Watching this in 2021... I love your humor, and I'm grateful that your channel is still around and going strong 6+ years later. Meanwhile, Martin Henson has made another video about the "holga experience", and he comes to a similar conclusion: Try it before you talk about it, it's too special to judge prematurely.
Thank you! I am really glad to be here six years later, too, and also really glad that I look back at what I did back then and cringe because what I'm doing now, is, I think, a lot better. And yeah, any camera can be the ideal tool for the right purpose. Some can do it for more situations than others. But there's something about lo-fi cameras, writ large, that just create very evocative images.
I have never been a photographer of any sort before, but I happened to come across a Holga 120S and I decided I'd like to try it because this camera seemed so simple. I suppose that I have got into Iphone photos because they are so disposable. Much like vinyl records, film cameras have an irreplacable permanence that phone camera don't have. I looked for instructions online and found this video, and it answered every question that I may have had about the Holga's usage. Thank you for your entertaining, straight-to-the-point informational video.
Thanks again for all your great videos this is not the first one that's helped me greatly. I picked up a Holga 120 CFN at a Goodwill for 5 bucks and wanted to give it a try
Really nice, David. Love the simplicity of your reviews, yet entertaining...of course, great music as always...oddly emotional experience, watching your instruction videos. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. I will. My channel's been quiet for a few months, but I have a bunch of stuff on the way. I'm taking some time off work in November and December to catch up, but I have, right now, 25 cameras' videos scripted awaiting filming and one other video that I need to re-film a few shots for but that should go live in the next week.
I cannot tell you how glad I am to find this. I used a 120N in school and finally got my own 120S for my birthday. I took it out today to use it for the first time and the shutter sounded like it was on a Bulb setting. I've now searched for hours trying to find any information on the shutter speed. (Turns out there's virtually no info about the 120S at all). Yours is the first answer I've found. I was so annoyed that my camera is loaded with film so I couldn't just check it by looking. In short, holy shit THANK YOU.
Loved the way you choked on "Your camera is a precision..." Silly questions: 1) There are three lots of dots and numbers on the back of the film - I assume these are for 6x4.5, 6x6... and on more sophisticated bodies, 6x9(?) 2) With this type of film, what do you do with the first roll for a takeup spool? Does one come with the camera? 3) For 35mm, the standard print size you see in everyone's albums is traditionally 6" x 4" - what does 120 return? 4) What is the next level of sophistication up from here? I'm almost tempted to give 120 a go - I could certainly develop it - the problem would be scanning it (I'm sure I could come up with some sort of lashup solution at a pinch) or finding somewhere to get the first roll or two developed professionally (IMO always a good idea when one is starting out in a new format).
LOL, thank you. For your questions: 1- You are correct. That dates back to the first standards for 120 film (then called B117, I think) and the printing carries over because it was adopted into standard practice even though few 6X9 camera were made after emulsions improved in the 1960s or so. 2- Takeup spools used to come with cameras, but I'd not assume they do now (for used bodies.) It's always good to have a few extra 120 spools on hand just in case. 3- 120 can return 6X4 with fantastic resolution. Depending on your film, you can go much higher. Ektar 100, for instance, with a good lens can be poster printed from medium format. 4- Well, up from Holga? A home-made shoebox pinhole. That's a bit jokey. Holgas have a certain aesthetic. If you want to take a jump up in the same vein, check out the Diana+. Ondu pinhole cameras are quite good and function similarly. If you want to jump up in terms of medium format quality in general, try out an inexpensive TLR like a Chinese-made Seagull or similar or an old triplet Rolleicord C or off-brand TLR like a Ricoh.
This was really helpful, as all your tutorials are!! I appreciated how you showed the film advancing, because that’s exactly what I needed help with on mine. I wasn’t sure if I’d ruined the roll or not. :)
Ah yes. My spiritual homeland's most famous export. The back flying off was very much demonstrated in a certain other famous other photography UA-cam channel, much to that former hosts annoyance. 🤣 Excellent video. Do you have the ability to look at other "lo-fi"/"lomography" type cameras like the famous Lomo LC-A and others?
