mixed feelings about holga

[cliveh]

What’s the difference between a Holga and a Leica?

Oskar Barnack didn’t design the Holga.

 

[Shawn Rahman]

Why do people fool with these junk cult-following cameras?

Junk? Maybe the cameras are, but the images they produce are often not. There are a number of members of this site that have uploaded Holga pics that EASILY outclass 99% of the other pics in the galleries. They're fun, they're cheap, and if I get one good shot out of an entire roll (or two), I'm thrilled with it.

 

[cliveh]

Junk? Maybe the cameras are, but the images they produce are often not. There are a number of members of this site that have uploaded Holga pics that EASILY outclass 99% of the other pics in the galleries. They're fun, they're cheap, and if I get one good shot out of an entire roll (or two), I'm thrilled with it.

In the darkroom or in Photoshop, I can make a Holga type image from a Leica negative, but I can't make a Leica type image from a Holga negative.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Junk? Maybe the cameras are, but the images they produce are often not. There are a number of members of this site that have uploaded Holga pics that EASILY outclass 99% of the other pics in the galleries. They're fun, they're cheap, and if I get one good shot out of an entire roll (or two), I'm thrilled with it.

I agree completely, someone put a hp5+holga and night time city photograph and I prefer it to many classics.

What I did , bought a Box Tengor 54-2 from 1928. I hope I can shot 1 good picture in one year.

 

[removed account4]

In the darkroom or in Photoshop, I can make a Holga type image from a Leica negative, but I can't make a Leica type image from a Holga negative.

you would be surprised with the mask inserted i used to get results like a m3 and a suma whatever it is i have.
leicas arent everything lol

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Holgas are cool. Except when they scratch my film. Which they do a lot.

I actually shoot Portra 400 in the Holga more than anything. Scratches are easily disposed of when scanned. Black and white I use 'good' cameras for.

 

[markbarendt]

In the darkroom or in Photoshop, I can make a Holga type image from a Leica negative, but I can't make a Leica type image from a Holga negative.

The magic of a Holga is that it takes no extra work in the darkroom to get the Holga effect.

I don't get is why people (not just you Clive) really want multi-purpose negatives.

Part of my choice in grabbing a specific camera, film, blah, blah, blah... is in getting a specific look. A single purpose negative makes my darkroom work easier.

 

[Joe VanCleave]

I was a bit late to the Holga game, and purchased a 120GFN, several years ago. It's kind of wonky that the batteries for the built-in flash need to be checked, loaded and verified before loading the film, since they're inside the body of the camera under the film spool. But other than that, its glass lens (the "G" in "GFN") produces startlingly good photos on Kodak Ektar 100. Well worth the few dollars more than the plastic lensed version.

As for zone focusing, I've taken to fixing a label to the back of the camera (using a Dymo embossing label maker, of course!) that lists the four focus distances, which are very easy to estimate within the DOF of the F/11-F/15 aperture range.

I'm also nerdy enough to use a hand-held light meter preset to the camera's 1/100s shutter speed, upon which I reference the camera's two f-stops, helping to ensure good exposures. You might think that this kind of precision is unnecessary on a plastic toy camera, but this is often the reason why people end up with lousy results. Good shooting discipline always helps, regardless of the camera or format. Accurate focus and good exposure are essential, more so for the cost of processing and printing medium format color film at a minilab; wasted shots are expensive, regardless of camera.

I also can't understand the Holga Haters; it's cameras like this that are helping to prolong color film manufacturing. A rising tide floats all boats.

~Joe

 

[eddie]

Holgas (and my preference, the Diana) can make wonderful images. I have about 6 of each, and each one has it's own peculiarities. As they're used, the shutter speed changes (those springs don't hold up forever). Each leaks light (or not) differently. What they do best is allow the creative photographer to see, unencumbered by the crutches of camera technology. I find those that demean the cameras either unfamiliar with their possibilities, or insecure in their own abilities to make evocative images without "perfect" tools.

