Lomography: Build Your Own 35mm Flash!

What's up fellow makers? Today, we will be making a flash for your diana lomography camera when you are on the cheap. Another awesome addition in my flash is that you can change the color of the flash! awesome right? and If you guys noticed, some of my pictures have a touch of lomography-esque effect to it :D anyway, what are we waiting for? let's get started!

Please bear with me, This is my first ever instructable so I may not be that experienced. Although, i did my very best...so yeah :) Also, special thanks to my good friend: Angelo (ASCAS) for editing + enhancing the pictures :D
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Here is a List of what you will need for your project:
- Recycled flash from a disposable camera
- Diana Mini/ Any Other Model
- AA Battery w/ Battery Holder
- Push Button Switch
- 3.5mm DC Plug (2x)
- Heat-Shrinking tubing
- A Can of Spray Paint
- Soldering Lead
- Wires
- Super glue

Tools You Will Need:
- Multitool (ex. Leatherman)
- Soldering Iron
- Hot gluegun
- Screwdriver
- Drill & Bits
- Cutter

Disposable camera's flash circuits usually differ from each other by model, so you should learn how it works. The circuit works by charging a high voltage capacitor up to around 300v then there will most likely have an LED that will light up after you hear that awesome high pitched charging sound. Then once that LED is on,  those two prongs are what triggers the flash bulb to flash and that is basically how it works....here is a diagram that will give you a good idea on how it should connect and work.

Alright, grab your 3.5 mm dc plugs and unscrew them from their housings, then cut 2 wires and connect both terminals found in the plug together and crimp the wire in place, after you have done both, solder the wires to the terminals. 

Okay, so now we go and lay out the parts( the AA battery holder and the flash circuit) then, you are going to measure it's top,bottom,sides and it's front and back.The pictures will give you a better idea and visualization.

Okay, now you gotta get your bottom portion of the acrylic that you have just cut, then place it on top of your lomo's terminal plugs and mark the center. Drill the center to the size of the jack so it can have a snug fit. 

Don't forget to layout first so that the Terminals won't hit/touch anything!

Okay so do you see those two prongs on your camera? those are what triggers the flash so you will want to connect one dc plug with the wire to one of the prongs and do the same to the other, Dont forget to add your shrinkable tubing FIRST! after you are done, place and glue your AA holder to the front portion of the acrylic assembly and glue the bottom assembly (where the terminals are located) to the front portion.(see pictures for more details)

This is totally optional, you can just connect the input of the flash circuit directly to the battery. anyway, so you will want to mark the hole where the switch goes and drill it to the right size. Next, you will want to add some hot glue to your circuit and stick it to the front potion of the acrylic. finally, superglue both terminals to the bottom portion.

Okay, now you are going to glue the back potrion, side and top in place. leave the side of the AA holder open for easy battery replacement.You are pretty much done from here and i'll just be leaving you guys with the option of leaving your work clear/see-thru or sand it down and spray it with your favorite color! Never forget to cover your terminals,Flash bulb,Switch and the led that tells you that the flash is fully charged with tape so that the paint won't get in the way ! 


How it works: Let me give you an idea of how this shutter works when it is on your camera. The moment you shoot a photo, the two holes on top (which are the contacts for the flash) simultaneously trigger, so basically the flash and the time you shoot is about precisely the same.

Feast your eyes and congratulate yourself for you have completed this instructable! now go save the money you would have spent on a lomography branded flash that was probably off your budget and have fun with your very own flash attachment  <3 Thank you for viewing my instructable and i hope you enjoyed building one of your own flash :) By the way,  I will be adding some color gels soon to change the color of the flash, so stay tuned!
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