Author Topic: My best ever ... (Read 9002 times)

Nigel · « **on:** April 26, 2012, 08:55:29 PM »

I'm sitting here editing a few photos and it occurred to me (not for the first time) I bl**dy love my Holga.

We all know there is an incredible amount of hyperbole written about Holgas, Dianas and the like, but in a pure fun and enjoyment per £ spent calculation it is by a mile the best camera I've ever owned. I consistently get more keepers per roll than from any other camera. I've owned it about 5 years, the aperture arm has started falling in front of the lens, a recent thing, which is a little annoying, but I wouldn't dream of getting rid of it.

I got to thinking, as I'm sure you have, 'if I could only ever have one camera what would it be?'. This would be a tough one, I really love my Nikon F3 (and SLRs in general) it's far more versatile than the Holga. But it would be a really close run thing.

Is there a camera you really love, and I don't just mean like a lot, I mean really love?

From my latest Holga film.

charles binns · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:00:27 PM »

You just can't beat a holga, and these two photos show why. I too loved my F3 and for years it was my main camera. No more though. I love my holgas. I might flirt with my diana clones sometimes but I always go back to my holgas in the end.

astrobeck · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:14:50 PM »

I also LOVE my Holgas. The first one I bought especially, because it's quirky, and has that "vignette" that I so much adore. I could prattle on and on about it, but if you have one that you love, then you know that soft gooshy feeling in the chest I'm talking about when you hold it in your hands.

I flirt with Brownies, and Crown Graphics, and have had affairs with rangefinders, and cheap thrift store finds, but it's the Holga that makes my soul ooze out on the ground for all to see.
I LOVE my K1000 too. Dearly love it, but we have a long history together.
(My pinholes don't count because they create lust in my cheating heart.)

Nigel, I do understand how you feel though. A Holga is like a worn out quilt, it keeps on giving even if it has a few holes in it.

sapata · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:23:57 PM »

I really like my Holga... especially because is one of the old ones (it's also been 5 years).

I like the original Dianas and its clones ... but is a different realationship. Now.. asking me what's my favourite camera is like asking me to chose my favourite band... just impossible.

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:35:05 PM »

For me it would have to be my Yashica Mat. Partly because I've taken great shots with it, but also because it was my first quality medium format camera. And I've fixed it myself, too.

Autumnal fruits and leave by Urban Hafner, on Flickr

The girl and the sky by Urban Hafner, on Flickr

hookstrapped · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:01:19 PM »

No question, my Mamiya 6. It's a joy to use and has pushed me as a photographer in many different ways. It's made me a better photographer.

Heather · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:04:17 PM »

It's always a toss up between my Holga (also an old one, bought when I started photography in high school in 99/00 ... didn't put a roll through it for 5 years though) and my Finetta 88. I love my ladies

My large format cameras are all nicknamed after guys...

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:15:09 PM »

Have to say I agree with Nigel, though he does make his holga "hummmm" in such a beautiful and special way! That collection of shots he has done of storefronts just warm my heart!
As far as loving a camera for its "looks" alone I would have to say my Bencini cameras and my Exakta fill that spot..something about that art deco look that gets me everytime...
Seriousely, I love all cameras, each for a different reason, they are all just beautiful pieces of cleverness.

moominsean · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:37:19 PM »

I would have to say my Polaroid 190. It just seems like I can do so much with it, from super sharp to dreamy, for me there are so many more options than what I get with conventional film. Rarely do I like my own work as much as what I do with the 190. And I can control what I do with it, which isn't always possible with other auto Polaroids. And now I finally have a filter adapter for it so I can use 46mm filters! Time to play around with warming filters and Type 108!

LT · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:45:08 PM »

great holga shots Nigel.

I've rationalised my camera collection recently ... but the one I never seem to want to pass on is my Bronica sq - It's helped me to make a lot of pictures that I am very proud of, so I suppose that would be my one and only ... although I have a new 5x4 on the way, so this is subject to change

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:48:59 PM »

Nigel, you seem to have struck a chord with the Holga! I don't use mine as much as I used to, but, I have had it 6 years and it is still as sweet as ever. Having said that, if I could only have the one (and by the way, that is rather mean of you) I would have to say my Hasselblad SWC. It's not as flexible as many, but, it always comes up trumps when I need it to. I love it.

Francois · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:56:08 PM »

Actually, for me it was more about a love affair with a lens than any other thing. When I wore out the aperture on my Nikkor 28-70, I was really desperate. I've used this lens for so long I just know how it's going to see! Lucky, I found an almost bran spanking new one attached to a very nice F-90x

This is my go to setup for extra reliable results.

Miller · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2012, 11:04:20 PM »

The camera that makes me think outside the 'box' due to its lack of functions is my Pinhole Goose and I too will start messing with more filters to get more out of it... Also cannot wait to drop the Mamiya Press back for more adventures. I guess it's because with no viewfinder I get a belated surprise each time...

Mlr

SLVR · « **Reply #13 on:** April 27, 2012, 01:48:07 AM »

This thread is really inspiring. I really want to get a holga and maybe this will push me to getting one. If i could only have one camera i think it would have to be either my XA or XA2. I like the sharpness of the lens but also like the effects that a compact camera gives.

Steven. · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2012, 03:54:48 AM »

my olympus stylus.. it goes everywhere with me and i love the results i get from it.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #15 on:** April 27, 2012, 07:29:28 AM »

Quote from: Urban Hafner on April 26, 2012, 09:35:05 PM

For me it would have to be my Yashica Mat. Partly because I've taken great shots with it, but also because it was my first quality medium format camera. And I've fixed it myself, too.

