How I modded Lomo LC-A+ into half-frame camera

I made a half-frame mod for the Lomo LC-A and LC-A+, inspired by a clipping from the Russian magazine “Foto&Video,” issue #8 from 1999. This mod has been brewing in my backlog since mid-2015, when I first came across it, and up until fall 2023, when I spent a couple of weeks making the prototype and shooting the first roll of film with the modified camera.

Sample photos can be found in my LomoHome, under the tag #lcahf (clickable).

This is an advanced-level project that requires fabricating new metal parts and 3D printing. Besides the camera itself, you’ll also need a screwdriver, tweezers, and two small pieces of opaque black electrical tape.

Step by step, I’ll describe the modification process using my Lomo LC-A+ Russian Lens as an example. Thankfully, you don’t need to do a deep disassembly of the camera; you only need to remove the front and bottom panels. I divided the process into 3 main steps, from most difficult to easiest:

1. Shutter cocking and film advance locking mechanism.
2. Masking the frame window.
3. Masking the viewfinder.

Shutter cocking and film advance locking mechanism

The most complex and difficult part of the modification is creating a new shutter cocking cam and a film advance limiting wheel. The cam is needed so the shutter cocks with half the movements compared to the full-frame version, and the locking wheel ensures the film advances correctly with the new frame size while maintaining stable inter-frame spacing. These are metal parts in the original, so the new ones should also be made of metal. I used laser cutting followed by manual adjustment, such as threading, grinding, polishing, and blueing of steel with rust protection. Both parts are located under the bottom cover of the camera; you need to unscrew 3 screws, install the new parts, and screw them back in place.

Masking the frame window

Next, you’ll need an insert for the frame window to set the new frame format, 17 x 24 mm instead of 36 x 24 mm. I was inspired by a part from my Lomo LC-W to create a new one for the LC-A, with minor adjustments considering the camera’s internal structure, but it’s essentially the same part. No disassembly required; just open the camera’s back door.

Masking the viewfinder

The final, easiest step is masking the viewfinder. You’ll need 2 pieces of electrical tape, 5 x 11 mm each (I used Oracal self-adhesive film). For convenience, temporarily remove the front panel. Stick tape to the edges of the viewfinder as shown in the photo. This will create a fairly accurate frame for the new format.

Finally

In the end, now it’s half-frame camera, it has a new frame size, 17 x 24 mm instead of 36 x 24 mm. This affects various properties and qualities of the cult compact camera:

• Number of frames: This is the most notable feature; now there are twice as many frames. You get 72 (almost 80 in-fact) frames from a 36-frame roll, around 50 on a 24-frame roll, etc.
• Lens performance: The most sharp, central part of the lens is now used for shots. Its resolving power is sufficient for good-quality shots, even with the reduced frame size.
• New focal length: Technically, it’s the same Minitar-1 lens with a 32 mm focal length, but the angle of view is now equivalent to 48 mm, almost 50 mm familiar to many in the film photography world. A new experience in framing for compact camera lovers, accustomed to an wider angles, from 40 to 28 mm.
• Vignetting: The signature vignetting is lost, as it falls outside the new frame. For some, this might be a significant loss, but ultimately, the shots come out better lit across the entire frame.
• Default portrait orientation: For landscape shots, the camera now needs to be rotated to a vertical position. You get used to it naturally, thanks to the masked viewfinder.
• Faster shutter cocking: The camera is ready for the next shot with fewer movements, as the shutter cocking wheel previously needed to be turned twice as much.
• New usage scenarios: I’m talking about shooting diptychs and triptychs. These shots can be easily scanned in any photo lab, as they fit into standard frame sizes of 36 x 24 mm for diptychs or panoramic 58 x 24 mm for triptychs. Just make sure to inform the lab of your preference before handing over the film.
• Frame counter: Its operation hasn’t really changed; it’s still related to the physical length of the film and counts full frames, shifting by 1 division every 2 half-frames.

Feel free to ask any questions.

You can find me on Lomography and Instagram.

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