Lomography Belair X 6-12 Folder

JoeV

JoeV

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Just saw this new camera on the Lomography site, here.

A 120-format (6x6, 6x9, 6x12), interchangeable lens, aperture priority automatic exposure folding camera. Not a rangefinder, but a scale-focus camera. Three different body styles at various price points.

bellows-3-cams.png


Some of the features, copied from the Lomo microsite:
Features

3 Shooting Formats --->The expansive 6 x 12 format allows you to capture a vast space that makes for jaw-dropping photos; whether landscape, portrait or anything else you feel like shooting. And wait there’s more; the Belair X 6-12 can also shoot in both square 6 x 6 and regular 6 x 9 formats. So whatever shape you’re in, the Belair X 6-12 is ready to match you! 6 x 6 Square (12 photos per film roll) 6 x 9 Standard (8 photos per film roll) 6 x 12 Panoramic (6 photos per film roll)
  • 6 x 6 Square (12 photos per film roll)
  • 6 x 9 Standard (8 photos per film roll)
  • 6 x 12 Panoramic (6 photos per film roll)
Interchangeable Lenses --->Together with a team of experienced optics engineers, the Lomographic camera developers have refined both a 90mm lens and a 58mm wide-angle lens; each lens offers high quality photos while still being loaded with the Lomographic charm we all know and love. Oh, and this is just the start: the Belair X 6-12 features an exchangeable lens system for ultimate experimentation and flexibility – you can rest assured we’re already working on more new and exciting lenses! 90mm Lens

An awesome wide-angle optic with a similar angle-of-view to the legendary LC-A.
  • Lens Focal Length: 90mm
  • Maximum Aperture: 1:8
  • Minimum Aperture: 1:16
  • Angle of View: 65 degrees (6 x 12)
  • Standard 35mm equivalent Focal Length: 32mm (6 x 12)
  • Standard 35mm equivalent Focal Length: 40mm (6 x 9)
  • Standard 35mm equivalent Focal Length: 52mm (6 x 6)
  • Focusing Zones: 1m, 1.5m, 3m, Infinity
58mm Ultra-wide-angle Lens

An ultra-wide-angle optic with a similar angle-of-view to a 21mm lens on a compact 35mm camera. It’s perfect for the 6 x 12 format!
  • Lens Focal Length: 58mm
  • Maximum Aperture: 1:8
  • Minimum Aperture: 1:16
  • Angle of View: 90 degrees (6 x 12)
  • Standard 35mm equivalent Focal Length: 21mm (6 x 12)
  • Standard 35mm equivalent Focal Length: 26mm (6 x 9)
  • Standard 35mm equivalent Focal Length: 35mm (6 x 6)
  • Focusing Zones: 1m, 1.5m, 3m, Infinity
Automatic Exposure Shutter --->Carrying on the tradition of its distant cousin, the LOMO LC-A+, the Belair X 6-12 camera boasts an electronic automatic shutter system that makes shooting perfectly exposed photos as easy as clicking the shutter – and all this on 120 film!
Shoots 120 Film --->The Belair X 6-12 shoots wonderful 120 (also known as medium format) film. Because it is a larger photo format than 35mm, 120 is perfect for capturing all the details in every shot. And lots of photo labs all around the world (such as Lomography LomoLabs) develop 120 film!
Classic Bellows Design --->Who says panoramic medium-format cameras have to be the size of a small car? We know photographers are always on the move; that’s why the painstakingly developed and reliable fold-out bellows system allows the Belair X 6-12 to collapse to a convenient and portable size - meaning you can take the camera wherever you go.
Zone Focusing --->The Belair X 6-12 is a zone-focusing camera just like the LOMO LC-A+ and LC-Wide. There are 4 focusing zones on the Belair X 6-12: 1m, 1.5m, 3m and infinity. Pick the focus to match the distance to your subject and you’re ready to shoot!
50 – 1600 ISO Range --->The perfect all-rounder, the Belair X 6-12 has an ISO range between 50 and 1600. So whether you’re in the mood for fast or slow film, this camera has a setting to suit.
Flash Hot-Shoe --->The Belair X 6-12 also has a standard hot-shoe connection which means you can use any flash with standard hot-shoe. When you are using flash, the auto exposure will still work normally to capture any ambient light.
Multiple & Long Exposure Capabilities --->Love to shoot long exposures and multiple exposures? We do too! That’s why the Belair X 6-12 comes equipped with a Bulb setting for beautiful long exposure shots and MX setting for your double exposure photo shoots.

