Lomography Konstruktor

Last updated: 12 October 2026

What the Lomography Konstruktor is

Lomography launched the Konstruktor in June 2013 as a build-it-yourself 35mm SLR. Design site designboom covered the launch and described it as the first fully working DIY 35mm SLR kit.

SLR stands for single-lens reflex. A mirror inside bounces the light from the lens up into the viewfinder, so you frame exactly what the film will record. On the Konstruktor you look down into a hood on top of the camera, rather than holding it up to your eye.

The current kit is called the Konstruktor Flash. It is the same camera with a PC socket for an external flash, which some shops still sell as the Konstruktor F.

What it does

• Two shooting modes: a normal mode at 1/80 of a second, and Bulb mode, which keeps the shutter open for as long as you hold the button.
• Multiple exposures: the shutter and the film wind work separately, so you can fire twice on one frame.
• Flash: the PC socket takes any flash with a PC lead.
• Tripod thread: useful with Bulb mode, because long exposures blur if you hold the camera by hand.
• No batteries: everything is mechanical, so there is nothing to charge.

Key facts

• Price: £33 from Lomography UK, and £35 from the Design Museum Shop
• Film: standard 35mm
• Lens: 50mm, detachable, fixed at f/10
• Shutter: 1/80 second, plus Bulb
• Focus: 0.5m to infinity
• Size: 121 x 65 x 33mm at launch, so a little smaller than a paperback
• ISO setting: none, so you choose the film to suit the light
• Cable release: not supported
• Build time: one to two hours, according to Lomography

Who the Lomography Konstruktor suits

• Curious beginners: putting the shutter and mirror together shows you how a film camera works, part by part.
• Design students and makers: the build is screws and careful ordering, with no glue and no soldering.
• Film shooters after a second body: at £33 it is cheap enough to carry for double exposures and long exposures.

If you are buying it as a present, it sits in our guide to gifts under £50, where it was pick number one.

The limits

The lens is fixed at f/10 and the shutter has one speed. That combination needs bright light, so in daylight ISO 400 film is the safe choice. Indoors you will need a flash or a tripod with Bulb mode.

The viewfinder is dim, because an f/10 lens lets in little light. Framing in shade takes some squinting.

The body is plastic, and the small springs in the shutter are easy to lose during the build. Work on a tray rather than a carpet.

Film is the ongoing cost. Every roll needs buying, developing and scanning, so the running cost carries on long after you have paid for the camera.

Where to buy it in the UK

Lomography's own UK shop had the Konstruktor Flash at £33, in stock. The Design Museum Shop sells the same kit as the Konstruktor F Camera for £35. Amazon UK's listing showed it as currently unavailable.

If you would rather have a print straight away than wait for film to come back, the Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 is an instant camera.

Lomography Konstruktor at Lomography UK

FAQs

How much is the Lomography Konstruktor in the UK?

£33 from Lomography's UK shop and £35 from the Design Museum Shop. I checked both prices on 12 October 2026.

How long does the Lomography Konstruktor take to build?

Lomography says one to two hours. Go slowly around the shutter, because its springs are small.

Is the Konstruktor a real SLR?

Yes. It has a mirror and through-the-lens viewing, so the viewfinder shows the same picture the film records.

Does the Konstruktor need batteries?

No. The shutter is mechanical and there is no light meter, so nothing needs power.

What film should I use in the Konstruktor?

ISO 400 colour or black and white film suits daylight. On dull days, ISO 800 gives you a little more room.

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Prices and stock change, so check the shop before you buy. Brands do not choose what we feature.

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