Have you ever wanted to play with Lego, but have been torn away from your fun for photography? Well, now you can take the Lego with you thanks to this amazing creation – a real-life, working Lego camera that can shoot 35mm film.
We've seen plenty of Lego cameras before, including official models such as the Lego 3-in-1 Retro Camera and the Lego Polaroid OneStep, but if successful this Lego Idea would be the first camera that actually takes film photographs.
The Lego ZH1 takes its looks from old vintage cameras and has a functional viewfinder, film advance and shutter button. This masterpiece can be seen on the Lego Ideas page where creatives showcase their works made entirely of Lego.
The Lego ZH1 is the brainchild of Zung Hoang, aka Zung92, and has so far reached 8,387 supporters towards its 10,000 target.
Zung92's primary goal was to create a fully functional 35mm film camera using only existing Lego parts. They prioritized affordability and portability, aiming to make the camera as compact as possible. The result is constructed from 595 Lego pieces.
One of the significant challenges they encountered was ensuring that the camera body was lightproof. In the initial stages, early film rolls were fogged due to light leaking through the bright, colorful bricks and gaps between the pieces. It took several days to perfect the sealing process without sacrificing portability.
The camera also proudly features the classic Lego logo from 1934, adding a nostalgic element to its design. The main lens is based on an existing magnifying piece, and they developed a special pinhole lens that produces unique and stylish effects, as demonstrated in these sample images:
"Check out the incredible improvement in the sharpness of my Lego Camera photos!" Writes Hoang about his latest revision to the camera.
"And the added light leaks have made them even more stunning. When I talked about fixing it, my friend Jay suggested leaving it as is to maintain the unique aesthetic."
While it's currently a half-frame film camera (like the recent Pentax 17 and Alfie Tych+), it can be modified to full frame.
If you'd like to know more, or see this creation realized as a full retail product, head to the Lego Ideas page and show your support!
You might be interested in the best film cameras not made of Lego, along with the best 35mm film to use with them.
