should I buy a WOCA or a HOLGA?

game · May 17, 2006

Hi,
I recently discovered that a toyish camera existst, that does deliver some very moody pictures. When I saw how freakingly cheap they are, I decided to go out and buy one on ebay.
I did some searching and saw that several types are available. They are all similar priced, so money is no object in this case. I know what I want except for one thing: should I take the glass version, or the plastic one?

I can understand, that the beauty of the HOLGA is it's cheapness. That's why I will buy one. But off course the glass lens is also a really bad one.
So what do you guys think?

I am curious. thanks - sam

jmdavis · May 17, 2006

I tend to like the WOCA's better. But that's just a preference from my own experience.

Mike

papagene · May 17, 2006

I have one of each and don't have the time to use either.
I also have a Zone Zero 6x6 pinhole that goes little used.
Darn, how do I find more free time!!

gene

arigram · May 17, 2006

Why don't you buy both and see what you like?
Because of their cheapness and unstable production,
each camera has unique properties and you will find
that even two Holgas are not alike. One could be sharper
and they will have different light leaks.

DirkDynamo · May 17, 2006

i guess it depends on what kind of film you use. it seems the woca is 35mm and the holga is MF. can you process medium format film? if so thats the option i would choose. im not sure which will give better results; a low quality glass lense with 35mm or an even lower quality lense but on 6x6. i know someone who uses a holga for ''art'' photography and he's satisfied with it.

i think the holga could be a good start into medium format. part of the reason its used as an art camera is that its performance as a camera is not consistent. it can give you good looking artistic pictures and does some strange things to your negatives (vignetting, light falloff, light leaks, flares, halos etc etc) but its unpredictable- you lose some negatives in the process. i dont the idea of having a style that depends on random failures of my camera, its nice to have control over your output.

so i say get one and experiment with it- its a fun toy, but dont grow to depend on it!

jmdavis · May 17, 2006

WOCA's are MF as well. At least those are the only ones I've seen.

Mike Davis

game · May 17, 2006

Thanks for the posts,
I actually thought the woca is as much a MF as the holga. Can someone second that?
I only see this camera as a nice addition to my normal very controlled process of making photos.
So is the woca 35mm?

And still: glass or plastic?

Thanks Sam

Andy K · May 17, 2006

I think WOCAs have a glass lens whereas the Holga has plastic.

game · May 17, 2006

that's for sure

But what's recommended?

plastic because THAT'swhat delivers the trademark stuff.
or glass because it still has that same feel , but is a better material.

I will only buy one.

Sam

DirkDynamo · May 17, 2006

i was wrong. woca is mf - sorry!

Karate Dad · May 17, 2006

It's up to you

The choice really is one of personal preference. I like the Holga
because the plastic lens offered more opportunity for distortion when I compared the two. I also thought it fit my idea of a toy camera better.

John

winger · May 17, 2006

Personally, I like my Holga. I have one light leak I don't like (I think from the window on the back) but not many others. I wish it vignetted a bit more than it does, too. I can probably put something inside to do that, though. I just usually think of it once it's loaded. I've never seen a woca, though. The Holga is only about $17 new, though. I think I paid $21 with shipping.

DBP · May 17, 2006

Why not pick up an old Box Brownie for $1? The lens is almost as bad and they leak less.

game · May 17, 2006

seems the holga is in favore here. Seems a bit strange tough to buy something worse for the same mooney, allthough I understand worse is not worse in this case. Worse is maybe even better.
Anyone here that would give avote for the Woca?

sam

egdinger · May 17, 2006

I have a woca, but I haven't had any time to run any film through it. Not that that helps any.

But it was recomended to me over the holga.

canuhead · May 17, 2006

I was in the same spot as you...glass or plastic ? In the end, I asked myself why would I want a glass lens in a toy camera ? The plastic lens is what gives the Holga it's look.

Having said that, I think the quality of the cameras varies because my Holga doesn't vignette a heck of a lot, at least not compared to other Holgas and I'm not inclined to "hand of god" the prints to create that look. I even missed out on the joy of taping the camera up although it was a cheap thrill "breaking" the lens.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · May 17, 2006

DBP said:
Why not pick up an old Box Brownie for $1? The lens is almost as bad and they leak less.

I second the Brownie for fuzzy shots. Mine does not vignette, but it sure has a crappy lens that looks great on color slide film.

Papa Tango · May 18, 2006

papagene said:
I have one of each and don't have the time to use either.
I also have a Zone Zero 6x6 pinhole that goes little used.
Darn, how do I find more free time!!

gene

Find it! All to soon, we will "expire", and there will be no rebates or instant savings. Carpe Diem, for tomorrow we die!

b1ltr1te · May 18, 2006

game said:
I know what I want except for one thing: should I take the glass version, or the plastic one?

I've got both. WOCA is fun - don't let the glass lens fool you, mine is still pretty crummy - but in a good way. Get all the fun vignetting and a nice light leak for added enjoyment - no taping here.

HOLGA is also fun - scuffed up the lens for fun. good vignetting - no horrific light leaks yet.

I also have a box brownie. It's also good clean toy fun, but in a class of it's own.

Take your pick; if the first one's not to your liking, go back and buy another, and another and another until you find one that works for you.

Ben

game · May 18, 2006

I'll keep that Box Brownie in mind, but I choose the woco/holga. I liked it instantly, it costs nothing, I don't feel like diving into the whole toy camera world and try to find the 'best' toy camera.
I believe the Box Brownie uses some exotic film, which I don't like to.
Anyway, I decided on a holga instead of a Woco. I might buy a woca as well if the seller can combine hipping in a nice way.
But I'd really think i'd be nice to keep this topic running for a while. I still am not completally sure why one would take glass...
And what other toy cameras are out there that someone would favor over a holga? I heard the Box Brownie, does everyone agrees on that?

Well, thanks for posting so far, and hopefully some more posts will follow.
All the best - Sam.

Andy K · May 18, 2006

I love my box brownie, it makes great photographs! Here's one and here's another. It gives a wonderful old feeling to photographs.

game · May 18, 2006

on the other hand, what material is the Box Brownie 's lens made of? plastic or glass?
Sam

Andy K · May 18, 2006

Mine is a No.2 Brownie, it has a glass meniscus lens and three 'guess' apertures.

Foto Ludens · May 18, 2006

Sam,

It seems that you're buying the cameras off ebay. Have you thought about Freestyle? They sell Holgas and Wocas and many accessories for both, and seldomly charge more than 6 bucks for shipping. Plus, they are APUG sponsors...

take care,

André

battra92 · May 18, 2006

DBP said:
Why not pick up an old Box Brownie for $1? The lens is almost as bad and they leak less.

I'd second that. If you can respool of 620, the possibilities are endless. I love my Ansco Panda.

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