What is a half-frame film camera?

All photographers must have at least one half-frame camera in their arsenals, if we say so ourselves.

As its name implies, half-frame cameras, also known as single-frame or split-frame, are those that shoot 18×24 mm photographs on 35 mm film. In other words, that’s half of what standard full-frame cameras take (24×36 mm).

Half-frame image taken with the Diana Mini by lomolubitel92

What sets half-frame cameras apart is that they are not only compact and functional, but are also economical – a 12-, 24-, or 36-frame roll yields twice the number of shots on a 35 mm film that can be easily bought. This means you can take up to 72 images on one single roll and save a lot of film!

The 1960s saw half-frame cameras enjoy widespread popularity, something that eventually ended when full-frame 35 mm cameras as small as their half-frame counterparts began to be introduced in the market. With our Diana Mini you may alternate between shooting half-frame images or square images. The Lomo LC-Wide is also capable not only of shooting half-frame photos but also full-frames and squares, with every photo having that signature lomographic look.

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More Courses

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