Author Topic: New camera (Holga) advice? (Read 21139 times)

Francois · « **Reply #50 on:** January 08, 2013, 06:57:38 PM »

We haven't had one as far as I can remember. And boy was it a long time ago since I last saw a discussion on the subject!

But in a way, this is all good since it gave me the feeling I should mod mine just for fun.

mcduff · « **Reply #51 on:** January 09, 2013, 08:50:06 PM »

Yay! I just got my holga 120s that I had ordered before Xmas, from eBay. It looks in good shape and was super cheap. I have never actually held one before and am surprised how small it is! (It is about as light as I expected haha)

Francois · « **Reply #52 on:** January 09, 2013, 10:29:15 PM »

Just don't leave it on the car seat over the summer. The stain it leaves is hard to remove

soeren · « **Reply #53 on:** January 10, 2013, 07:05:07 AM »

Holga's, Diana's and the like are Low Fi toys that you are supposed to experiment and play with. Don't think too much about which you get since the samples are all different. You may end up with several sample modified to suit special applications or you may start making your own simple lenses to fit on other cameras. It's a big playground and Holga is just one small and cheap toy in it.
Best regards
Søren

Emma · « **Reply #54 on:** January 11, 2013, 03:07:07 PM »

Thank you all for your help! I'm not actually going to get a Holga anyway anymore; Terry has very kindly offered me his Ciroflex TLR. But if I change my mind...

Francois · « **Reply #55 on:** January 11, 2013, 06:46:31 PM »

Nice!
I looked at the camera-wiki page and I think you'll like it.

TLR's have a way of changing your view of the world. The left to right viewfinder forces you to concentrate a bit more on composition. It's lovely for portraits as it's not as intimidating for the sitter (Robert Doisneau used to use a TLR for his portraits). They're as silent as you can get, that's why they were so popular with wedding photographers. Lovely in every way possible as you can see

sapata · « **Reply #56 on:** January 11, 2013, 08:40:04 PM »

TLR... now we're talking

SLVR · « **Reply #57 on:** January 11, 2013, 09:06:22 PM »

did someone say TLR??

Francois · « **Reply #58 on:** January 11, 2013, 10:47:21 PM »

Does that mean you actually got one of these?

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #59 on:** January 11, 2013, 11:14:45 PM »

Ian uses one

Francois · « **Reply #60 on:** January 12, 2013, 02:54:55 PM »

Emma: now that you have such a nice camera coming your way, you're going to need some way to calculate the exposure!

Just go either here http://squit.co.uk/photo/exposurecalc.html
or there or there http://expomat.tripod.com/

to get a free exposure computer. All you need to do is print, cut and glue them together.

Personally, I find the first one more complete but I always use the second one which I've had in my camera bag for what seems like forever.

You'll see, they're easy to use.

Emma · « **Reply #61 on:** January 12, 2013, 03:26:32 PM »

I have a light meter app on my phone, though it's probably not so good. Printing the squit photo one now. Thank you!

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #62 on:** January 12, 2013, 04:27:46 PM »

Emma,don't be too quick to dismiss the light meter on your phone..I use one that I like even better than a light meter I paid in excess of $200.00 for..
Terry is a very generous and kind person, I am sure you will like this camera he is sending you! He has helped me with several issues I have had with cameras.! Can't wait to see what you come up with! Have fun!

jojonas~ · « **Reply #63 on:** January 12, 2013, 07:27:36 PM »

I'm feeling daring this weekend... this I haven't done with my holga in a long long while, I dug up my 6x6 mask! hahaha

seriously though, how many here are using theirs? I think I took out mine after the first roll maybe.

Francois · « **Reply #64 on:** January 12, 2013, 08:51:09 PM »

Quote from: Emma on January 12, 2013, 03:26:32 PM

I have a light meter app on my phone

In that case you're all set!
(I keep forgetting phones now have cameras

my phone is so old it runs on coal!)

Terry · « **Reply #65 on:** January 12, 2013, 09:23:37 PM »

I expect a coal-fired phone is a useful thing in Quebec in the winter! Does anthracite give better reception?

sapata · « **Reply #66 on:** January 12, 2013, 09:41:20 PM »

Hummm... a coal fired phone could be used as a hands warmer too! This one resembles an iphone

Francois · « **Reply #67 on:** January 12, 2013, 10:38:09 PM »

Well, it's not as nice as you might think... it's so hard to get the sooth out of your ear after a long talk

charles binns · « **Reply #68 on:** January 12, 2013, 11:44:29 PM »

Who needs a light meter!!!!!

euge... · « **Reply #69 on:** January 13, 2013, 01:29:31 AM »

enjoy your new camera emma.but if you have the 22 quid burning a hole in your pocket again and still want some holga like action ,then you could also try the plastic fantastic Debonair from the film photography project.It has a hotshoe that you can add your own flash to and works out at approx 22/23 quid when you factor in postage.
Plus ,as it says on its box,'It takes 16 pictures in colour OR black/white on 120 film.
http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/fpp-plastic-filmtastic-120-debonair-camera

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #70 on:** January 14, 2013, 01:46:39 AM »

Quote from: Emma on January 11, 2013, 03:07:07 PM

Thank you all for your help! I'm not actually going to get a Holga anyway anymore; Terry has very kindly offered me his Ciroflex TLR. But if I change my mind...

I have a rebranded Ciroflex. It's a lot of fun.

