Holga 146120 120 Color Flash Camera
by Holga
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Holga 146120 120 Color Flash Camera
Customer Review: Photography is fun again!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got so burned out on mindless digital photography, I sold my digital Fuji to an old man named Henry and bought myself this Holga and a huge batch of expired 120 and 35mm film.
There aren't many cameras that can take such a beating and still survive. I have dropped this several times, my toddler daughter has gotten hold of it, and it still looks and performs as it did the day I bought it.
Helpful hints: get yourself some tape, because the metal clips that hold the back of the camera on slide all the time. And you DON'T want to lose your precious images simply because you didn't secure the camera!
The camera will probably come with a 6x6 mask already inserted, and the 6x4.5 mask wrapped in plastic. I believe the older Holgas never had an actual 6x6 mask, only the 6x4.5 (that meant you had to tape up the inside so the edges wouldn't scratch your film). The other great thing about this 6x6 mask is that it holds your AA batteries in so you don't have to tape them up. It does reduce the risk of light leaks, so if you are going for that, it might not happen in-camera (but I got leaks while unloading the film, so there's always a way!).
I suggest investing in the cable release that will allow you to comfortably do long exposures shots without holding your breath and praying. Of course, get yourself a tripod, because this model has a mount already - no need to mod it!
Also, tape up the little switch on the bottom, the one that enables the "Bulb" feature. I have had entire rolls ruined because I was shooting in the daytime and had inadvertently slid the button over to "B."
Most importantly - have fun with this camera. It takes a few rolls to really get to where you feel comfortable, so if your first roll or two makes you want to cry, we have ALL been there before.
Customer Review: New Favorite Toy!
Summary: 4 Stars
This camera has become an instant favorite. I have collected vintage cameras for several years and even have a few very old Rolleiflex, Mamiya, and Leica models. As a seasoned photographer and a huge fan of medium format, I was very impressed with what the Holga can do for a low-end plastic camera. It doesn't feel like much, but the images it produces are completely unique and surprisingly high quality.
Don't confuse quality with perfection, though. Because of the cheesy plastic construction you'll get light leaks and other little quirks - but as any Holga enthusiast will tell you, these are part of their charm. The features are pretty basic, which can be both a pro and a con. On one hand, it doesn't allow you to customize settings too much, but on the other, it is incredibly easy to use and anyone can produce deceptively amazing, artistic photos with a hip, vintage feel without any knowledge of film photography. The built-in color flash is a great feature, with a dial that lets the user choose between basic white, red, blue, or yellow light.
I definitely recommend this camera, with a couple small pieces of advice: purchase this model instead of the kit (which doesn't come with most of the things pictured and doesn't have much added value for the price, unless you really want the booklet of Holga photos). Then, use the extra money to buy yourself some film (the results on black and white are remarkable.) You won't be sorry when you have your first set of prints in hand.
Customer Review: A massive con!
Summary: 1 Stars
I didn't buy - a young and foolish relative did. He thought you could take good or bad pictures with a Holga. He didn't realise that they don't offer a choice - only bad. Nothing on this camera is built to last more than a few films and that is if it wotks in the first place. The finish is so bad that many will probably not function. Idiot photography has to be the only activity where a seller can persuade the stupid to part with $50 for something that costs less than 20 cents to make. Many of the available accessories will have unit production costs under 1 cent. There is no room for quality control when replacement costs are so low.
For $1.50 equivalent I bought my nephew an old Brownie box camera from a Charity shop - what you call a thrift shop. It takes the same 120 film. It has the same crappy single meniscus lense and it works best at it's preset focus which is about 12 feet.
He's sold the chinese crap to a fellow student who is pathetically happy with it. My nephew is also happy becasue he's got £20 for film and processing, gets similar results and he has now bought, on my recommendation, a Beirette 35mm for £1. That probably will return too good a print but we can doctor the camera and lense a bit to Holga-ise the images.
Customer Review: Will change the way you take pictures
Summary: 5 Stars
God I love this camera. It's ugly, cheaply made, and completely unpredictable, but for an amateur like me, just realizing the joys of photography, it was exactly what I needed. Like other reviewers here, I too had gotten a bit bored with my mid-range digital camera, and invested the low, low fee of ~$60 in this little creature. I had read it could be frustrating and disappointing, but I have experienced neither emotion since becoming its owner. I have almost entirely stopped using my digital, and a 35mm SLR that is also a great camera... this one is just so much more fun.
The only drawback is the price and inconvenience of film/development. Try to buy in bulk, and get film developed only - not printed. It'll only cost about $2-3 a roll, and you can then scan the negatives (another investment, but if you see film in your future...) or print them yourself. But honestly, it's worth it. I'm so excited every time I get a roll back from the developers I can hardly wait, and I'm seldom disappointed. If you can appreciate the strange, beautiful way the Holga views the world, and not expect it to produce high fidelity images, you can't go wrong.
Customer Review: Consistently cool
Summary: 5 Stars
This is truly my favorite camera in the world. I have a great digital ultra-zoom and really wanted a digital SLR but couldn't afford it. A friend suggested the Holga--a step in the absolute opposite direction--and boy am I glad I got it. I was so BORED with Photoshop and digitalization. I really wanted to create pictures, not spend mindless hours in front of the computer. Holga gives me just that. It's quirkiness is what makes it so wonderful, from the light leaks to the vignetting. You truly never know what your film is going to look like, but it's almost always interesting. Black and white film is incredible in it! I suggest the filter set that comes with red, green, yellow and blue filters. I have gotten some truly wonderful results using the red filter with black and white film--so contrasty it's sick! The Holga has renewed and revived my interest in photography. Since I couldn't make my pictures perfect I figured I'd embrace the imperfections. Thanks Holga!