Hold onto your Holgas...the factory has shut down!

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2015

stevensow76 said:
Holgas don't really take bad photos, they take different photos. Unfortunately, the images a Holga produces, either you love them or you don't. For me I found that using one opened my eyes up to photographing in a way that I never really had before. As far as the high prices, I agree with you on that, a Holga is supposed to be an inexpensive alternative way of photographing. Sad to hear that the factory isn't going to be making them anymore. It's a great teaching tool for intermediate photography students, that's how I was introduced to mine.

Welcome to APUG

stevensow76 · Nov 25, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Welcome to APUG

Thanks!

eddie · Nov 25, 2015

Anyone who thinks Holgas are incapable of producing beautiful photographs should check out jbridges work in the Gallery.

Another disturbing aspect of the closure is how Holga is the "gateway drug" for many young people on their journey into film use. I've met dozens who have "moved up" the camera ladder (including large format) based entirely on their positive experience with plastic cameras. It's a shame to lose this manufacturer.

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2015

Those who like to use Holgas should continue to enjoy them as long as they can. I never wished to use a Holga and therefore I will not miss them.

Ken Nadvornick · Nov 25, 2015

Does this mean a new run on those cute little Kodak Hawkeye Brownies?

:confused:

Ken

mooseontheloose · Nov 25, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Those who like to use Holgas should continue to enjoy them as long as they can. I never wished to use a Holga and therefore I will not miss them.

That's what I plan to do - I've ordered a couple of extra Holgas in the eventuality that the ones I currently use fail or will be destroyed in some way. If this really is the end of Holga I hate to see what the prices will be like for one in a couple of years.

Xmas · Nov 26, 2015

mooseontheloose said:
That's what I plan to do - I've ordered a couple of extra Holgas in the eventuality that the ones I currently use fail or will be destroyed in some way. If this really is the end of Holga I hate to see what the prices will be like for one in a couple of years.

I can recommend a Lubitel, you should have visited our street markets, they have camera stalls.

Harry Stevens · Nov 26, 2015

Forget the Holga is this why Shanghi GP3 120 film B&W as disappeared of Ebay.?

I've ordered a couple of extra Holgas in the eventuality that the ones I currently use fail or will be destroyed in some way.

I thought that was the state they left the factory in and was their major selling point for the "arty" types.

Xmas · Nov 26, 2015

Harry Stevens said:
Forget the Holga is this why Shanghi GP3 120 film B&W as disappeared of Ebay.?

I thought that was the state they left the factory in and was their major selling point for the "arty" types.

Empty?

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

pentaxuser · Nov 26, 2015

AgX said:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

(Holga designer in 2012)

That link to his statement in 2012 ( almost exactly 3 years ago) produced a lot of comments such as one from Henning Serger that in China Holga was selling over 200,000 cameras a year with demand going up. Others mentioned that it was Holga that was going to save the film industry. Everything in the garden was rosy as they say.

Seems strange that the factory with what seems almost no notice has closed with everything scrapped, cyanide pills handed out etc

OK I lied about the cyanide pills but you get the drift.

CATLABS doesn't give a source for his statement on closure and the other quote is from Freestyle. However haven't we heard about the end of several films as well from retailer sources which turned out not to be correct?

Are we absolutely sure that the factory has closed and everything is scrapped?

I remember when light bulbs were launched to replace gas mantles and after a few years some were then optimistically quoting signs of a gas mantle revival, wrongly as it turned out but even they didn't go from boom to bust in 3 years

pentaxuser

Gerald C Koch · Nov 26, 2015

Ken Nadvornick said:
Does this mean a new run on those cute little Kodak Hawkeye Brownies?

:confused:

Ken

My very first camera. I still have it and a spare. They will accept 120 file provided that you have a 620 spool to use as a take-up spool. The 120 spool fits as a supply spool.