At some point I will for sure. I have a Meisuppi Half that I haven't made a video on yet. I'm planning to, though. After I finish the batch of videos manuals I'm working on this year I will probably pick up some more of the lo-fi cameras, like the Diana and others, to shoot around with. They're a lot of fun to use.
That's fantastic. Will look forward to those when they appear. Will especially be interested in your thoughts on the Diana as that is yet another famous Hong Kong export that I would like to find out a bit more about.
Yeah, I couldn't find any info on when the 120S was discontinued either. But I did find a 30th Anniversary Holga video. Looks official ua-cam.com/video/VotbOeeL63o/v-deo.html It lists Holga models and their year of production in chronological order. The video starts off with 120N (1982). Interestingly, the 120S is _not_ listed. I'm guessing 120S was produced in 1981 (the year the company was started by T. M. Lee) and discontinued in 1982 when the 120N was introduced?
The 120S was definitely a later camera. The N was a super-simple model with no hot shoe. The S and its hot shoe came later. It was eventually superseded by something else.
+Garubolas That's more dependent upon situation. In daylight, ISO 100 works, plus or minus a half stop. Inside, you need 400 or faster, but 800 is a somewhat better option then.
Watching this in 2021... I love your humor, and I'm grateful that your channel is still around and going strong 6+ years later.
Meanwhile, Martin Henson has made another video about the "holga experience", and he comes to a similar conclusion: Try it before you talk about it, it's too special to judge prematurely.
Thank you! I am really glad to be here six years later, too, and also really glad that I look back at what I did back then and cringe because what I'm doing now, is, I think, a lot better. And yeah, any camera can be the ideal tool for the right purpose. Some can do it for more situations than others. But there's something about lo-fi cameras, writ large, that just create very evocative images.
I have never been a photographer of any sort before, but I happened to come across a Holga 120S and I decided I'd like to try it because this camera seemed so simple. I suppose that I have got into Iphone photos because they are so disposable. Much like vinyl records, film cameras have an irreplacable permanence that phone camera don't have. I looked for instructions online and found this video, and it answered every question that I may have had about the Holga's usage. Thank you for your entertaining, straight-to-the-point informational video.
andrezb123 You're very welcome. Thank you for the feedback and take great photos!
Thanks again for all your great videos this is not the first one that's helped me greatly. I picked up a Holga 120 CFN at a Goodwill for 5 bucks and wanted to give it a try
Thank you!
Really nice, David. Love the simplicity of your reviews, yet entertaining...of course,
great music as always...oddly emotional experience, watching your instruction videos. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. I will. My channel's been quiet for a few months, but I have a bunch of stuff on the way. I'm taking some time off work in November and December to catch up, but I have, right now, 25 cameras' videos scripted awaiting filming and one other video that I need to re-film a few shots for but that should go live in the next week.
I'm a photo buff. Just got a Holga 120S and your video helped *a lot* !!! Thank you!
Thank you!
I cannot tell you how glad I am to find this. I used a 120N in school and finally got my own 120S for my birthday. I took it out today to use it for the first time and the shutter sounded like it was on a Bulb setting. I've now searched for hours trying to find any information on the shutter speed. (Turns out there's virtually no info about the 120S at all). Yours is the first answer I've found. I was so annoyed that my camera is loaded with film so I couldn't just check it by looking.
In short, holy shit THANK YOU.
+Shealyn Emery Thank you! The lack of info on the 120S is a big part of the reason I wanted to do a video on it.
Well it was very much appreciated!
Shealyn Emery 6
"They develop memory; Like fishing line and springs and...babies..."
I can't catch my breath, that one caught me off guard.
Classical Rips LOL. I had to go back and re-listen to that. I don't even remember saying it. I was literally in tears.
Loved the way you choked on "Your camera is a precision..."
Silly questions:
1) There are three lots of dots and numbers on the back of the film - I assume these are for 6x4.5, 6x6... and on more sophisticated bodies, 6x9(?)
2) With this type of film, what do you do with the first roll for a takeup spool? Does one come with the camera?
