The Lomography Konstruktor F (2014) is an updated revision of the original Konstruktor DIY SLR kit from 2013. Like its predecessor, it is sold as a self-assembly kit of approximately 60 plastic components; the buyer assembles a functioning 35mm single-lens reflex camera from scratch using the included instructions and screwdriver. Assembly takes roughly 3–4 hours.
Reference
Find film for your Lomography Konstruktor F
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
Lomography Color Negative 400 is a versatile ISO 400 C-41 color negative film with vivid, saturated colors, believed to be a Kodak Alaris-manufactured emulsion, available in 35mm and 120 formats.
Lomography Color Negative 800 is a high-speed ISO 800 C-41 color negative film widely suspected to be a Kodak-manufactured emulsion, delivering vibrant colors and adequate grain for challenging lighting conditions.
**Flash function** - test the pop-up flash fires reliably; AA batteries must be fresh, and the capacitor circuit on plastic toy flash units can fail silently.
**E-mount thread condition** - the lens mount thread on the Konstruktor F is plastic; inspect for stripped or cross-threaded damage, which is common if previous owners forced lenses.
**Assembly quality** - as with all Konstruktor variants, the camera was assembled by the buyer; examine mirror alignment, shutter curtain travel, and film advance before purchasing.
**Shutter reliability** - the electronic 1/60s shutter requires the battery circuit to function; test the B setting holds open and releases cleanly.
**Stock lens** - the 50mm f/10 plastic optic scratches easily; if the stock lens is missing or damaged, the E-mount compatibility makes this a minor issue.
About this camera
The Konstruktor F is the flash-equipped, E-mount-ready successor to the original DIY plastic SLR kit — built by hand, powered by AA cells, and open to a universe of adapted lenses.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
What film does the Lomography Konstruktor F use?
The Lomography Konstruktor F shoots 35mm film.
What battery does the Lomography Konstruktor F take?
The Lomography Konstruktor F uses a 2x AA battery.
What lens mount does the Lomography Konstruktor F have?
The Lomography Konstruktor F uses the konstruktor-e-mount mount.
What shutter speeds does the Lomography Konstruktor F offer?
The Lomography Konstruktor F's shutter speeds range from 1/60s to 1/60s.
Lomography introduced the Konstruktor F in 2014, approximately one year after the original Konstruktor launched in 2013. The original camera had sold well and attracted a community of builders and tinkerers, but two limitations were consistently cited: the absence of a flash for indoor use, and the inability to swap the fixed plastic lens for alternative optics.
The F designation addressed both. The built-in flash (hence "F") enabled evening and indoor use, significantly broadening the camera's practical range. The E-mount lens compatibility opened the Konstruktor to Sony FE and E-series lenses as well as the large ecosystem of adapted manual glass (Leica M, Contax Zeiss, Pentax K, M42, and others accessible via E-mount adapters), making the DIY body useful as a dedicated film-testing platform for lenses otherwise associated with digital systems.
The Konstruktor F was positioned alongside the base Konstruktor in Lomography's catalog, priced modestly higher to account for the flash unit. Both variants have remained available intermittently through Lomography's online store, though the F variant has been less consistently stocked than the original.
Why It Matters
The Konstruktor F's E-mount compatibility is its most consequential feature. Sony's E-mount became one of the most widely adapted mounts in the mirrorless era; an enormous library of adapted manual lenses functions on E-mount bodies, and by extension on the Konstruktor F. This made the DIY plastic SLR an unexpectedly practical tool for film photographers who wanted to test manual glass on film before committing to a vintage body, or who simply wanted to shoot familiar lenses on a camera they had built themselves.
The built-in flash extends the pedagogical and creative range of the kit. Because the flash fires at the camera's only available shutter speed (1/60s), it enforces a natural understanding of flash sync — the builder must think about ambient light balance and fill-flash ratios in a way that a camera with automatic flash TTL metering obscures.
Lenses & Accessories
Stock: 50mm f/10 double-element plastic lens. Via E-mount thread: Sony FE/E-series lenses and all mounts adaptable to E-mount (Leica M, M42, Contax/Yashica, Pentax K, Canon FD, Nikon F with corrective optics, etc.). The built-in flash is fixed; no hot shoe is provided on the F variant.
Sample Photographers / Notable Use
Used by lens-testing communities to expose adapted manual glass on 35mm film using the DIY SLR platform.
Featured in YouTube build and review videos in the film photography revival community, ~2014-2018.
Adopted in maker and STEM education programmes as the flash version of the Konstruktor curriculum unit.
Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400 (marketed as Superia 400 in some regions) is an ISO 400 C-41 consumer color negative film in 135 format, one of Fujifilm's most popular consumer films. It delivers warm, vibrant colors with moderate grain and remains in production in some markets.