Review: Lomography Simple Use Reloadable film camera
Austrian analogue photography revivalists Lomography have been around for many years. They first made their name with quirky, deliberately imperfect plastic cameras, reimagined toy cameras and unusual film stocks.
Cheap to manufacture but often surprisingly expensive to buy, their products have always been aimed at photographers who embrace experimentation rather than technical perfection.
As it turns out, they were onto something. Lomography has built a devoted cult following among photographers who appreciate the weird, wonderful and unpredictable nature of analogue photography. These cameras are certainly not for anyone chasing razor-sharp images or pixel-level perfection.
A few years ago, with more than a hint of tongue-in-cheek humour, Lomography introduced its Simple Use camera (as tested, around $30).
Although it resembles a disposable camera, it is actually reloadable, making it a more sustainable alternative once you've worked out how to reload the film.
Given my soft spot for plastic film cameras and my long-standing interest in infrared photography, pairing the Simple Use with a roll of LomoChrome Purple seemed like the perfect excuse for a psychedelic, lo-fi photographic adventure.
The tech
Like the cheapest plastic cameras of the 1980s, the Simple Use is a basic all-plastic 35mm point-and-shoot. It features a fixed 31mm lens with an f/9 aperture, a 1/120 sec shutter speed and an AA battery-powered flash.
On the front you'll find the lens, flash and flash activation button, along with a set of coloured flash gels. The top houses the flash-ready indicator, a tiny frame counter and the manual film advance wheel. Around the back are a simple viewfinder and basic operating instructions, while the battery compartment and film rewind wheel sit underneath.
Opening the camera reveals a pre-loaded 27-exposure roll of Lomography LomoChrome Purple film.
In use
As Forrest Gump almost said, "Plastic camera photography is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
That certainly applies here. Not only are you using a simple plastic camera with all its optical quirks, you're also shooting LomoChrome Purple film, which transforms greens into vivid shades of purple and creates an almost infrared-like appearance.
After looking through hundreds of sample images online, I headed out looking for foliage, architecture and bold colour contrasts, all subjects that suit this film particularly well.
Once you accept its limitations, especially its dislike of dull, overcast conditions, the camera encourages you to think differently about composition and colour. Technically, there's very little to master. It's simply about pointing, shooting and enjoying the surprise.
I genuinely had a blast using it and couldn't wait to see what came back from the lab. That sense of anticipation is a huge part of the appeal.
Imaqe quality
The results were wonderfully awful.
Sharpness, accuracy and technical excellence clearly aren't the camera's priorities, yet there's an undeniable charm to the images it produces. Centre sharpness is acceptable, but detail falls away towards the edges. Bright highlights can easily blow out, while the grain is gloriously heavy.
Despite all that, I couldn't help smiling when I looked through the scans.
From the 27 exposures, around 20 produced images I was genuinely happy with. None were technically perfect, but several had a unique character that made them genuinely special. That's not a bad strike rate for such an unconventional combination of camera and film.
The results
Features ★★★
Being reloadable, complete with coloured flash gels and loaded with an unusual film stock, it's surprisingly well equipped for such a simple plastic camera.
The experience ★★★★
Simple, imperfect and unapologetically fun. This is analogue photography at its most carefree.
Value for money ★★★★
Considering the included film accounts for much of the purchase price, the camera itself costs very little. The fact that it can be reloaded only adds to its value.
The wrap-up
If you're looking for traditional photographic excellence, keep walking. This camera simply isn't built for that.
However, if you enjoy experimentation and don't mind embracing unpredictability, the Simple Use delivers plenty of quirky fun and the occasional genuinely memorable image.
If you've ever been curious about plastic cameras but didn't want to spend big on one of Lomography's more expensive models, this is an affordable way to experience the company's unique approach to analogue photography. The fact that it's reloadable also means it can continue to surprise long after the first roll has been finished.