Lomo Families
Holga cameras were first produced in Hong Kong in 1982. The Holga camera 120 was the very first medium format film camera with almost all its parts made in plastic.
The product concept of the Holga camera 120 was born our of the market situation prevailing at the time of its creation. At that time, which was the late seventies, the photographic market in China was dominated by 120 format cameras. These cameras were precision optical ‘machines’ which naturally commanded high prices that were not affordable by the public in general. From such a background there sprang the vision of a dream 120 format camera which, while encompassing the basic functions needed of a camera on the one hand, would be priced at t a level within the reach of basically anyone on the other.
The project was commenced in the year of 1980 and it took two years before it came off the drawing board in 1982. However, things had changed quite drastically during those two years and, by the time the Holga was released into the market, handy 135 cameras had already become pretty popular.
Ironically and most unfortunately, the mass market of 120 cameras was already displaced by 135 cameras when the Holga became ready.
Nevertheless, it was not the end of the world. Although the mass market was gone, the Holga Camera 120 still found itself welcome by consumers in the educational markets because, exactly in accordance with the product objective, it was and still is a very affordable 120 camera. The Holga camera 120 was recommended by teachers around the world, particularly in the United States, photographic students because of it’s affordability and general capabilities. It is far from being perfect, but sufficient for the students to learn the fundamentals of photography, explore their talents and sharpen their skills.
Life is full of amazement. Just when it was thought that the Holga camera 120 would only stay in schools, the Holga camera 120 suddenly dawned on a group of unorthodox photographic talents who, unlike their conventional counterparts, spotted the beauty of the camera in its imperfections.
The appearance of dark corners, the irregular edge of a photo caused by the accidental waviness along the edge of the film, the occasional partial light leak due to the inability of the plastic parts to shut out the light completely, ect., ect. have all converged to one point – the fun and uniqueness arising from unpredictability, almost on a random basis, and the satisfaction resulting from the creation of a piece of art which is the one and only one in the whole world. There are people who, half jokingly and half seriously that no two photos taken by the Holga Camera would be alike as they are acts of God. It’s this unpredictability of the Holga camera 120 that has fascinated, if not mesmerized altogether, its fans and made itself a popular product around the world.
The design of the Holga camera 120 was a thorough implementation of the concept of simplicity. Despite its simple construction and the use of plastic as a basic material, it has the majority of the functions expected of a basic camera. When the back of the camera is opened, basically all of the mechanisms of the camera show themselves immediately.
Other then the product concept of an affordable 120 camera in plastic, the Holga camera 120 also amazed the market at the time with an extremely special feature which dwarfed even its counterparts from the major camera brands – it has a built in flash, which was almost non-existent in those days.
Although it was started as a 120 format camera, adapters to enable the use of 135 films are also available. Moreover, through the efforts over the years to satisfy the needs of users, a whole line of accessories ranging from color filters to fisheye lenses, to wed angle lenses and to macro lenses have been developed to bring more fun.
Holga limited editions include:
Limited Edition Holga Cameras
- Images created by a Holga are known to be quirky and surreal
- Unpredictable and fantastic light leaks makes each image completely unique
- Plastic lens artistically results in images with sharp focus in the center that softens toward the edges
- Optional frame inserts, 4.5 × 6 cm and 6 × 6 cm, provide rectangular or square photos
- Vintage vignetting is a classic feature of all Holgas
- Uses 120 format black and white, color negative and slide film
- Approximate aperture settings of f/8 and f/11
- Shutter speed approximately 1/100th of a second, or bulb setting for long exposures
- Hot shoe adaptor for a flash
The “Jack” Limited Edition Holga Camera
For Jack White, we’ve got a custom Color Flash Holga Starter kit and Fisheye Adaptor lens. Created in the 1980’s, the Holga is an all-plastic icon of camera design. The White Stripes edition supplies a Fisheye Adaptor for incredible 180-degree super-wide images, and an exclusive collection of plastic filters for a hectic range of color-drenched effects.
- The White Stripes “Jack” edition Holga camera
- The White Stripes edition titanium Fisheye Adaptor lens
- Three plastic lens filters (one solid red, two colored soft-surround)
- Exclusive Peppermint lens filter
- Plastic filter mount
- The World Through a Plastic Lens softcover book
- “AA” batteries, opaque tape, and one roll of 120 film
The Fisheye Adaptor
Fit this onto your Holga for knockout super-wide images, which yield a nearly circular image on a square print. Shoot right up to a few centimeters from your subject’s nose for the most extreme effects.
Triple Filter Set & Peppermint Filter
Slip any of these lens filters onto your JACK Holga for infinite creative possibilities. The set includes two soft surround filters in red and black, which create a sharp clear circle in the middle of a blurred image, with the blur tinted by the filter color. The set also includes a solid red filter to render your color shots a monochrome red or greatly increase the contrast of your black and white shots.
