Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

120 CFN is the third type of Holga that I bought last year. All of them I bought from B&H.All of them are unique. When I had the first one and started shooting I fall in love with this plastic camera. First of all, because camera is very simple, secondly, because camera produces very distinctive images.Plastic fantastic! Now, when I go out for shooting, Holga is a constant partner of my Hasselblad. Simple,light,perfect for artwork.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

I have developed around 6 rolls of film with my Holga 120N. Unfortunately many of the photos were under developed. They were my fault, but with all(?) Holgas having f/13ish, 1/125 seconds, you need a lot of light to get properly exposed pictures. Now I know that indoors or cloudy days really need a flash. My opionion is that all Holgas should have a flash. Spend the extra money, and save yourself the frustration and money of undeveloped shots.There was mechanical problems right out of the box. I was considering sending it back to B&H, but decided to try to fix it myself. There was a metal disc that opened light to the film that was bent, along with another "contact" that caused the flash to sometimes not fire. I tested everything before I loaded any film (something I highly recommend), and after the first few clicks, I realized there was a problem. Rather than returning it, I decided to try and fix it. For $[$] I shouldn't have to do this. In reality, I fixed it by simply bending a few metal parts. Not really a big deal, but kinda disapointing. The disc that opened light to the film was a big deal, as it would have rendered the camera useless (it was stuck open). The "aperature" select (cloudy or sunny) got stuck infront of the opening. In realiy, I then discovered that that switch did nothing. Both positions were the same aperature. The flash did not fire because a metal part was not bent right. Anyways, now I know how simple this camera is, and how to fix it too. Its really not that bad to fix if you have some mechanical aptitude. I am just glad that I didn't waste a roll of film.Regardless, I'd still get this Holga. Just take a few dozen snaps when you get it (without film), to make sure everything works properly.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

Had fairly low expectations - given the dodgy quality of the construction - but hey it's great. Great meaning inconsistent and unpredictable - but that's why you buy a camera like this.
Love the format - sort of whet's your appetite for a Mamiya 7!

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

When I first got the camera I had no idea how to use it so I read through the manual and had no problem after that. The instructions were very clear.
It's a light weight camera so it doesn't weigh down my backpack or purse.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

let me just say this camera is awesome. it's a totally fun camera and it was awesome to capture my moments in nyc. my experience at b&h was astounding as well!

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

This camera is fun because it isn't necessary to think much about what your doing. Why stress out about shooting pictures when there will be plenty of faults with your pictures anyway? It lets your creative side run wild.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

This is awesome and simple. What I love mostly is the weight. So I can carry it around all day and not kill my shoulders like my big cameras do. Cheap price and fun to play with.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

I'm using this new Holga for a personal project. What I love about Holgas (I have a few) is that each one is unique and full of surprises. Because of the expected uncertainty, a new relationship has to be developed with each individual camera.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

Here's why I rated it 5 stars. It's a plastic toy for gosh sakes adapted by photo-artists to get soft special effects. Boy does it ever do a great job doing that. Heaven forbid that someone decides to copy this into a high-end professional camera. If they did the charm would be lost.

I've used software filters to get the same effect and frankly they aren't anywhere as good as the original. The plastic frame, the light leaky seams of the back and camera body enhances the vignette effect, and the over simplicity of only two apertures and four focal points force me to take my time, think about the composition and approximate the artistic effect I think I might get with the Holga. The results can be a delight.

Also you can't beat the price. Cheap with charm, and a great little box to force you to think about how to create abstracts.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

The perfect camera with just the right bells and whistles at a way more than fair price !!!!!!!!! [...]

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

This is a great camera to play around with artistically or just as a regular file camera!

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

Instead of taking twenty shots, I have to plan for a single exposure. That makes me think more than digital photography requires. I love this! Great with the color wheel for flash.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

I've used Holgas for almost 10 years and I use this camera on fine art and fashion shoots.It gives me alot of liberty and I love that I always get amazing images from it.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

This is a great little camera which shoots medium format film and does a great job at it. It's a "let go and have fun camera", since you have very little control like with other button loaded cameras. It's good to have a little understanding of it's abilities and it's restrictions when you go to use it. Each camera has it's own quirks and light leaks and such, so each camera is different- so you learn what your own cameras boundaries are. I shoot at a pro level and love this camera! You have to do some taping and Velcro to keep it all tight and together, but that's the deal with plastic cameras in general. But what the heck, look at the cost, you can afford to try it out and have fun and decide for yourself!

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

My daughter is 17 and taking a photography class. Her teacher recommended this because it offers a way to take really unusual pictures. She is having so much fun with it, and we have even set up a darkroom for her. It was SO affordable!

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

I bought my Holga because I was tired of taking pictures without thinking with my digital camera, and I don't regret it at all. My first use was during a trip to Mexico, it was a little bit tricky (i'm sure that I just need to use it more often and all my problems will be gone). First, because i had to get used to the idea that I can't see my photo right away (which makes things more fun! I love the surprise effect), second because I had no idea how to work with light, always questioning if i should use or not the flash, etc. Not all of my photos came out since i still have to learn how to use a Holga, but the ones that came out are incredible!!! I could never achieve the effects I got with a regular digital camera. Holga is really fun and looking for to take more pictures.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

You feel like you are a kid again playing with a toy for hours. It's light and made of plastic. Really, the most joyful moments, and without spending a lot of money!

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

I love my Holga. Though I don't get too much vignetting and light flares (things that I would want in a Holga), it is still my favorite lomo camera. If you're a beginner photographer and want to get into the 120 world, this is the camera for you. Just don't expect the high quality images of a digital camera.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

I was in an artistic funk when it came to my photography. Already a huge film fan I needed to try and do something new to jump start my creativity, and boy did the Holga do exactly that!

Let's face it, the Holga is reasonably priced. Especially when you take into consideration all the mods you can do to the camera and how amazing the photographs can potentially turn out.

One thing that irks me however -and I heard this is some what common- is while shooting my first roll of film the foam pieces that are behind the film canister and the take-up spool came loose and got wound up with film. Luckily this didn't ruin my entire roll, just a few frames. This is a simple fix however, just used some Gorilla glue and it works like a charm.

I would recommend this camera to anyone. Whether you're just getting into film photography or a seasoned pro, Holgas are fun and can produce some very unique images.

Comments about Holga 120CFN Medium Format Camera:

It is my first time to use fixed focus camera and first time to try lomography. I have to say many pics are out of focus but the color is vivid and bodied! I think i will take some much better ones in the future after some practice. It is not that difficult but it need some skills. Take pics 1 meter away is important, and Try to choose a good weather day.