Holga

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Holga 120 CFN

The Holga 120 S is a very cheaply built medium format camera in China . It was first manufactured in Hong Kong in 1982 . A removable film mask allows recordings on 120 roll film in either 6 × 6 or 4.5 × 6  cm format .

For some time now, a pure Holga lens has also been available, with which the Holga-typical errors in modern SLR cameras can be achieved.

Technical specifications

  • Objective : non-coated meniscus lens with 60 mm focal length ; Image angle horizontal 53 °, vertical 53 °, diagonal 70 ° (6 × 6) or vertical 41 °, diagonal 64 ° (4.5 × 6)
  • Luminous intensity (photography) : nominally f = 1: 8, the intended setting option from "cloud" to "sun" does not change the older models. The actual aperture is about 4.5 mm, which corresponds to an aperture of about 1:13. The shutter switch works on models manufactured after 2009. You can choose between “cloud” (f / 13) and “sun” (f / 19).
  • manual focus according to symbols
  • Shutter type: metal hole rotary spring diaphragm with fixed shutter speed of about 1/100 of a second, some models also have setting B
  • Hot shoe with center contact and X-synchronization , some model variants with built-in, unregulated electronic flash
  • Finder: Simple telescopic viewfinder
  • Film format: 120 roll film

properties

The Holga was designed as a popular camera for the Chinese market, which should be affordable for everyone. Over time it has found its way to the West and now enjoys a certain cult status in Europe and the USA .

Photos taken with the Holga have numerous technical defects, such as blurring, scattered light or color distortions. It also offers very few setting options. On the other hand, it offers possibilities that are blocked with conventional cameras in order to avoid errors. So z. B. turn the winding knob as far as you want, which can be used to create partial double exposures.

Thanks to its low price, the Holga is a popular object for technical modifications. Numerous instructions and accessories can be found on the web.

practice

Sample photo - the strong vignetting is clearly visible
  • The permanently mounted 60 mm lens is made of plastic on all cameras of the Holga series. The lenses themselves can also be made of plastic, depending on the model. The lens has more or less almost all the image errors that one tries to correct with conventional cameras.
  • The lens distorts any lines that are in the image, including lines that go through the center of the image. Their distortions are asymmetrical and vary from model to model.
  • The lenses are not coated, which results in poor contrast rendition. It is therefore also advisable to watch films that work harder in contrast, such as B. slide films to use.
  • Due to the lack of coating, the lens cuts the reproduced color spectrum above approx. 600 nm and below approx. 400 nm with a smooth curve, which creates its own color characteristic in color images.
  • The lens is not equally sharp over the entire image plane. Most of the time it is relatively sharp in the center and blurs towards the edges. However, it never gets really hot.
  • The lens combination also causes a strong decrease in brightness ( vignetting ) towards the edges. This vignetting is best noticeable when the Holga is used in 6x6 mode.
  • Other image errors ( astigmatism , coma , chromatic aberration , spherical aberration ) are also visible, but do not have such a clear significance in the overall aesthetics as those mentioned above.
  • Depending on the model, one or two adapter masks are included. This makes it possible to take photos on the inserted roll film in both 6x6 cm (square) and 4.5x6 cm (rectangular) formats. It should not be forgotten that the camera delivers images in portrait format when the 4.5x6 mask is inserted. The number of images per film also changes depending on the format. With the 4.5x6 mask there is room for 16, with the 6x6 mask there is space for twelve recordings on one film. The counter on the back has to be changed accordingly. If you want more intense blur games, the best thing to do is simply not use a mask at all, so the film is de facto no longer flat.
  • Another mistake is the incidence of light, which varies chaotically depending on the model and leaves an imprint of the camera in every photo in bright light. These are caused by holes in the housing. However, there are also enough specimens that have no incidence of light.
  • The pictures of the Holga are fine-grained than 35mm photos, but not nearly as sharp as those of a mediocre 35mm camera. ISO -100 / 21 ° film is only recommended when the sun is shining from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the summer months . For all other situations ISO-400/27 ° films are more appropriate.
  • Negative film is preferable to slide film in very fluctuating light situations. This compensates for the differences better. Since the camera does not offer any adjustment options, the film has to do this job. In relatively stable lighting conditions, however, slide film is preferable. This better compensates for the low contrast of the lens.
  • Black and white film can be used without hesitation. Chromogenic b / w films with ISO 400/27 ° such as the KODAK BW 400CN and ILFORD XP2 are particularly recommended. These compensate for very different lighting conditions particularly well.
35mm film placed in a holga and exposed over its entire surface
  • You don't need to convert the Holga to insert a 35mm film. For example, if the film is clamped between foam pieces, it cannot slip. Since you then have no control over how far the film has been transported, you have to continue to turn approx. 34 clicks (revolutions). With about 30 clicks (at 6x6) the images connect directly to one another and you have an endless image. It should be noted that the counter is carefully taped shut at the back, otherwise light can enter.

Models

  • Holga 120 S - standard Holga, plastic lens
  • Holga 120 SF - same as S, but with an integrated flash
  • Holga 120 N - Bulb function ( long exposure ), tripod connection, hot shoe, plastic lens
  • Holga 120 FN - Bulb function ( long exposure ), tripod connection, integrated flash, plastic lens
  • Holga 120 GN - Bulb function ( long exposure ), tripod connection, hot shoe, glass lens
  • Holga 120 GFN - Bulb function ( long exposure ), tripod connection, integrated flash, glass lens
  • Holga 120 CFN - Bulb function ( long exposure ), tripod connection, integrated flash - can be colored using integrated colored foils, plastic lens
  • Holga 120 GCFN - Bulb function ( long exposure ), tripod connection, integrated flash - can be colored using integrated color foils, glass lens
  • Woca 120 GF - identical to the Holga 120 GFN camera
  • Woca 120 G - with the exception of a glass lens, identical to the Holga 120 S camera
  • Holga 135 - for 35 mm 35mm film
  • Holga 135 BC - like Holga 135, with an additional mask that is installed behind the lens. Causes vignetting similar to that of the Holga 120 cameras
  • Holga 135 PC - like Holga 135, with a pinhole instead of a lens ( pinhole camera )
  • Holga 120 TLR - Bulb function ( long exposure ), tripod connection, integrated flash - can be colored using integrated color foils, plastic lens
  • Holga 120 pan - panorama camera 90 mm lens, 6 × 12 cm negative format. 2 flash shoes, level for aligning the camera, tripod connection

Web links

Commons : Holga  - collection of images, videos and audio files