[yourbestfriend]

Don't buy from Freestyle either, incredibly slowwww

[Sweets]

i kinda want to get one just for fun/to play with, but i'm also unfamiliar with film...

[ellonasty]

Sweets, then get one! Holgas are nicknamed "toy cameras" because they're just perfect for playing around with. Don't be unfamiliar with film - it takes regular film just like your point-and-shoot camera (but in 120 size) in addition to special films. You can drop the film off at any photo store (or even CVS 1-hour if you wanted, though I wouldn't recommend it) and voila! It's really a no-brainer.

I have had my holga for years and I love the slightly weathered, vignetted feel. For fashion photography they might not be sharp enough, but for art and for fun, I absolutely LURVE my holga.

[astatine]

I've been looking for one for months...but I haven't been able to find one
Does anyone know a good website that accepts Paypal?

[ellonasty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by astatine I've been looking for one for months...but I haven't been able to find one Does anyone know a good website that accepts Paypal?

I've seen them around ebay, and most people accept paypal there ...

[astatine]

^ I don't know why I didn't think of ebay! Thanks ellonasty! Karma for you

What's the difference between Ns and CFNs and GNs, though? I'm getting confused by the variety on offer Are the accessory packs important?

[fourboltmain]

Well, N's are regular Holgas, no flash. A GN is a WOCA, which is a Holga with a glass lens. The glass lens kills the Holga effects, but is far sharper. An FN is a flash Holga, and a CFN is a colored flash Holga.

You also have the S series, but those were made a couple years ago and they have no tripod mount or bulb setting.

The accessory packs are not neceesary at all, just more gimmicks.

[astatine]

So that limits my choices down to either one with or without flash...which is better?

[ngolf]

those look very cool

how hard to get / process is 120 film?

is it a lot more expensive than 35mm?

[xxjean]

My friend ordered the Holga 120 SF (the camera with flash) for me, and it came, of course, with the flash not working. I took apart that camera so many times trying to figure out what was wrong, and I e-mailed lomo.com and, of course, they didn't reply!!

to ngolf:
Processing 120 film is so hard in the suburb I live in (and it's so expensive too! around 25 dollars to develop 15 pictures?!), but my parents swear sending my film to China is cheaper. It just takes a while longer to come back.
Ask someone to buy you the film from Asia, because it's a zillion times cheaper, and you can buy it in bulk instead of splurging in America for 8 dollars for one roll of film!

[xxjean]

http://www.jlharris.net/holga/faq.html
The most useful website of Holgas ever!

[fourboltmain]

I get film locally, usually Ilford HP5 for b&w or Kodak 400VC for color. I get it developed and I scan the negatives at home. I use a Canoscan 8400F, and I can get 4000 x 4000 pixel pictures all day with it. Even larger if I want! But I only got the scanner because I knew I'd use the hell out of it, it was $150 and well worth it. That's about 10 rolls printed cost wise.

As far as flash or no flash, I prefer no flash because the Holga flash is horrendous. The non flash models have a hot shoe on them so you can use any kind of crappy flash you want.

Examples of my Holga love affair are at www.fourboltmain.blogspot.com but I really haven't put much up.

[fourboltmain]

Oh, try to look on eBay for bulk film. You can get all kinds of expired 120 film for fairly cheap.

[astatine]

^^ thanks for all the help fourboltmain! your pics look great
and thanks to xxjean too, for the useful link!

I think I might have to do a little research as to whether there're any labs in my area that could process the film though...

[.francesca]

you can buy bricks or at least bulk film from www.bhphotovideo.com, 35mm, 120mm, all for pretty cheap. you shouldn't have to send your film to china from the US to get it processed - it isn't THAT obsolete yet do research and figure it out - it's just as easy to process as simple 35mm film (though the mechanics are different - but that's a horse of another color) so you won't be able to just take it to walmart, for example, but i swear you don't have to send it to china.