I wish I could say the same on the last bit! though mine a Yashica 635. gonna try my hand on it again soon.

till then, here's an homage to our times together:

...but, I'll always have my holga

nothing beats it in black and white for me~

Mab · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2012, 07:46:46 AM »

I'm a recovering GAS addict and I try my best not to fall in love with gear again. But I very much like cameras that can give me new and exciting artistic paths to follow like my Holga 120 PWC.

Windy · « **Reply #17 on:** April 27, 2012, 07:55:16 AM »

Love my Holga's too

The 120TLR is my favourite (thanks Phil)

Nigel · « **Reply #18 on:** April 27, 2012, 08:31:42 AM »

Some really interesting answers, thanks everyone. And thank for the kind comments about my Holga shots [blushing].

The Holga gets a lot of votes, but in general it seems we have fairly broad taste and that is great in itself.

Paul Mitchell · « **Reply #19 on:** April 27, 2012, 09:21:54 AM »

No surprises from me... definitely my Zero 2000 and more recently my Zero 2000 Deluxe!

Paul

Late Developer · « **Reply #20 on:** April 27, 2012, 09:27:32 AM »

I've never owned a Holga - maybe I should give one a go.

Down the years, cameras have come and gone but the one I think I'd be reluctant to part with most is my Hasselblad 500c/m. Once you've got used to how to load it, it's such a simple camera to use and the lenses are brilliant.

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #21 on:** April 27, 2012, 09:39:04 AM »

Quote from: jojonas~ on April 27, 2012, 07:29:28 AM

Quote from: Urban Hafner on April 26, 2012, 09:35:05 PM
For me it would have to be my Yashica Mat. Partly because I've taken great shots with it, but also because it was my first quality medium format camera. And I've fixed it myself, too.
I wish I could say the same on the last bit! though mine a Yashica 635. gonna try my hand on it again soon.
till then, here's an homage to our times together:

Well, I only cleaned off the oil on the lens that came from the shutter. I might have to send it off for a CLA one day because the shutter feels a bit sluggish. Or maybe I'll just continue on my own (cleaning the finder, flocking the interior, ...)

Ordinal · « **Reply #22 on:** April 27, 2012, 09:59:02 AM »

I also love my Holga - I think everyone loves their Holga, if they use it at all - but like many things we love, it drives me insane a lot of the time.

I think my "desert island camera" would probably be my Lubitel 2. There's just something about the complete simplicity, and while people complain about the lenses, mine seems to take lovely sharp pictures. It can take landscapes or close-up portraits or almost anything without having to have a bag full of kit to support it. I could also use it to hammer open coconuts without it really minding.

Though I'll probably change my mind tomorrow. Or in half an hour.

byron · « **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2012, 03:42:38 PM »

Mine would have to be my Olympus OM-2. After using only medium format for a year or two, I bought an OM-10 and started shooting 35mm for fun. It broke, so I bought myself an OM-2 last April and I've loved it constantly. There's never been a moment when I felt frustrated or limited by it...not to mention I love how the 50/1.4 makes everything look.

Lino · « **Reply #24 on:** April 27, 2012, 05:58:59 PM »

My favorite camera ever has to be the olympus xa. I guess its because it's pretty small and silly looking so I feel invisible using it.

Love your holga pictures by the way Nigel.

gregor · « **Reply #25 on:** April 27, 2012, 06:22:31 PM »

the more complicated the more likely it is to break down ;-) I have 2 Leicas & another polaroid 180 sitting in the cupboard waiting to go out for service.

my favorite camera of all time is the simplest (other than a pinhole): a toss up between the diana 151 or a polaroid 250.

light/dark, near/far. how simple is that?

artobest · « **Reply #26 on:** April 30, 2012, 12:51:22 PM »

What a great thread. @Byron, you make me want an OM very badly indeed.

If I had to choose (and I'd hate to), I'd have to pick my Nikon 35Ti. So lovely to look at, hold and use.

Skorj · « **Reply #27 on:** April 30, 2012, 01:16:18 PM »

Well... I love my Goose!

Because it can do this:

mickld · « **Reply #28 on:** April 30, 2012, 01:52:38 PM »

I'm a big fan of my Holga too, and it's lovely big square negs. The fact that it is so lightweight, pocketable and robust makes it my main carry around camera. I've found that wet printing from negs that have been reasonably properly exposed produces luscious, buttery smooth tones that I just can't seem to get from scans. Like Nigel, I tend to produce more keepers per roll with the Holga than any of the others.

I also have to declare my love for the Mamiya M645. The (relatively) inexpensive lenses positively drip quality and the waistlevel viewfinder often offers a glorious three dimensional view onto the world - specially when I have an orange filter screwed on and it's a bright sunny day. It just looks wonderful before I've even taken a picture. Its one of those cameras that you spend time walking around looking at things just to see what they look like. The Mamiya's big, heavy tank of a body with it's all-manual controls makes each photo shot with it feel like event. Not fast, not stealthy but a sensory treat to use.

Sandeha Lynch · « **Reply #29 on:** April 30, 2012, 07:13:13 PM »

If I were really down to one camera it would have to be almost any of the Rollei TLRs I've had, this one a Rolleiflex T.

The lens is important, but the viewpoint of a TLR suits me very well.

Randy B · « **Reply #30 on:** April 30, 2012, 09:10:40 PM »

I am in love with my Fuji GF670. I love how compact and easy to carry it is, it's become my go to camera for vacations and adventures and whenever I think theres going to be something I really want to take a good photo of. It's fixed lens can be a bit limiting at times, but the image quality is fantastic and its build quality is superb.

The Lomo LCA+ is a very close second, but if I only had one camera I think I'd want the image quality of the GF670.

Author Topic: My best ever ... (Read 9002 times)

astrobeck