The Peppermint Lens filter was made exclusively for the JACK Holga. Place filter over the lens your camera, and a soft red peppermint swirl will color your photograph.
The Holga
- Using a simple shutter and radiant plastic lens, it produces totally unique images: a little blurry here, a little sharp there, and dripping with color and contrast throughout.
- The built-in electronic flash can fire white or red light
- A long exposure setting holds the shutter open for dreamy nighttime exposures.
- Two image formats allow for 12 square images or 16 rectangular images on one standard 120 roll of film.
- This Starter Kit includes the softcover version of “The World Through A Plastic Lens” (Lomography’s excellent book of all things Holga) and all of the extras that you need to get shooting.
- Uses all varieties of medium format 120 film. Processing can easily be done at any professional lab.
THE DIANA FAMILY
If you have not already introduced yourself to the new lomo lady on the block, meet Diana Mini (pictured right). She’s the itsy bitsy teeny weeny little sister of the iconic Diana camera.
The Diana Camera (pictured left) was originally produced by the Great Wall Plastic Factory in Hong Kong, and exported primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom. The Diana had a plastic body, a plastic lens and used medium format 120 film. It was launched in the 1960s as an cheap novelty camera. The camera was also produced for different brands and retailers under different names (estimated at around 50) – known as the ‘Diana clones’. The Diana and her clones developed an unexpected cult following from photographers who appreciated the unique ‘flaws’ brought about by her flimsy cheap construction, including vignetting, soft focus, blurring, saturated colours and light leaks. The development of better quality inexpensive consumer cameras, and roll film, led to the Diana’s wane in popularity. She ceased being produced in the 1970s.
More recently, Lomography began production of the Diana+ (pictured middle), a faithful reproduction of the original Diana with a few additional features. These features included a tripod socket, ‘bulb’ mode, pinhole mode, interchangeable lenses, and interchangeable formats (16 shots on 120 film, or the original 12 shots). They also reproduced the Diana flash.
Lomography subsequently released a whole host of accessories for the Diana+ camera, including different lenses, the ‘splitzer‘ (for exposing different parts of the negative in different shots), a cable release adapter, leather cases, a 35mm film back and an instant film back. True to Diana’s clone tradition, they’ve also produced limited editions in collaborations with artists, musicians, retailers, and to mark major events in the Diana / Lomo world.
The “MEG” DIANA Limited Edition:
For Meg White, we’re thrilled to introduce a custom Diana+ camera and Lomography Ringflash.
The Diana+ is a faithful reproduction and a loving homage to the classic Diana, (the original 1960’s all-plastic cult camera) with a bit of new Lomographic magic tossed in.
- The White Stripes “MEG” edition Diana+ camera
- The “Nobody Knows How to Talk to Children” edition Lomography Ringflash
- A custom Peppermint mask filter
- Diana Vignettes hardcover book
“Nobody Knows How to Talk to Children” Ringflash
The ‘Nobody Knows How To Talk To Children’ Ringflash includes red and white ring filters as well as individual red flash gels. When mounted onto your MEG Diana+, the Ringflash completely surrounds your lens and throws an even burst of light onto your subject. Keep the shutter open and fire the flash manually with your finger. Mix and match filters for unlimited possibilities. The ‘Nobody Knows How To Talk To Children’ Ringflash can also be used with the JACK Holga Camera. It comes with plastic mounts, hotshoe sync cord and editorial booklet.
Peppermint Mask Filter
The Peppermint Film Mask Filter was made exclusively for the MEG Diana+. Place filter in the film frame of your camera, and a clear imprint of the red peppermint swirl will appear on your negative.
The Diana+
- The Diana+’s plastic lens, 2 shutter settings (daylight & “B” for long exposure night shots), 3 aperture settings, and manual focus are all true to the original Diana’s design.
- The Diana+ also offers a removable lens and super-small aperture for dreamy pinhole images
- Choose between two image formats (12 or 16 square shots on a standard 120 roll of film), or an endless panorama feature that allows for unlimited and nearly seamless panoramic shots.
- Both a standard tripod thread & shutter lock make for easy shake-free long exposures.
- Uses all varieties of medium format 120 film. Processing can easily be done at any professional lab.
SOURCES:
http://microsites.lomography.com/whitestripes/meg
http://www.dianaminilove.com/2010/04/basic-stuff-about-diana-mini.html
http://www.holgasports.com/the-gretchen-bleiler-limited-edition
http://www.holgacamera.net/servlet/the-template/holgahistory/Page
http://www.holgacamera.net/servlet/the-template/holgahistory/Page
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