Discuss.

~Joe
 
Pros and cons

Pros and cons

Well, the black plastic bodied one converts to $227 US. I guess that's an inexpensive price considering that you get two lenses with it.

My only concern is about how to scan 6 x 12?
Vuescan gives a maximum scan size of 6 x 9 on the Nikon Coolscan 9000.
 
newsgrunt said:
change the country pulldown and the price should change.

Epson v700 (and v500 I think) will scan 6x12 easily.
Click to expand...

Yes very annoying, I changed the store from AUD to SGD and the price difference was over AU$40.

Don't forget to use the promo code "ilovelomo" for additional 10% off.
 
I think there is already a thread on this.
I will certainly be paying attention, particularly if a way to fit better lenses were found.
 
It's a very interesting set-up, though I'm not quite sure I care for the exposed helical on the lens. If it wasn't a budget buster, I'd go all in and get the fake snakeskin model.

PF
 
I went ahead and ordered a black one for kicks.

Now that I look at it though, the little foot that appears to attach the vewifinder to the body looks like it'll snap off quite easily.

Hopefully not...
 
I took a chance and ordered the Belair (Jetsetter model) and it arrived a week ago. Not too bad for an under-a-couple-of-hundred-bucks camera (I paid $188 U.S. using the ILOVELOMO discount code.) And it's definitely an attention getting camera; I had a ton of people approach me asking what I was shooting with!

Here is an example of a photo I took using the 58mm lens at f8; Belair was loaded with Fuji Superia X-TRA 400...

8343013645_86f6e9def3_c.jpg
 
A great looking camera, I fear to be let down by its lenses and the lack of a cable release socket. I mean, just think, if they had made it in the spirit of the latest compact camera systems, anticipating the use of other lenses on it, and manual exposure, and all of a sudden they cover a much bigger user base. Hacking this with a Schneider may be more difficult that the 120Pan, there isn't the same sticky out crude shutter and lens ready to be replaced with an Angulon+shutter and focus helicoid. Unless the bellows tongs can be calibrated to adjust the focus...........?

What is the lens thread size on the Belair?
 
Regarding lenses, there are supposed to be Russian-made lenses (by the Lomo factory?) that are supposed to be better than the standard kit lenses coming out this spring.

~Joe
 
I have one of these as well but I got one of the bad ones with the issues with infinity focus. :/ So, it's on it's way back to Lomo for replacement.

I love the 6x9 and 6x12 masked format and can't wait to get the replacement to try some 6x12's again that actually focus. I got mine specifically to do wider longer landscape shots, but I am looking forward to doing some closer images as well.


Turkey Mountain by alienmeatsack, on Flickr
This was shot with the 6x9 mask, lens set to infinity since I was more then 9 feet away from the nearest object. You can see it's not very focused.

This one is same setup. The rock in front there was sort of in focus and it was more like 5 feet away.

Turkey Mountain by alienmeatsack, on Flickr

I found that f/16 gives much clearer results overall with both lenses. But I cannot truly judge until I have a working replacement.

it's certainly a fun camera to use and the look is quite fun as well. I had a few people as well who asked me what it was.

BTW, here's the set I did just specifically to test the infinity focus issue. I used both lenses at both f/stops from the same point. I picked a view that had a good variation of items both close and far and from one side to the other to get a clearer idea of the issue I was having.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alienmeatsack/sets/72157632644086330/with/8426934815/
 
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