Holga cameras making a comeback.

[McFortner]

The molds WERE rescued and new Holgas are coming to Freestyle this year!

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/holga-cameras

 

[tezzasmall]

And there was me not realising that they had even gone away!

I have two 120 film Holgas and love using them - especially when the sun is out, which is not at the moment in early March!

Seriously though, glad to hear of their continued production and unless you've used one you won't understand what all the fuss is about. LOL

Terry S

 

[Groucho]

Good to hear Holgas are still alive if not exactly kicking. Mine have been in storage for some time until recently when I felt re-inspired. Went and bought some of my favourite Portra and TriX film. Loaded it up on the Holga and was ready to make some inspired pix then found there were no film spacing numbers to be seen in the little red screen on the back of the Holga. Now I learn that Kodak has apparently ceased to print the spacer numbers on the back presumably to supposedly save money on the assumption no one uses such out-dated cameras any more. No film frame spacer numbers and you're flying blind.

 

[AgX]

I never ever came across a Holga. (Aside the shelves of a Lomography outlet.)

 

[klownshed]

I love my Holga 120 With HP5+

It's good to see that they're not finished yet.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Maybe...it looks like there might be some growing pains with the new Holga by Sunrise (already available on eBay for some time, still need a few months for Freestyle):

The Curious Case of the Sunrise Holga
The Sunrise Holga: Where do we go from here?
The Sunrise Holga: Problem Solved?

 

[ciniframe]

Maybe...it looks like there might be some growing pains with the new Holga by Sunrise (already available on eBay for some time, still need a few months for Freestyle):

The Curious Case of the Sunrise Holga
The Sunrise Holga: Where do we go from here?
The Sunrise Holga: Problem Solved?

Wow! Looks bad. If Freestyle has any sense the first 10 cameras they get should be retained and tested extensively. If this is a common problem and they start shipping cameras (at a $17 premium over buying direct off of e-bay no less) they will have a lot of very unhappy customers.

 

[mshchem]

I would rather re-spool and use my big blue Kodak with the built-in jumbo flash (bulbs) . The numbers are still on the backing paper, Fuji Acros is the easiest to see. Plastic cameras should all be Kodak Instamatic 126, with the wind up motor and flash cubes. That was living! My Dad taught me the basics, I was the only kid on the block shooting Verichrome with a K2 yellow filter held on with florist's putty. Got some great cloud shots. Hilarious! Mike

 

[mooseontheloose]

Wow! Looks bad. If Freestyle has any sense the first 10 cameras they get should be retained and tested extensively. If this is a common problem and they start shipping cameras (at a $17 premium over buying direct off of e-bay no less) they will have a lot of very unhappy customers.

Yeah, hopefully they are aware of it. Who knows, maybe the problems will be fixed by the time Sunrise ships their cameras to Freestyle. Either way, I'm not tempted as I bought several cameras (as backups) just after the Holga discontinuation announcement.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The molds WERE rescued and new Holgas are coming to Freestyle this year!

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/holga-cameras

That will make some people very happy.

 

[winger]

Either way, I'm not tempted as I bought several cameras (as backups) just after the Holga discontinuation announcement.

Same here. Though one of mine is perpetually questionable ever since it got dropped (my fault). So I'll say I'm not tempted, yet.

 

[locutus]

I thought that them being questionable was the point?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Whatever for???

 

[winger]

I thought that them being questionable was the point?

Well, anomalies are fine, but I do prefer the shutter to actually fire.

 

[summicron1]

they do claim that light leaks are a feature, not a flaw. I found internal reflections to be the larger issue, and liberally applied flat black primer paint to solve that.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I thought that them being questionable was the point?

No, it's not.

Plus, there's a huge difference between a small light leak coming from the back of the camera (which usually can be fixed with tape), which was a problem with the original Holgas, and having a shutter that doesn't close properly with no light baffle behind it with the new cameras - it's a huge fogging issues that leaves you with worthless images.

 

[Chan Tran]

I would never use the Holga except that it helps to get people to use film. If it can help increase film consumption then it is good for that. I don't see good reason to use the Holga.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I would never use the Holga except that it helps to get people to use film. If it can help increase film consumption then it is good for that. I don't see good reason to use the Holga.

You are wise beyond your years.

 

[eddie]

I don't see good reason to use the Holga.

I'm sorry you don't see a good reason. They're very good creative tools.

 

[bsdunek]

No, it's not.

Plus, there's a huge difference between a small light leak coming from the back of the camera (which usually can be fixed with tape), which was a problem with the original Holgas, and having a shutter that doesn't close properly with no light baffle behind it with the new cameras - it's a huge fogging issues that leaves you with worthless images.

Right. The shutter doesn't cap properly upon resetting. I added a little card stock to the edge of the shutter blade to correct this. This, to my knowledge, is on the "S" model. Haven't seen the problem on my "N" model.

 

[ciniframe]

Regarding seeing no reason to use a Holga, well they are not for everybody and do not appeal to all, what camera does. David Burnett seems to get along well with them and I think his pictures made with a Holga are interesting. Of course he works with a variety of cameras including an old Speed Graphic mounting an Aero Ektar and Canon DSLR's. I've had one 20 years ago but didn't use it much but that's on me, not the camera. I do like pinhole, another type of picture making that is not for everyone but I just enjoy designing and making the doggone things.....probably more than using them.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Right. The shutter doesn't cap properly upon resetting. I added a little card stock to the edge of the shutter blade to correct this. This, to my knowledge, is on the "S" model. Haven't seen the problem on my "N" model.

When I say the original Holga, I mean everything from the S to the N to the GCFN - every model until Holga folded. The new Holga is "Holga by Sunrise" and it seems to have many problems right out the gate (see the links I posted above). For what it's worth, I haven't had any issues with any of my Holgas (S, N, FN, GN, WPC) that I've been using over the past ten years.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Regarding seeing no reason to use a Holga, well they are not for everybody and do not appeal to all, what camera does. David Burnett seems to get along well with them and I think his pictures made with a Holga are interesting. Of course he works with a variety of cameras including an old Speed Graphic mounting an Aero Ektar and Canon DSLR's. I've had one 20 years ago but didn't use it much but that's on me, not the camera. I do like pinhole, another type of picture making that is not for everyone but I just enjoy designing and making the doggone things.....probably more than using them.

You are absolutely right. Different cameras appeal to different people for different reasons. However, I don't understand the need for some people to continually put down a camera they clearly don't know much about.

 

[eddie]

...I don't understand the need for some people to continually put down a camera they clearly don't know much about.

I agree. If one hasn't explored the possibilities Holgas ( and my favorite- the Diana) offer, they're in no position to judge those who do see the creative value the cameras offer.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

This is good to hear. The cameras are great fun. My students enjoyed using them when we were covering medium format. We even converted a regular version to a pinhole version as a project once when a student broke off the front lens barrel and lens group by accident. They were also really useful when we covered multiple exposures. People learning photography should have access to affordable cameras such as this medium format one. Hopefully they work out the kinks and don't skimp on materials or labor just to save that buck. It would really tarnish the legacy of the common man's camera.