Holga

I got a Holga camera a few weeks ago from the Photographers' Gallery. I had such a hard time finding reliable information on it on the internet, so decided to share my experience.

This is a funny, fun, plastic camera. It costs from 25 pounds upwards ( about 40 USD at the moment ), depending on the model. The one I got is the "expensive" one, GN, which has a glass lens. The original holga had a plastic one ( and still has, it is Holga N ). The lens is primitive, though, only one element and no coating. The aperture can be changed between two settings, both quite small ( f/8 and f/13, apparently ). Shutter speed is about 1/100 sec and there is a "bulb" choice, for long exposures. There are four focus settings, ranging from 1m to 10m, though that is again an estimate...

Let's see a picture from it:


This is as shot on a Fuji 160C film ( see below ). What can we say? There is a lot of distortion, first of all. The lines of the building are not parallel, and the flat windows seem wobbly. The focus is somewhere in the lower center, but not sure exactly where. If you see it in full size, you realize that it is soft all over. Light is massively reduced as you look outwards. Why would anyone want to shoot this camera, especially with no real control over the process?

Well, here is another shot from the Holga:

This one has the same issues. It is distorted ( check the bridge ), it has focused sort of in the center, it is soft and the sides are dark. So? Doesn't all this give it a melancholic feeling? Doesn't it tell a story? So, for pictures of buildings it might not be the best camera. But you can still employ it to convey your feelings!

About the film it takes, it is 120 film, which is about 60mm tall and can give you 12 square shots at 6x6 cm or 16 shots at 6x4.5 cm. You get two masks with the GN model, so no sweat, it is up to you. I prefer 6x6, personally. My choice of 160 ISO film was not the best, though, as most of my first two rolls were massively under-exposed. I would go for 400 for hand-held or room shots.

More next time!

Some Velvia Scans

Like most people my age, I started photography with a digital compact. I knew almost nothing about photos, other than I hated taking photos with my dad's film camera.


The digital compact was such a refreshing experience that I was quickly hooked! It took me a couple of years to outgrow it and move to the next camera, a Sony again ( seen in the picture to the right ). Again, a great camera, lots of pictures and lots of memories stored. However, something was missing.


Another two years, and I got myself my first digital SLR, a Nikon D300. I got this one with a mission to start creating art. My art. And while doing that, I realized that film might also be worth a look... I got a second-hand Nikon ( I only paid for the lens, the camera just happened to be attached to it :) ). Then a friend gave me a Yashica rangefinder. Last month I even got myself a Holga!


I am still shooting my D300 90% of the time I am going to meet friends, or have a shooting assingment. However, I always carry one of the film cameras over my shoulder on my way to work, or coming back. I even got a scanner ( Epson V500 ) to scan the film myself.


Anyway, I just got back my first roll of Fuji Velvia 50, the standard in professional landscapes from what I am reading. I was blown away by the vivid colours and fine grain.


Here are a couple test shots... Enjoy!


I will review my gear in future posts.