Freestyle's new low Holga prices

[JBrunner]

I guess you find a little honesty embarrassing. Sorry!

As far as I'm concerned it isn't honesty, it's simply a pessimistic glass is half empty hijack of a thread in a forum that you should probably ignore. Stop hijacking the thread, stop worrying about having the last word, and let the thread get back on track.

 

[eddie]

Maybe Bob can chime in, but I recall reading that Ilford's film sales were up 8% in 2010.

 

[wblynch]

I can see the attraction to buying a brand new camera for medium format film for a reasonable price. I have been tempted many times to buy a Holga, Diana or Blackbird Fly when I see them on a shelf or display case. I did find a Diana F+ with flash at a goodwill and enjoy using it.

People with no background in film photography can buy something brand new and don't have to be confused or intimidated by figuring out all the insanities of putting together a MF "kit" of 30 year old junk.

I am happy to see these sales at Freestyle and hope they sell out.

I am also happy to see people having fun taking pictures on film.

But alas, there are people with sad lives who can not stand others having enjoyment. There are fuddy-duddies in my town that hate skateboarders.

 

[Discoman]

I still don't see why what a hipster does with them should have any influence on anyone. I assume most people, here, are concerned with results. You seem to have disdain for the cameras, solely based on how others may view them. Would you also dismiss Leicas because some people use them as "jewelry"?

Sure, why not. Actually, IMHO, the problem becomes when an item becomes more about the fashion and culture around it than the item itself. And nobody can really say that something doesn't have its own culture-be it leica, holga, or even graflex or hasselblad.
I still drool over the M6, which is IMO the best camera leica made. I wouldn't own one, mainly given the price of them.
Which brings me into next point-sure, these toy cameras are a bit pricey, even on sale. Still, one or two rolls of images I am pleased with from $30 of camera stuff is generally pretty good bang for my buck.
They have a dirt cheap stereo camera holga there. And it's about $30. And if you want to try stereo, isn't something like this the ideal way to?
Sure, I can get soft focus by just not focusing my camera properly, and I can just set the shutter and aperture to one point and leave it to have the same effect as a holga.
Gotta thank OP for showing this. I probably won't buy one, as the last thing I need is another camera floating around.
I think most people simply have an issue with the type of person these get marketed to the hipsters who do crazily stupid things and live in new York and try to be hip, despite the fact they live on trust funds as their liberal arts degree from bard or wherever has yet to land them anything resembling a job, so instead, they buy hip products, be it a camera or a fixie and brag about it to their friends and online.
That doesn't mean all holga owners are hipsters-it just means that hipsters likely buy holgas.
Still, in the end, those cameras would be fun, and at their current price, good value.
Even if you don't get much useable stuff from it, you will still likely have fun, and at $30 you can have easily an hour of fun for only $0.50 a minute

 

[Discoman]

I can see the attraction to buying a brand new camera for medium format film for a reasonable price. I have been tempted many times to buy a Holga, Diana or Blackbird Fly when I see them on a shelf or display case. I did find a Diana F+ with flash at a goodwill and enjoy using it.

People with no background in film photography can buy something brand new and don't have to be confused or intimidated by figuring out all the insanities of putting together a MF "kit" of 30 year old junk.

I am happy to see these sales at Freestyle and hope they sell out.

I am also happy to see people having fun taking pictures on film.

But alas, there are people with sad lives who can not stand others having enjoyment. There are fuddy-duddies in my town that hate skateboarders.

+1
Good point.

Also, it isn't just Diana's that show up at thrift stores-those old Kodak box ones do as well, and they are just as fun.

Wasn't the blackbird 35mm though? Those look really fun as well.

 

[MattKing]

So much of the angst in this thread probably results from the fact that we see all this effort and money put into designing and packaging and promoting the Holga/Lomo toy cameras, whereas almost none of that effort and money is put into and designing and promoting new film cameras (and with respect to promotion) and film with greater technical capabilities.

It would be really nice if a new Canon/Nikon/Olympus/Minolta 35mm camera with some capacity for control was suddenly hip.

 

[wildbill]

What they have never mentioned is that he tlr viewfinder is round, not square. About ten years ago, holgas were half the price.

 

[Discoman]

So much of the angst in this thread probably results from the fact that we see all this effort and money put into designing and packaging and promoting the Holga/Lomo toy cameras, whereas almost none of that effort and money is put into and designing and promoting new film cameras (and with respect to promotion) and film with greater technical capabilities.

It would be really nice if a new Canon/Nikon/Olympus/Minolta 35mm camera with some capacity for control was suddenly hip.

For example, have you seen the new lomokino?
Nearly $100 for the kit, and it chews through 35mm spools-and is for movies.
Or, for about $5, you can get a silent super 8 camera, and then go and buy a cartridge of brand new super-8 movie stock. Even professional grade films are available in super 8.
These ca,meras get more people shooting film, but they also get people who don't want the greater control of a slightly nicer camera, despite anything a holga can do, a Pentax can do. Soft focus? Guess the focus. Single aperture and shutter combination? Set the shuttefgv and aperture and never touch it again.
Maybe the effort is going into the toy cameras because so few places still make a film camera? There are still small specialty companies that build cameras in nearly all format, but the major players have mostly moved to and are touting digital.
As irritating as lomography can be, they still at least are hanging in there.
So why can't all of us at least acknowledge that fact? You don't need to like them, just recognize that they are one of the few places with new film cameras.

