Should i get a holga?

Leon · Jul 21, 2006

I have to agree with the get to know mf with a "normal" camera first school. Using a holga is a completely different thing to usual 120 cameras and not representative in any way. once you get used to the 120 roll, then get a holga if you still want to give it a whirl

Jessica · Jul 24, 2006

I have a good time with my holga still. I bought it last year and find it a fun thing to carry in my pocket when out on a walk or out and about without worrying about damage or heavy gear (thing is lighter than a feather). That being said, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Hasselblad...I enjoy my Mamiya...so...there are SO MANY options! My favorite fun combo with the holga is cheap Artista ULTRA 400 film. I develop it in TMAX RS...I just do it for me though, just for kicks. Here is a holga image I scanned that I took last month.

HeliH · Jul 25, 2006

Jessica said:
I have a good time with my holga still. I bought it last year and find it a fun thing to carry in my pocket when out on a walk or out and about without worrying about damage or heavy gear (thing is lighter than a feather). That being said, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Hasselblad...

Now I have to agree! I have a Hassy 500c/m and love it as I love my Helga (Holga). I also bought my Holga (actually I have two...) last year too and still have fun with it. Go for Holga!

Actually I'm going to make a macro-Holga of my Olli. Olli is my another Holga. It doesn't have a flash in it and leaks quite a lot if not taped well. Helga, the Holga who has a built-in-flash doesn't leak at all, so I don't need to tape it.

A couple of Holga-shots on rock and roll film (35 mm) that I really like:
http://www.holgarocks.com/holga/wp-content/photos/_GF_Bass.jpg
http://www.holgarocks.com/holga/wp-content/photos/_GF_Band.jpg
My friend took these and he permitted to show them.

clogz · Jul 25, 2006

How to double the value of a Holga? Put a film in it.

Gatsby1923 · Jul 25, 2006

Get a Holga, an old Kodak box camera, and a Yashicamat TLR. You'll have the best of every thing, and you can do it all for under $100 if you shop around. I'd personally take an old box camera or folder over a Holga. But that is just me.

Dave M.

Drew B. · Jul 25, 2006

For the life of me...I can't understand what you would want with a Holga! Go out and get one of those CVS throw aways and get the same results. I feel like John Bellucci in animal house, crashing the guitar against the wall and saying "Sorry" ...but it had to be said!

Markok765 · Jul 25, 2006

Drew B. said:
For the life of me...I can't understand what you would want with a Holga! Go out and get one of those CVS throw aways and get the same results. I feel like John Bellucci in animal house, crashing the guitar against the wall and saying "Sorry" ...but it had to be said!

because i cant afford the mamiya RZ67 Pro II

Dave Parker · Jul 25, 2006

Markok765 said:
because i cant afford the mamiya RZ67 Pro II

You don't have to afford a RZ67 Pro, to get good quality pictures from medium format cameras Marko, there have been several alternatives mentioned in this thread that will give good quality images for about the same price as your going to pay for a Holga or another plastic camera...I bought my first Ciro Flex(Graphic 22) for about $20 US and it produced good quality images..

Dave

k_jupiter · Jul 25, 2006

Markok765 said:
because i cant afford the mamiya RZ67 Pro II

An expensive toy that would prevent you from developing as a photographer.

People have given you a bunch of advice. Just take one side or the other and do it.

tim in san jose

Markok765 · Jul 25, 2006

I was thinking to only contact print, because the 67 neg carrier for the beselar 67 is 100$, also will the 50 mm lens work for the 66 or 67 though it will be wide?

DBP · Jul 25, 2006

To print medium format you will need a longer lens and a negative carrier. These need not be major expenses at this point. If you are just planning on contact printing, spend $10-$15, pick up an old 6x9 folder or box camera and take some pictures already! If you were local I would probably throw an old Kodak Tourist at you.

Markok765 · Jul 25, 2006

Will i NEED a longer lens, or can i do with this one, butgoing closer?

Dave Parker · Jul 25, 2006

Markok765 said:
Will i NEED a longer lens, or can i do with this one, butgoing closer?

Marko,

The last post told you that you will NEED a longer lens, don't yell at people or they won't answer you! If your just contact printing, you don't need a lens at all, if you get a contact print box!

Dave

DBP · Jul 25, 2006

Most 50mm enlarging lenses won't cover 6x6 adequately. 75mm - 90mm should do. Again, this need not cost much. There is no need to get caught up in glass wars at your age (or any other age - but at least an adult knows where the money he is wasting comes from). A cheap 75mm enlarging lens and an old Ciroflex will still look better than most 35mm just because of the difference in size.

k_jupiter · Jul 26, 2006

Markok765 said:
I was thinking to only contact print, because the 67 neg carrier for the beselar 67 is 100$, also will the 50 mm lens work for the 66 or 67 though it will be wide?

Funny. I got mine free. Also be aware, you need a 6x7 light box for that enlarger too if it's the enlarger I think it is. 67S?

I have a spare 90mm enlarging raptor if you want it. Postage only.

tim in san jose

MattKing · Jul 26, 2006

Markok765 said:
I was thinking to only contact print, because the 67 neg carrier for the beselar 67 is 100$, also will the 50 mm lens work for the 66 or 67 though it will be wide?

Marko:

I don't know if you have access to buying through Ebay, but with a little bit of patience, you can get all sorts of accessories for your enlarger there for very reasonable costs. I too have a Beseler 67C enlarger, and over the last year I have purchased lenses, carriers and a colour head there - sometimes at ridiculously low prices.

You could also try KHB Photografix in Mississauga Ontario. You can find them at:

KHB

Right now they have used carriers for the enlarger at $69.00 CDN and some moderately priced used enlarging lenses.

If you buy a simple, lower priced TLR like some of the ones reccomended here, you may end up using it for many many years. With care, you can get great results, and learn a lot. I was 19 (not a heck of a lot older than you) when I bought my (admittedly more expensive) Mamiya TLR, and I have used it and enjoyed it for 30 years now.

Also, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if there are a bunch of people on APUG who have a lower cost 75mm, 80mm or 90mm enlarging lens that they would be willing to sell you. There may also be some who have negative carriers, or even lower priced cameras, that they would be willing to sell to you. It couldn't hurt to ask.

Finally, although it may not seem so at times, most of the people on APUG were once 13 years old too . Most of us can remember being young, and impatient, and fascinated by gear. You should pay more attention to the advice here, because it is both generously offered, and comes from people who do understand a lot about where you are coming from.

If I come across any deals on accessories for your enlarger, I'll pass them on to you.

Matt

Markok765 · Jul 26, 2006

k_jupiter said:
Funny. I got mine free. Also be aware, you need a 6x7 light box for that enlarger too if it's the enlarger I think it is. 67S?

I have a spare 90mm enlarging raptor if you want it. Postage only.

tim in san jose

I got the 35mm one free. i have a 67 box. it is not the 67s.
People here are so kind.

k_jupiter · Jul 26, 2006

Markok765 said:
I got the 35mm one free. i have a 67 box. it is not the 67s.
People here are so kind.

OK, you've got a 67 mixing box, you take the offered enlarging lens, tape a couple of pieces of mount board together to make a negative holder and then all you need is a RZ67!

And no, I am not kind. Don't be confused. I'm a mean, nasty, sarcastic, arrogant bastard with a soft spot, either in my heart or in my head, I don't know which.

tim in san jose

Should i get a holga?

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