Tinkering with Asian toy cameras

Bright plastic packaging, wobbly fish eye lenses, volatile colors and focusing -- toy cameras offer a refreshing return to the days of amateur photography, where half the excitement was in waiting to see if that great snap of grandpa asleep at the dining table came out at all, never mind was adequately white-balance-adjusted.

Yet while these cheap, functional point-and-clicks often look like they came out of a Cracker Jack box, the resulting images can have a pleasantly nostalgic feel. Inevitably some shots go in the trash and others are worthy of the annual Krappy Kamera show in New York, but that unpredictability is half the fun.

Some of the niftiest toy camera models are made in Asia.

One such model is from Superheadz, a Japanese cult design house. (See gallery for comparative shots with a Sony Cybershot DSC-T200.) The Super Fat Lens camera is packaged like a smiley angel, devil, babushka or "Yellow Peace" hippie. Every shot looks like a movie dream sequence: The 22mm wide-angle lens produces glowing colors and charming vignetting -- a dark-edged, tunnel effect. The Super Fat is lightweight and uses standard 35mm film, so it's perfect to bring along on multiple outdoor outings. You can pick one up in every color from the Superheadz online shop (¥2,940 each).

The Ikimono camera fits in the palm and is decorated with a cute critter. Attach it to a keychain and when the moment hits, just pop out the flimsy viewfinder and click. The results are erratic, with lots of blurriness and haywire lighting, but that kind of whimsy is kind of endearing. Unfortunately, the camera uses hard-to-obtain 110 film. The Ikimono comes with a roll, but it may be difficult to track down more when you're out. You might also have to get prints made in a specialty store. Still, the toy’s a prize for ¥945 yen.

There are dozens of different models of toy cameras available online for anywhere betweent US$10 and $150. Superheadz's range includes the twin-lens reflex Blackbird Fly, goldfish-eyed Demekin, and Nico Digi (digital lomography with video!). The Chinese Holga is winning fans with its ability to take high-contrast dreamy shots. The Diana, a trinket given away at Hong Kong carnivals in the 1960s, is also increasingly popular.

Grab one, go outside and have fun. That’s what toys are for. And if you're worried about the results, take a look below to see how our two featured models measure up against each other, and a Sony Cybershot DSC-T200. 

Toy camera tips: For best results, shoot a meter away from the subject and only take shots in full daylight or very bright lighting. Also, the Ikimono's dinky construction means you might accidentally press down on the click button or catch one of your fingers in the shot.