3) For 35mm, the standard print size you see in everyone's albums is traditionally 6" x 4" - what does 120 return?
4) What is the next level of sophistication up from here?
I'm almost tempted to give 120 a go - I could certainly develop it - the problem would be scanning it (I'm sure I could come up with some sort of lashup solution at a pinch) or finding somewhere to get the first roll or two developed professionally (IMO always a good idea when one is starting out in a new format).
LOL, thank you.
For your questions:
1- You are correct. That dates back to the first standards for 120 film (then called B117, I think) and the printing carries over because it was adopted into standard practice even though few 6X9 camera were made after emulsions improved in the 1960s or so.
2- Takeup spools used to come with cameras, but I'd not assume they do now (for used bodies.) It's always good to have a few extra 120 spools on hand just in case.
3- 120 can return 6X4 with fantastic resolution. Depending on your film, you can go much higher. Ektar 100, for instance, with a good lens can be poster printed from medium format.
4- Well, up from Holga? A home-made shoebox pinhole. That's a bit jokey. Holgas have a certain aesthetic. If you want to take a jump up in the same vein, check out the Diana+. Ondu pinhole cameras are quite good and function similarly. If you want to jump up in terms of medium format quality in general, try out an inexpensive TLR like a Chinese-made Seagull or similar or an old triplet Rolleicord C or off-brand TLR like a Ricoh.
Thank you for a very detailed and informative video. It will be very hand to me, in my photography adventure.
Thank you!
So incredibly helpful, thank you
Thank you!
This was really helpful, as all your tutorials are!! I appreciated how you showed the film advancing, because that’s exactly what I needed help with on mine. I wasn’t sure if I’d ruined the roll or not. :)
Thank you, Kary!
EXACTLY what I was looking for, thank you!!!
Fantastic! Thank you!
I just bought a 120 N and already shot 4 rolls of film. Very fun
Nice! These are a lot of fun to use.
Ah yes. My spiritual homeland's most famous export. The back flying off was very much demonstrated in a certain other famous other photography UA-cam channel, much to that former hosts annoyance. 🤣
Excellent video. Do you have the ability to look at other "lo-fi"/"lomography" type cameras like the famous Lomo LC-A and others?
At some point I will for sure. I have a Meisuppi Half that I haven't made a video on yet. I'm planning to, though. After I finish the batch of videos manuals I'm working on this year I will probably pick up some more of the lo-fi cameras, like the Diana and others, to shoot around with. They're a lot of fun to use.
That's fantastic. Will look forward to those when they appear. Will especially be interested in your thoughts on the Diana as that is yet another famous Hong Kong export that I would like to find out a bit more about.
Yeah, I couldn't find any info on when the 120S was discontinued either.
But I did find a 30th Anniversary Holga video. Looks official ua-cam.com/video/VotbOeeL63o/v-deo.html
It lists Holga models and their year of production in chronological order. The video starts off with 120N (1982). Interestingly, the 120S is _not_ listed.
I'm guessing 120S was produced in 1981 (the year the company was started by T. M. Lee) and discontinued in 1982 when the 120N was introduced?
The 120S was definitely a later camera. The N was a super-simple model with no hot shoe. The S and its hot shoe came later. It was eventually superseded by something else.
Do I stop the moment i see the numeric 1, or does it have to be in the center of the red window?
+Jerry Yang I try to center the numbers in the red windows.
you can made a double exposure in this camera?
Yes. Just push the shutter button twice without advancing the film. I believe that works on the Holga cameras.
question.
so do I take a photo and then advance to number 2 ? and skip all the dots?
Yes, that's correct. Only take a photo when a number is centered (or close to it) in the red window.
is there any "out of focus" area with the holga? :$
Everything from one atom in front of the lens to infinity is out of focus in some way or another. :D
what type of film ISO does the holga use?
+Garubolas That's more dependent upon situation. In daylight, ISO 100 works, plus or minus a half stop. Inside, you need 400 or faster, but 800 is a somewhat better option then.
does this camera need batteries?
Nope
You fucking rock man.
Thank you!