 

[wblynch]

Before I go for one of those $25 specials, does anyone here have experience with the Glass Lens Holga? If I am to get one, I prefer the best image quality attainable. (Perhaps that is against the Holga philosophy?)

For disclosure, I have only shot one roll through my Diana and I used ISO 100 film instead of the recommended ISO 400. My results were largely, fail. I also have a 1951 Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash that I like a lot. It has only one aperture (f11?) and fixed focus but it does have a glass lens.

 

[JBrunner]

My Holgas were all to good. So I baked them in the oven a little...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Before I go for one of those $25 specials, does anyone here have experience with the Glass Lens Holga? If I am to get one, I prefer the best image quality attainable. (Perhaps that is against the Holga philosophy?)

Yes, I'd say that if you want control and better image quality, then don't bother with a toy camera. If you have a lot of experience with "serious" cameras, and you want to free up your vision a bit by letting chance intrude into the process and letting go, then a toy camera might be for you.

 

[JBrunner]

Just a clarification here.

Debating the advantages and disadvantages of the lomo movement, toy cameras, etc in regard to analog photography is a perfectly valid topic in a thread started and titled in that regard. It's probably something for the ethics and philosophy forum. We are, however, done with it here.

 

[Klainmeister]

That's really cool they lowered the price back to where it's reasonable again. I first shot 120 on a Holga and it was indeed a gateway drug. In fact, they're really fun to use mainly because you dont have to think about anything other than composition.

At those prices, I might buy one or two to convert to a wet plate camera--the new ones have bulb setting--and you hack the back to hold a 6x6 mini plate. Just watched a demo of this over at BS and it was really enticing.

 

[wblynch]

I have ben so inspired by this thread I loaded a fresh roll of 120 into my Diana F+ last night. It's only black and white so I will miss out on some of the color distortion toy cameras are known for. But still I anticipate having a bit of fun and getting some surprises as well.

 

[rknewcomb]

When someone bad mouths a Holga, I just remind myself, that is their opinion - and we all know about opinions.

 

[Discoman]

Considering the time of year, it almost seems like the perfect time to buy a holga as a gift. Clever, especially as you will want film and other bits for the camera, they should see some sale increases from this.

 

[elgallo10]

Thanks for the update, I'm going to get a holga for my wife for christmas.

As for the secondary subject in this thread.. I love shooting my holga and Diana F, I like the freedom and the look I get. I also shoot 4x5, 5x7 and a Pentax 67 but I admit I have lots of fun shooting with the toy cameras.

 

[tycho]

I use E-6 100 film and shoot in full sun and x-proc the s@#$ out of it - I heart the look. I want to photograph at all times of the day under every condition, not always run into shade or wait for the golden hour, or blue hour, or hoping for an overcast day with three three stop filters screwed on hoping nothing falls apart. Holga is in my camera bag and has become my most used 6x6 camera, what can I say. I also shoot MF, 35mm film, digital point+shoot, and the camera always with me - my iPhone, Camera+ rocks. Use what you have. I can't recommend Holga enough.

PS - Freestyle is the hipster supplier of Holgas for Urban Outfitters, tres elegant.

 

[Silverhead]

That's really cool they lowered the price back to where it's reasonable again. I first shot 120 on a Holga and it was indeed a gateway drug. In fact, they're really fun to use mainly because you dont have to think about anything other than composition.

At those prices, I might buy one or two to convert to a wet plate camera--the new ones have bulb setting--and you hack the back to hold a 6x6 mini plate. Just watched a demo of this over at BS and it was really enticing.

What demo is this?

 

[lancekingphoto]

I couldn't disagree more about them being mere novelty cameras. Buying a Holga 120N a couple of years ago reinvigorated my love for film photography generally, and led to me buying a Bronica SQ several months ago. I'm sure some people will try out a toy camera and quickly lose interest, but for others like me, they're an easy introduction to an unfamiliar film format that ignites a fire.

And, as others have mentioned, many people really like the images I've shot on that cheap piece of plastic.

 

[Klainmeister]

What demo is this?

http://vimeo.com/33559142

My girlfriend and I are sitting near the light and end up being photographed.

 

[wblynch]

...Buying a Holga 120N a couple of years ago reinvigorated my love for film photography generally, and led to me buying a Bronica SQ several months ago...

haha... Holga - The Gateway Drug !

 

[laymonk777]

How can I upvote this? (just kidding) I think this makes sense.

I'm new to APUG so forgive my ignorance. Here is my question.
Why would anyone go on the 'Toy Camera' forum and then put down toy camera users? After all, this is the TOY CAMERA FORUM! For instance, I have not the slightest interest in instant photography. But I would never denigrate anyone wanting to use instant photography to express their vision. A Holga in the right hands (that's not mine) can produce some really interesting work. I've seen photography from all kinds of cameras that I like and from all kinds of cameras I find dull and boring. And I assure all that I am an expert on dull and boring because I have produced enough of it in my own darkroom.