LOMOGRAPHY Holga 120GFN User Manual
TM
HOLGA HELP (FAQ)
Q: Can I use slide film in my Holga?
A: Sure. You just need to be more care-
ful with your exposure estimates as
slide film is less forgiving than print
film. Feel adventurous? Crossprocess your slide film.
Q: What is the easiest film to use as
a beginner Holga owner?
A: C-41 type B&W film is great for
beginners. It is more forgiving,
comes in ISO 400 speed and you
can take it to a 1 hour lab so you can
see your results right away.
Q: Can I choose a focusing range
other than what is shown?
A: Yes. Placing your focus point some-
where between the distance icons.
But the options available cover most
of the bases. The minimum focus
range will always be about 3 feet.
Q: My pictures are dark on the cor-
ners. What am I doing wrong?
A: This is vignetting and is a natural
part of a Holga’s optics. If you prefer
to minimize this effect, make sure
you use the 6x4.5 mask.
Q: My pictures are more than fuzzy,
they are blurry. What happened?
A: Your film may be loose and not flush
with the film plane. Check to make
sure that your cardboard wedge is
in place and working properly.
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Find everything you need for
photography on our website:
www.freestylephoto.biz
Order by phone:
800.292.6137 (United States)
323.660.3460 (Local & International)
Q: Can I use my Holga SF or Holga
FN with studio strobes?
A: Yes. Set up your pack with a photo
slave. It triggers your strobes when
the 120SF’s built-in flash goes off.
Q: Can I use infrared film in a Holga?
A: Yes, but be the impact of light leaks
are much worse on infrared films.
You should make sure your Holga
doesn’t leak light by taping up all
the seams.
Q: I’ve had my Holga for a long time
but now my pictures are way over
exposed. What’s wrong?
A: Your Holga’s shutter spring may have
finally worn out. Time for a new
Holga! But don’t throw away your old
one. Convert it for time exposure.
Instructions are on page 10.
Special thanks to Michelle Bates,
member of the Freestyle Advisory
Board of Photographic Professionals,
and a Holga expert.
Visit the Gallery at the Creative Center
for Photography, which is located in
our landmark Hollywood headquarters.
Open 7 days a week:
5124 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90027
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©2005 Freestyle Photographic Supplies
All rights reserved.
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The Holga Manual
Holga 120N
Freestyle Advisor #1
Second Edition
Holga 120CFNHolga 120FN
Photo by Michelle Bates
INTRODUCTION
Holga medium format cameras have a near
fanatical following of professionals, educators,and artists.But for those not familiar with
the camera and its unique abilities, a Holga is
largely an enigma. This does not dissuade
people from buying the camera. In fact, the
Holga mystique draws people to it.
In the following pages we will lift the veil that
shrouds the camera and give you special
insight into the Holga. We will explore the
camera’s inner workings, show you how to
use it, and discuss that special photographic
“sensibility” the Holga is known for.
A partnership: The camera & photographer
both contributed something to this image.
Photo by Michelle Bates and her Holga.
Unfortunately for the Holga, no one could have predicted the impact 35mm film
would have on the Chinese market and after only a few short years the Holga was
overrun by its smaller format competitors.
But by then,word of a special, all-plastic camera called the Holga had spread West
and its popularity there was growing.Tens of thousands of cameras have been sold
in 20 different countries with almost no change in its original design – a remarkable achievement of design stability.Then in 2000, the original Holga 120S was
joined by the 120SF version which featured a built-in flash.
By 2001, the Holga’s 20th anniversary,over half a million cameras had been sold
worldwide. Since then, photographers have purchased tens of thousands more. In
the same year, research found over one hundred internet pages supporting, discussing and displaying photos from the Holga.A micro industry had sprung up and
people were making a living modifying and accessorizing Holga cameras.
HOLGA SENSIBILITY
A Holga is a study in imperfection,and to use it is an exercise in breaking free from
dependence on technology, precision, and uber-sharpness. The slight softness of
images, uncontrollable vignetting and peculiar light leaks create a partnership
between you and the Holga.These “flaws” accompanied by your creative choices
result in a quasi-serendipitous art.
A Holga stretches our visual perception. Using a Holga adds another facet to the
way we see the world.We notice more things and thus we evaluate their status.
A Holga is an educator teaching us a new visual vocabulary with which to describe
our world.
A Holga is a rule breaker.To use a Holga is to utterly change the terms of reference
most people use to interpret photography.
HOLGA HISTORY
Holga’s history is the thing of myth and legend.Some say that the camera is made
by the same people who brought us the Diana.Others say the Holga was designed
specifically to fill the gap left by Diana’s departure.
