The Lomography LC-A+ ($280, direct) is one of the company's more expensive 35mm film cameras, but also its most advanced and refined—if you could use those words to describe what is essentially a very nice toy camera. Its 32mm f/2.8 lens is actually pretty sharp in the center, especially when you compare it to a Holga 120GN ($49) or La SardinaSee it at Amazon UK camera. Its edges are nowhere near as soft and dreamy as the Holga or Sardina, but there they do exhibit a bit of the vignetting and softness that have made Lomo cameras beloved by hipsters and artists alike.

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The camera has a light meter and supports automatic exposure only. Film speed can be set in one-stop increments from ASA 100 through 1600, and the lens aperture and shutter speed will adjust to ensure that your exposure is roughly correct. There's no autofocus, but there is a lever that lets you set your distance from the subject—if you use fast film on a sunny day, depth of field will give you a bit of leeway in case you're at the wrong focus setting. There's even a hot shoe, so you can use an external flash to add some light to your photos.

Perhaps the nicest thing about the LC-A+ is its size—it's a bit bigger than your run-of-the-mill digital point-and-shoot, but can still slide into a pocket with ease. If you're after the Lomo look, but don't want to go after the complete lo-fi results that the Holga made famous, the LC-A+ is a good place to start. However, if you're just looking for a compact 35mm camera, you may want to consider an older model like the Olympus XA or Rollei 35. They haven't been in production for years, but are readily available at used camera stores and auction sites. Either camera will produce very sharp photos and will slide into your pocket, but be prepared to pay as much for one as you would for an L-CA+.

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