Lomo: Good or Bad for film?

[chris00nj]

Are Lomo users with their junky Holgas good or bad for the future of film?
First off, I can't dislike anyone who uses film, especially 120.

Is the Holga an entry level into film? Do they move upmarket into a Olympus OM2 or a Rolleicord?

Or do Lomo underappreciate the capabilities of film and will eventually turn to new digital apps that mimic Holga effects, such as the Hipstimatic app for the iPhone?

[johnastovall]

I shoot film in Holgas for the "Holga look" not as an entry into film. I like the serendipity and looseness they offer in contrast to the Leicas.

Digital effects aren't film. Film is film, a medium unto itself.

[Valerie]

Holgas and Lomos sell film... that is good.
I shoot a Holga, and a Brownie, and a modified Brownie. Each has its own character and I consciously choose which one I'm going to use because of that character.
The cameras are tools.... chosen for the particular job each does.
BTW, in my class the Holga is not entry-level; it is reserved for Photo II as an intro to med. format.

[venchka]

Valerie,
When we have the shindig at Casa Brown perhaps some of us (Westley, Kevin, crackhead, Lee, David, me and eveyone else I'm forgetting) could throw together a medium format show & tell like we did with large format? We'll talk at your house.
I'm glad somebody shoots with a Holga. If they waited for me they would go out of business.

[Valerie]

Excellent idea, Wayne!

[venchka]

Naturally weekends are best for those of us who work. Some of us bail out at the last minute. We could show your Photo II kids some really tantalizing stuff. Ruin them forever.

[chris00nj]

Originally Posted by Valerie

...BTW, in my class the Holga is not entry-level; it is reserved for Photo II as an intro to med. format.

What is taught in photo I then? Holga's have a plastic lens, fixed shutter speed, and fixed aperture. They're like a reloadable medium format disposable.

Originally Posted by venchka

I'm glad somebody shoots with a Holga. If they waited for me they would go out of business.

Agreed. I think I react negatively to them based on the marketing hype. "Buy this and you are instantly unique and hip." There are so many cheap used MF cameras that would blow away results of a Holga for less money. I can buy a 6x6 folder with a triplet lens, like a Zeiss Nettar or the Ansco Speedex below for $20. If I want weird colors I'll make sure it's an uncoated lens. If I want "light leaks" I'll add a few pinholes to the bellows.

After decades of being 35mm shooter, I've recently have gotten interested in medium format. Acquired all within the last 6 months:

[Valerie]

Photo I: A beginning course which introduces students to theoretical and applied aspects of photography, including cameras, lenses, photographic materials and techniques, black - and - white darkroom procedures and photographic composition.

Photo I is all 35 mm.. The Holga assignment in Ph II allows students to experience medium format at low/no cost (we have a Holga in the lab).

Again, its one tool among many. When I want Holga attributes, I use my Holga. When I want Rollei attributes, I use the Rollei.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by chris00nj

<snipped>

If I want weird colors I'll make sure it's an uncoated lens.

<snipped>

What "weird colors?" 1938 un-coated 50/3.5 Elmar.

[chris00nj]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

What "weird colors?" 1938 un-coated 50/3.5 Elmar.

Well, I meant more flare and such.

[chris00nj]

Originally Posted by Valerie

Again, its one tool among many. When I want Holga attributes, I use my Holga. When I want Rollei attributes, I use the Rollei.

Fair enough!

[crackhead]

I'm not really into the typical Holga look, although admittedly I have seen some astounding shots with it, in the right hands.

[Valerie]

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...-de-brown.html

Join the party... maybe you will see a Holga shot that you like! (or not... but you will have fun!!)

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by venchka

Valerie,
When we have the shindig at Casa Brown perhaps some of us could throw together a medium format show & tell like we did with large format?

I can personally show 4 approaches (read: cameras) to 120 film.

[tropicpine]

Originally Posted by chris00nj

Are Lomo users with their junky Holgas good or bad for the future of film?...

Most of the cameras I use actually started as junk. To date I own one camera that did not require some degree of repair when I acquired it.

If a person enjoys the parafanilia, process and product of a craft that does not adversly affect others to a significant degree, I say more power to them.

If inexpesive cameras make the use of film accessable to more people, I'm thrilled!

If Holgas had taken off five years ago we might still have new 220 film.