For anyone who misses the small thrill of shooting film and waiting to see how it turns out, Lomography has a new toy worth a look. The Fisheye No.2 La Mer Edition is a 35mm camera built around a 170-degree fisheye lens, made for playful, curved shots rather than clinical sharpness.
The La Mer (French for "the sea") edition keeps the rounded, bubble-like look the Fisheye line is known for, complete with the vignetting, light leaks, and dreamy distortion that give analogue photos their character. Lomography pitches it at photographers of every level, so you do not need film experience to pick one up and start shooting.
Editor
Kai T chevron_right
Table of Contents
What the Fisheye No.2 La Mer does
This is a fixed-lens film camera that leans into fun over flexibility. The key features are:
- A 170-degree fisheye view on standard 35mm film
- A built-in flash for day and night shooting
- Bulb mode for long exposures
- A multiple exposure mode for layered, experimental frames
- A 10 cm close-focusing distance for tight, warped close-ups
Why it appeals
Film photography has had a steady revival, and cameras like this one are a big part of why. There is no screen to check, no editing app, and no way to delete a bad frame, which is exactly the point. A fisheye lens exaggerates that unpredictability, turning ordinary scenes into curved, immersive snaps. Lomography, which is marking 30 years, has built much of its identity on this kind of creative, low-pressure shooting.
The fixed 170-degree lens also means there is little to fuss over. You point, you shoot, and the lens does the rest, which makes it forgiving for first-timers and quick to use for street scenes, parties, or travel where you do not want to think too hard about settings.
Good to know
Like any 35mm camera, the Fisheye No.2 La Mer needs film and a place to develop it. Lomography sells its own colour and black-and-white film, and most photo labs in Malaysian cities still process 35mm, so getting your shots back is easier than it used to be. Each roll gives you a fixed number of frames, which is part of what makes every shot feel like it counts.
Price and availability
Lomography lists the Fisheye No.2 La Mer at US$69 (S$89). Malaysian pricing has not been announced, but the camera is sold through Lomography's online store, which ships internationally, so local buyers can order it directly along with the film it needs.
The takeaway
If you are curious about film but do not want a complicated or expensive starting point, the Fisheye No.2 La Mer is an easy, low-stakes way in. It will not give you sharp, controlled images, and that is the whole appeal.