155/1304459489_5e63ec5ddd_m.jpg]<br />Harrow<br /><small>by BlurDotBlog {{creative commons}}</small>
 
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartacnut/2281675052/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2281675052_f5e5274c7e_m.jpg]<br />Reader's Digest<br /><small>By Hartacnut {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartacnut/2281675052/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2281675052_f5e5274c7e_m.jpg]<br />Reader's Digest<br /><small>By Hartacnut {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/awcam/3319047225/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3319047225_b00aabcf7c_m.jpg]<br />Debutante<br /><small> by AWCam {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/awcam/3319047225/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3319047225_b00aabcf7c_m.jpg]<br />Debutante<br /><small> by AWCam {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedunne/1449949581//in/pool-camerapedia http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/1449949581_e3cdde6954_m.jpg]<br />Diana+<br /><small>by BlurDotBlog {{creative commons}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32212028@N02/5048059792/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5048059792_55d140680e_m.jpg]<br />Dories<br /><small>by Boxy Brown's Bling {{with permission}}</small>
 
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/49656291@N00/3678572868/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2439/3678572868_ddf208fa5a_m.jpg]<br />Windsor<br /><small>by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/49656291@N00/5145400744/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/5145400744_f0c87d4f4b_m.jpg]<br />Flocon RF 222<br><small>by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/uberj/4395827878/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4395827878_279164ec29_m.jpg]<br />Arrow<br /><small>by Jeff Rawdon {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/uberj/4395827878/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4395827878_279164ec29_m.jpg]<br />Arrow<br /><small>by Jeff Rawdon {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32212028@N02/3753030924/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3753030924_430742e50c_m.jpg]<br />Flocon RF<br /><small>by Boxy Brown's Bling {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32212028@N02/5426152882/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5426152882_750f105122_m.jpg]<br />Mark L<br /><small>by Boxy Brown's Bling {{with permission}}</small>
 
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32212028@N02/4949382988/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/4949382988_1a6aa075cd_m.jpg]<br />Zip Instant Load<br /><small>by Boxy Brown's Bling {{with permission}}</small>
 
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32212028@N02/4949382988/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/4949382988_1a6aa075cd_m.jpg]<br />Zip Instant Load<br /><small>by Boxy Brown's Bling {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32212028@N02/5048059792/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5048059792_55d140680e_m.jpg]<br />Dories<br /><small>by Boxy Brown's Bling {{with permission}}</small>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedunne/1449949581//in/pool-camerapedia http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/1449949581_e3cdde6954_m.jpg]<br />Lomography Diana+<br /><small>by BlurDotBlog {{creative commons}}</small>
 
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[[Category: Toy cameras]]
 
[[Category: Toy cameras]]

Revision as of 17:31, 15 February 2011

62950347_5f53a797ce_m.jpg
Diana-F No. 162B

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 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.

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)

207217018_2286d08042_m.jpg
Debonair

270319336_babab6f1b2_m.jpg
Diana
1818768233_40d51406ca_m.jpg
Diana Deluxe

  • Acme
  • Anny
  • Altic
  • Arrow
  • Arrow Flash
  • Asiana
  • Avis
  • Banier
  • Banner
  • Barri-Shelli
  • Bergère- de France
  • Binaflex
  • Black Bird
  • Candy
  • Chase
  • Clicker
  • Codeg
  • Colorflash Deluxe
  • Debonair
  • Debro
  • Debutante
  • Diana
  • Diana+ / Diana Plus
  • Diana Deluxe
  • Diana F
  • Diana F+
  • Diana Mini
  • Dionne F2
  • Dories
  • Eikow
  • Flocon RF 222
  • Future Scientist Flash
  • Gray Line
  • Harrow
  • Hi-Flash
  • Hong Meow
  • Justen
  • Lina
  • Lina S
  • Mark L
  • MegoMatic
  • Merit
  • Mirage
  • Panax
  • Photon 120
  • Pioneer
  • Pokey
  • Raleigh
  • Rand
  • Reader's Digest
  • Reliance
  • Rosko
  • Rover
  • Samtoy
  • See
  • Shakey's
  • Sinomax
  • Stellar
  • Stellar Flash
  • Tina
  • Traceflex
  • Tru-View
  • Valiant
  • Windsor
  • Zip
  • Zodiac

Links

2724249068_490d86fc3d_m.jpg
Stellar
by Jeff Rawdon (Image rights) 		3678572868_ddf208fa5a_m.jpg
Windsor
by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights) 		1304459489_5e63ec5ddd_m.jpg
Harrow
by BlurDotBlog (Image rights)
2281675052_f5e5274c7e_m.jpg
Reader's Digest
By Hartacnut (Image rights) 		3319047225_b00aabcf7c_m.jpg
Debutante
by AWCam (Image rights) 		5048059792_55d140680e_m.jpg
Dories
by Boxy Brown's Bling (Image rights)
5145400744_f0c87d4f4b_m.jpg
Flocon RF 222
by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights) 		4395827878_279164ec29_m.jpg
Arrow
by Jeff Rawdon (Image rights) 		5426152882_750f105122_m.jpg
Mark L
by Boxy Brown's Bling (Image rights)
4949382988_1a6aa075cd_m.jpg
Zip Instant Load
by Boxy Brown's Bling (Image rights) 		1449949581_e3cdde6954_m.jpg
Lomography Diana+
by BlurDotBlog (Image rights)
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