Ken Nadvornick · Nov 26, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
My very first camera. I still have it and a spare. They will accept 120 file provided that you have a 620 spool to use as a take-up spool. The 120 spool fits as a supply spool.

Yes sir.

These are marvelous little retro cameras. My brother once gifted me one of the original model, which I disassembled, cleaned, adjusted for faster shutter speed, and added an internal yellow filter. I also have the original box and sales receipt ($5.50). It was won by someone at a long ago auction, as the winning ticket is also there. This guy still looks brand new.

I have since added a second slightly later model. The one with the flashbulb attachment. Takes #5 bulbs.

Ken

Sirius Glass · Nov 26, 2015

The first camera I had was a Brownie Hawkeye camera. I later worked in the Hawkeye building while I was in Rochester working for Kodak. I have a Brownie Hawkeye camera with one 620 spool. I just wish that I had a few more 620 spools as back up.

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 26, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
The first camera I had was a Brownie Hawkeye camera. I later worked in the Hawkeye building while I was in Rochester working for Kodak. I have a Brownie Hawkeye camera with one 620 spool. I just wish that I had a few more 620 spools as back up.

So go get some. There's over 30 eBay auctions live right now under search "620 film spools".

TheToadMen · Nov 26, 2015

I had a Holga 120Pan on my wish list for a long time, so I finally ordered me one before stocks might run out.
I like the format and there are some great hacks too - adding some fine real lenses.

Sirius Glass · Nov 26, 2015

TheToadMen, buy up all that you can so that you can keep them from the hoarders.

TheToadMen · Nov 26, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
TheToadMen, buy up all that you can so that you can keep them from the hoarders.

Sirius Glass · Nov 26, 2015

TheToadMen, you de man! That is exactly what I would do.

hoffy · Nov 26, 2015

TheToadMen said:
I had a Holga 120Pan on my wish list for a long time, so I finally ordered me one before stocks might run out.
I like the format and there are some great hacks too - adding some fine real lenses.

Now, that is about the only Holga I would buy! Who sells them? Freestyle don't have them listed.

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 26, 2015

hoffy said:
Now, that is about the only Holga I would buy! Who sells them? Freestyle don't have them listed.

I got a custom red one from Randy at Holgamods. He should have more:

http://www.holgamods.com/holgamods/612_Pan.html

mooseontheloose · Nov 26, 2015

Richard S. (rich815) said:
I got a custom red one from Randy at Holgamods. He should have more:

http://www.holgamods.com/holgamods/612_Pan.html

He's all out of Holgas - I think they all got snapped up within 24 hours of the announcement. He only does modifications now. That said, you can find them on ebay.

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 26, 2015

mooseontheloose said:
He's all out of Holgas - I think they all got snapped up within 24 hours of the announcement. He only does modifications now. That said, you can find them on ebay.

Wow. No kidding. Well I've got 3 other Holgas I've grabbed from him over the years, he's a buddy and we talk from time to time and I just can't resist some of his funky custom jobs he does and that he posts to his email list. Perhaps I made some good investments!

Theo Sulphate · Nov 26, 2015

An article on the appeal of the original Diana, which probably applies to the Holga as well:

http://lensgarden.com/light/the-real-diana-camera-a-plastic-wonder/

Sirius Glass · Nov 26, 2015

mooseontheloose said:
He's all out of Holgas - I think they all got snapped up within 24 hours of the announcement. He only does modifications now. That said, you can find them on ebay.

What?!?!?! The hoarders got them! :O

TheToadMen · Nov 27, 2015

hoffy said:
Now, that is about the only Holga I would buy! Who sells them? Freestyle don't have them listed.

I got mine on Ebay, now shipping from Hong Kong. But watch out for some very high prices. This one was about Euro 55 with free shipping. I also ordered an extra insert set for 135 film (Euro 11 including shipping) to play with. Should be fun, that's all.

Bert from Holland

Hold onto your Holgas...the factory has shut down!

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