If I ever happen to be stranded on a desert island, an unlikely scenario, but let’s go with it, and for some reason I’m stuck with one camera and a bag of one type of film, what would they be? I won’t waste your time going through the cameras that almost made the number one spot, I’ll just come straight out with it – the Holga 120 Pan and a big bag of Kodak Tri-X 400 film.
This camera cost £70, which is actually extortion when you consider that it’s made entirely from plastic, including the lens element. It’s not even a particularly high-grade plastic either. It has one shutter speed and two apertures…and that’s about it. But stick a roll of Kodak Tri-X black and white film in and the results, in my opinion, are beautiful, a combination that creates a look that keeps me coming back for more, time and time again.
Enough said – pack your bags, we’re crash-landing somewhere near Fiji.
Images all made using a Holga 120 Pan 6×12 camera and Kodak Tri-X 400 film.
Jamie Helps, Chapel Beach, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Hamilton, Canada
Hazel Walsh, Colby, Isle of Man
Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
Ned
Yellowknife
PHIL KNEEN 
mystical impressions.. no need to be rescued, I would better pack my bag…
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Great photographs! 🙂
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Impressive. These shots certainly support your recommendation for a camera I hadn’t considered. Tempting. Very tempting.
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Do it!
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I was actually thinking about asking you what do you think about that plastic baby…and here we go. I have a pinhole version of it but would prefer to switch it to something with a little bit of glass on the front 😉
Great images. Good recommendation.
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Seriously good work on here. Some very strong images across the whole blog. Very impressed : )
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Thank you!
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My Holga 120 P arrived from HK the other day! Thanks again for the heads up!
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Most of the Holgas and Lomos I’ve seen for sale around here are at least $100 CAD so I guess £70 is in the same area! You are right though, it does seem a little like extortion – I mean they are even often marketed as toy cameras so why do they cost so much? Brilliant shots again, very striking.
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I managed to get one from Hong Kong (via eBay) for 50.00 GBP (or around 70 USD) including a speedy delivery, which is a lot cheaper than Amazon and the other sites around. I don’t suppose the PANs sell often so maybe it has something to do with higher production costs? Anyway, certain Lomos can be expensive because they have something of a cult following, but a basic Holga such as the Holga 120N, shouldn’t be much more than 10 GBP (less if you find a second hand one).
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Good points! I had to laugh when I went into a camera shop here and said I was looking for an SLR film camera and he took me right to the Lomo’s… must have missed the SLR part I guess 😉
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I like Holga, but if I had to choose one camera I would go with Mamiya RZ (any of them) and 110mm lens. The film is a bit harder choice. I would, probably, ask to give me money, so I can buy film that works the best for each situation. If I am not allowed to do so then I will go with Ilford Pan F Plus. It is a slow film, but I love how it has almost no grain.
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Fantastic job !! Amazing power in the simplicity of the first one.
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Agreed, Kodak Tri-X cut my teeth on, Holga I have yet to have – lovely work 🙂
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great set. i use 120mm film on a zeiss-ikon nettar II. 🙂
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Loving the third from the bottom.
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