The truth is something very different. Holga is not related to Diana, and the Holga
was not designed with the Diana in mind.In fact, the people who manufacture the
Holga were not even familiar with the Diana nor its substantial following.
Designed and engineered in a factory in China, the Holga was initially introduced
to the Chinese public in 1981 as an inexpensive camera using the most popular
film format in the country, 120 size film. At the time, China was just beginning to
open its doors to the world, and photography was skyrocketing in popularity.
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Today,the array of cameras and accessories available from Holga reflects its continued popularity among photographers.The latest models,including the 120N and
120FN have a built-in bulb switch for time exposures.
What’s in a name? Quite a lot,it seems,because everyone is wondering where the name
“Holga”came from.The answer is related to the Holga's F ar East heritage.The name is
derived from the Cantonese term ho gwong, which translates into English as “very
bright.”A nip and a tuck and a western twist and you get the Western name:Holga.
SUMMARY OF FEATURES
All versions of the Holga camera are essentially
made entirely from plastic. They accept 120size film and are capable of shooting in either
6x4.5cm or 6x6cm format.The plastic lens has
approximately 60mm focal length and has a
switch that is designed to change the aperture
from about f/8 to roughly f/11.(Note:According
to some, the two f-stops are so approximate
that they are indistinguishable from one another. We leave it to you to decide.) The shutter
Mixing lens flair and vignetting, Holgas can
change how we interpret what we see in a
photograph. Photo by Stephanie Morey.
speed is fixed at approximately 1/100th of a
second and operates on a spring. The depth of
field ranges from 3 feet to infinity. Of course,
being a Holga, these statistics can vary from camera to camera.
Since its introduction in 1981,a total of seven medium format variations have been
released.The manufacturer has ceased production of the Classic and Woca models, but with a little looking, they can still be found.There are also two 35mm film
models whose own uniqueness is described in a later chapter.
3
Shoe Exposure Mount (cm)
6x6
6x6
6x6
(Glass Lens)
(Glass Lens)
(Glass Lens)
(Glass Lens)
CHOOSING FILM
Because a Holga’s two approximate aperture settings are identified as “sunny”
and “not so sunny,” much of the Holga’s speed flexibility is in the film. You can
shoot under almost any lighting condition by choosing the closest speed film and
pushing or pulling it as necessary.Black and white, C-41 films are a good choice
because they have excellent latitude and can be conveniently developed at any
photo finishing location. But conventional black and white films allow you to use
your own, favorite processing methods. If you have never processed film before,
this is a great opportunity for you to try.It is not as hard as you might think. Easy,
step-by-step instructions can be found online at www.freestylephoto.biz/filmprocessinghowto.php.)
On a sunny day,use an ISO 400 speed B&W or color negative film.On gloomy days
or late in the afternoon, an 800 speed film might be necessary, and near sunset
or indoors, look for a 1600 or 3200 speed film.
Slide films are much less forgiving when pushed, but you can get great results in
the right situation. An ISO 100 slide film will work in
bright sunny weather, and will give you a number of
options to choose from, but for average conditions a
400 speed film is still best. Tungsten slide film has
more latitude and suffers less from reciprocity failure
than daylight balanced film; it can also provide an
interesting blue tint if you choose not to filter-correct
for daylight.
FORMAT
Out of the box, a Holga has the 6x4.5cm (16 frames)
mask in place. But to get the most out of Holga’s
(in)famous vignetting and edge distortion features,
switch it to 6x6cm (12 frames) mask. Older Holgas did
not come with a 6x6 mask, but do not worry.A mask is
not required for the camera to operate properly.
HOLGA COMPARISON AT A GLANCE
Format
Camera Name Flash Hot Bulb Tripod Masks Batteries Construction
120
Classic Holga 120S Hot Shoe Yes No None 6x4.5 None Plastic
Classic Holga 120SF Built In No No None 6x4.5 Two AA Plastic
Holga 120N Hot Shoe Yes Yes Brass 6x4.5, None Plastic
Holga 120FN Built In No Yes Brass 6x4.5, Two AA Plastic
4
Holga 120CFN Built In* No Yes Brass 6x4.5, Two AA Plastic
Woca 120S Hot Shoe Yes No None 6x4.5 None Plastic
Woca 120SF Built In No No None 6x4.5 Two AA Plastic
35mm Format
Holga 35MF Built In No No Brass None Two AA Plastic
Holga 35 AFX Built In No No Brass None Two AA Plastic
*Holga CFN has a color wheel allowing the flash to be red, yellow, blue or white.
Symbol
Approximate Distance
3 feet (1m)
9 feet (2m)
18 feet (6m)
30 feet (10m) to infinity
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