Untitled by knapjack, on Flickr

jojonas~ · « **Reply #71 on:** October 03, 2014, 10:33:18 AM »

Quote from: jojonas~ on January 07, 2013, 02:36:59 PM

Quote from: Leon on January 07, 2013, 10:55:23 AM
I do take the plastic ring out of the lens to widen the max aperture though - more dreamy blurrage lies in that direction.

Ideally, I'd want another lens that I can mod for that purpose

on that note, anyone got an extra?

ohyeah, a bit of an update here. I got a broken holga (busted shutter and no back) that I converted to pinhole and had the lens made as that extra I had been longing for - scans to come when I find the negatives and buy something to put my scanner and computer on more permanently.

some shots from the working space back in Gothenburg:

comparing brightness:

ohyeah, and I dunno if I showed this already but I did try the 6x6 mask while in japan. gives a bit of a different look compared to what I usually get! maybe more holga-like with sharp in the middle and funky blur around but less vignetting.

gonna compare the two lenses later

Mab · « **Reply #72 on:** October 03, 2014, 05:49:56 PM »

I re-read the whole thread and then finally opened up my Holga. I removed the 6x6 mask and carefully placed a strip of electrical tape on top of the guides. Ok, I might get rid of the laughably strong vignetting but I'm not too sure if that's what I want. Whatever, life is like a large box of cameras. You never know which one to use. Here is one from my old, non butchered, Holga. For old times' sake:

zapsnaps · « **Reply #73 on:** October 04, 2014, 06:23:05 PM »

Hmmmmm.

I was randomly clicking through FW looking for something new to read. Halfway through reading this thread, I found my mouse involuntarily going to The Bay and finding a 120N. I've thought about getting one before, but had never got around to it. This thread may well have tipped me over the edge. Again. I can't count the number of cameras I've either bought or are on my want list since discovering this group of bank account clearers known as FW.

Francois · « **Reply #74 on:** October 04, 2014, 09:14:13 PM »

At least it's just a Holga. It could have been Alpas, Linhoffs, Hasselblads...

x100art · « **Reply #75 on:** October 04, 2014, 09:17:22 PM »

i have a few holgas, a 35mm pinehole and 2 120 holgas. I just ordered a pinhole 120 from ebay a few days ago.

One of the 120 Holgas I ended sending as a "Holga project" to a few forums friends. Each member supposed to take 2 pictures and mail it to the next menber until I recive it back and develop it. First destination was Yorshire and after London and then back to the US.Should be back with mw in a few weeks..

02Pilot · « **Reply #76 on:** October 05, 2014, 04:00:14 AM »

Since we're on the subject here (and since this thread is largely responsible for me being compelled to ask the question in the first place), any opinions on the Holga 135 Pan? I've had an itch for a panoramic camera for a while, but most of the options are either expensive (XPan or Widelux), big enough that I won't want to carry them (Holga 120 Pan), a major undertaking (some sort of homebuilt camera), or some combination thereof. The 135 Pan seems like it might be one of the few cheap ways in. I'd be happy to hear of any experiences before my GAS gets the better of me.

zapsnaps · « **Reply #77 on:** October 05, 2014, 07:41:27 AM »

Francois: I've already got the Blad. But I so want a Linhof Press 2x3. Alpa? Now there's a brand under represented in my collection. Better start looking for one of those.

Francois · « **Reply #78 on:** October 05, 2014, 02:42:04 PM »

Quote from: zapsnaps on October 05, 2014, 07:41:27 AM

Francois: I've already got the Blad. But I so want a Linhof Press 2x3. Alpa? Now there's a brand under represented in my collection. Better start looking for one of those.

The nice ones are the 120 modular models that use a large format lens in a helicoidal mount... BTW, they also happen to have custom hardwood grips

jojonas~ · « **Reply #79 on:** October 05, 2014, 09:49:24 PM »

did someone mention wood in the holga thread?

Francois · « **Reply #80 on:** October 05, 2014, 10:39:14 PM »

Reminds me of those old Station Wagons from the 1970's

I must admit that the vinyl seems to be professionally applied.

jharr · « **Reply #81 on:** October 06, 2014, 05:20:08 AM »

Quote from: jojonas~ on October 05, 2014, 09:49:24 PM

did someone mention wood in the holga thread?

That is all sorts of awesome!

zapsnaps · « **Reply #82 on:** October 15, 2014, 06:36:02 PM »

Mine's has just arrived. In subtle blue (sorry Charles). Off to Vienna on Saturday (& Bratislava on Sunday) so I might take it with me on the 'business' trip.

sgt.brimer · « **Reply #83 on:** October 16, 2014, 05:01:45 AM »

I just ordered a Holga 120PC from eBay. I will need to order the shutter cable kit for it too.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #84 on:** October 16, 2014, 11:38:30 AM »

Quote from: sgt.brimer on October 16, 2014, 05:01:45 AM

I just ordered a Holga 120PC from eBay. I will need to order the shutter cable kit for it too.

or half a clothespin

see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skT2fsbzAn8

Ezzie · « **Reply #85 on:** October 17, 2014, 06:43:18 PM »

Quote from: Francois on October 05, 2014, 02:42:04 PM

Quote from: zapsnaps on October 05, 2014, 07:41:27 AM
Francois: I've already got the Blad. But I so want a Linhof Press 2x3. Alpa? Now there's a brand under represented in my collection. Better start looking for one of those.
The nice ones are the 120 modular models that use a large format lens in a helicoidal mount... BTW, they also happen to have custom hardwood grips

Quite possibly the most desireable (and good looking) cameras on the planet, wouldn't mind a 12WA

Francois · « **Reply #86 on:** October 17, 2014, 10:18:35 PM »

One of the up sides of all things Holga is that they won't break your back!