Is this Holga 120N a toy camera? It feels like it because it is all made of plastic including the lens and the construction of it itself is rather flimsy. However, in spite of this, this film camera is a serious 6×6 medium format camera which takes 120 size films.
Holga 120N will produce 12 images with a roll of 120 film, albeit it is also supplied with a 6×4.5cm mask, which will enable the camera to produce 15 frames to a roll.
The Holga 120N is notoriously prone to light leaks; due to the way it is manufactured. Also, each camera is likely to have its own unique characteristics, in terms of images it produces, because of the manufacturer’s relaxed QC or lack of it. Some avid fans of Holga cameras often own several of these, as each offers a slightly different look.
The camera has two shutter settings, one for approximately 1/100s (N) and the other for Bulb (B) setting. In addition, there are two aperture settings, again approximately f/8.0 and f/11. This lack of exposure controllability limits the lighting conditions you can use with this camera. However, you can improve this limitation by using black and white films or colour negative films as they tend to have wider exposure latitude.
The vignette of this film camera is a bit too strong for my liking.
To mitigate the aforementioned light leaks, I strategically black taped the camera in several places as illustrated in the image below. Even with all this masking, light leaks appeared on the two images (image 4 and image 5) posted here. Could it be due to the intensity of light? The first three images were made under subdued light whereas, for the rest, it was a bright sunny day.
Some say the light leaks are part of the camera characteristics but I prefer not to have them as they tend to appear where I don’t want them.
So far, I have put three rolls of film through this camera. Initially, I wasted quite a few frames. First off, I advanced the film after exposure not realising that I had left the lens cap on. This is a classic mistake with non SLR cameras! To avoid this from then on, I taped a small note by the viewfinder saying ‘Remove Cap & Focus’. It works!
Every autumn I repeatedly make similar images to the second one below, that is, fallen leaves on the ground. I just can’t help it because I love the repetition of shapes and autumnal colours.
Snow makes everything look beautiful. It is a rare treat in the part of the country where I live in England. Tetbury is an old Cotswold market town in Gloucestershire with an abundance of charming Cotswold stone buildings.
I had such fun with this Holga. So much so that I have already loaded up another roll of film, this time a Fomapan 400.
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Comments
John Fontana on 5 Frames with Holga 120N and Kodak Porta 160
Comment posted: 15/08/2023
The camera is a joy to use — a medium format point and shoot, though, like you, I added sticky label reminders to wind on after a frame exposure, and remove the lens cap!
Comment posted: 15/08/2023
Matthew Bigwood on 5 Frames with Holga 120N and Kodak Porta 160
Comment posted: 15/08/2023
Comment posted: 15/08/2023
Dana Brigham on 5 Frames with Holga 120N and Kodak Porta 160
Comment posted: 15/08/2023
Comment posted: 15/08/2023
Gary on 5 Frames with Holga 120N and Kodak Porta 160
Comment posted: 16/08/2023
Comment posted: 16/08/2023
Dan Westergren on 5 Frames with Holga 120N and Kodak Porta 160
Comment posted: 17/08/2023
Comment posted: 17/08/2023
Iksung Nah on 5 Frames with Holga 120N and Kodak Porta 160
Comment posted: 22/08/2023
Rob on 5 Frames with Holga 120N and Kodak Porta 160
Comment posted: 30/08/2023
Comment posted: 30/08/2023