This is from a Diana:


This is from a Holga:

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Up in the Big Smoke this morning I saw a very, very cute and tiny Diana in the dealer, only big enough to fit in the hand; very boxy, basic and amusing to look at, yet it takes film and will get the photo — includes a thumb-strap (!). They wanted AUD$65.00 for it. I balked and mumbled something unprintable, before deciding I would use that money to pay for a cache of E6 processing. It was a puffin blue and black affair that I initially thought was only a toy/dummy, but definitely not! Anybody here own one of these cuties??

 

[Fixcinater]

I prefer my old Diana 151 over the Holga I had. Something about the look it gives endears it to me over what the Holga could do.

Poisson, was it the 35mm version?

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

^ That's it! But a paler blue, 35mm.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Up in the Big Smoke this morning I saw a very, very cute and tiny Diana in the dealer, only big enough to fit in the hand; very boxy, basic and amusing to look at, yet it takes film and will get the photo — includes a thumb-strap (!). They wanted AUD$65.00 for it. I balked and mumbled something unprintable, before deciding I would use that money to pay for a cache of E6 processing. It was a puffin blue and black affair that I initially thought was only a toy/dummy, but definitely not! Anybody here own one of these cuties??

Yes, I confess that I own one. I had one as a child. If you browse my APUG images you will find one of me with my original camera.

 

[hgraf]

Why do people fool with these junk cult-following cameras?

Wow, lots of hate there. Some might say the same of those who don't shoot digital...

I don't own a Holga, but I do experiment a lot, right now with a pinhole camera. Its fun!

For some photography is a job. For others its a hobby. For some its a creative outlet and the results of something like a Holga can be very creative.

Don't knock something just because you don't "get it".

 

[NedL]

I don't have a holga, but I have a homemade camera that I need to remove the front lens element to use ( I keep it on when not in use to protect the aperture blades ). My wife made me a "TAKE THE LENS OFF" sticker and problem was solved. She joked about adding "dummy" or "stupid" on the end and that would have been fine too... It was just ridiculous how many times in a row I forgot to remove it.

 

[Vilk]

what's a "lens cap?"

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

what's a "lens cap?"

Answer: a strict number of lenses you may own. If you exceed the set limit you will be flogged with a wet lettuce leaf.

 

[bvy]

As for zone focusing, I've taken to fixing a label to the back of the camera (using a Dymo embossing label maker, of course!) that lists the four focus distances, which are very easy to estimate within the DOF of the F/11-F/15 aperture range.

Just curious, Joe, where you got those values. I know the manufacturer (if that's not overstating what's done to bring a Holga into existence) lists them as such or very close, but but my own measurements, and those of others, put the apertures closer to f/13 and f/22.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Answer: a strict number of lenses you may own. If you exceed the set limit you will be flogged with a wet lettuce leaf.

 

[Dr Croubie]

Answer: a strict number of lenses you may own. If you exceed the set limit you will be flogged with a wet lettuce leaf.

Is that the Victorian version of Finns flogging each other with birch branches in a sauna?

 

[jp498]

Finally got around to developing the film I ran through the holga without remembering if I had the lenscap on or off. I gave some mercy to the camera and was rewarded.

 

[markbarendt]

They do constantly amaze us don't they.

Good work.

 

[snapguy]

Pal

I have a friend who has two classic Dusenberg motorcars, plus his own railroad (full size) on his ranch in California. He loves to drive around on the dirt roads on his property in a beat-up old Ford Model A coupe with rumbleseat and fenders that are falling off. Who is to tell him he has to stick to the Doozies?

 

[removed account4]

They do constantly amaze us don't they.

Good work.

+1

 

[Regular Rod]

In the darkroom or in Photoshop, I can make a Holga type image from a Leica negative, but I can't make a Leica type image from a Holga negative.

It is possible...

RR