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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| Diana-F No. 162B |
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 or 620 film.
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.
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 lens, a hot shoe and lens converters for Close-Ups, 20mm Fisheye, 38mm Super-Wide, 55mm Wide-Angle and 110mm Telephoto.
Alphabetical List of Diana Types (Clones)[]
Debonair
Diana
Diana Deluxe
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Links[]
- The Diana page by Allan Dietrich, with many Diana name variations
- Diana manifeste by Jean-Pierre Sutto
- Picture of the Banner Deluxe (Diana clone)
- Manual for Diana and her clones, available at toxpose.com
- 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
- Picture Gallery using Diana Camera picturenoise.com Link Not Found
- We Use Film Bad Link
 Stellar by Jeff Rawdon (Image rights) |
 Shakey's (taped for light-leaks) By .natalie (Image rights) | |
 Reader's Digest By Hartacnut (Image rights) |
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