Turn Your DSLR Camera into a Holga

11 years 4 months ago #259484 by PhotographyTalk


Image via ChrisKeeney.com

Holga cameras have long been regarded as a favorite medium format 120 film toy camera whose lower quality images have recently become trendy with the surge of photo filters offered by Instagram, Hipstamatic, and other photo retouching programs. For super Holga aficionados, there’s a quick and affordable way to transform your DSLR’s images into lo-fi Holga-style photos and videos without having to use medium format film or do extensive Photoshop manipulation. Holga lenses are now available for attachment to Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony, or Olympus DSLRs for the price of $22.99 at Holga Direct.

Now for a bit of history on Holga. This inexpensive camera was first developed in 1982 for the working class people in China to allow them to record images with 120 roll black and white film, and eventually the 35mm film format that was soon introduced. Not long after the Holga was presented to markets outside of China, photo enthusiasts took a liking to the Holga’s classic quality of dark corner vignetting, soft area focus, and light leaks. These features allowed for the possession of an affordable camera that provided creative effects that sparked the photographer’s imagination. For those skeptical about using a toy camera to create quality imagery, check out the work of David Burnett and Annu Matthew . Their work is proof that when in the right hands, Holga lenses can create some amazing works of art.

Holga cameras have classically used plastic 60mm lenses, and these newer lenses for DSLR have the same quality. Digital Holga lenses are composed of plastic and have no CPU contacts, so they’re manual focus all the way. All of this for less than $30, and with higher quality and more respect than snapping a camera phone photo and slapping a photo filter on it. Not a bad deal at all!

Would you invest in a toy lens for the sake of art and nostalgia, or would you stick to the Instagram alternatives or classic medium format film?


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11 years 4 months ago #259501 by Josh Jofoto
Interesting :thumbsup:

Canon 7D | Canon EF-S 18-55 IS | Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 | Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 | Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro | CanonEF 17-40 f/4 L | 70-200 f/4 L | 580 EX II
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11 years 4 months ago #259503 by April77
I've never heard of this lens before. why would you put a cheap lens on your expensive camera?


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11 years 4 months ago #259521 by catchnumber22
I'm guessing it produces a similar effect to the plastic lens available for the Lensbaby kits.


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11 years 4 months ago #259541 by The Gardener

catchnumber22 wrote: I'm guessing it produces a similar effect to the plastic lens available for the Lensbaby kits.


I was thinking the same thing, except the Lensbaby kits are priced much higher


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11 years 4 months ago #259588 by Crammer
Interesting. Honestly I don't get the purpose of these lenses?


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11 years 4 months ago #259627 by EOS Man
A friend has one of these and frankly I think the image quality is not all that.

5D Mark II | 50mm f/1.4 EX | 24-70mm f/2.8L | 70-200mm f/2.8L | 430EX
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11 years 4 months ago #259713 by Jeffster
$5000 camera with a $25 lens :rofl: Anyone see anything off with this?


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