Old cameras capture a new generation of photographers

A plastic toy camera that used to be made in Hong Kong in the 1960s has been reborn by an Austrian company as a trendy must-have for local teens thanks to a resurgence in film photography.

Vienna-based Lomography sells a range of analogue cameras that are known for their lo-fi characteristics which give photos a dreamy quality, vibrant colours or heavy shadowing around the edges of a picture.

One is the Diana F+ which used to be made in Hong Kong but is now produced on the mainland.

'It was a kid's camera, that's why it was all plastic,' said Justin Tsui, marketing manager for Lomography Asia. She said their cameras have gained a cult following in the past few years as some photographers reject the digital era and return to film.

The number of Lomographers - the name given to photographers who use the range of cameras - has increased significantly in the past 12 months, Tsui said. 'It's growing really fast. There are at least 80,000 people in the Lomography community in Hong Kong. But a year ago, it was half that number,' she said.

'Even the kids, around 12 to 15, they also play with our cameras. It's affordable compared to the digital camera. You could say it's a very niche market, but in the last couple of years a lot of young people started to fall in love with our cameras.'