Got a Holga for Christmas - No Clue about 120 Film!

[DRabbit]

Hubby got me a Holga for Christmas and I know NOTHING about 120 film...

I'm wondering if I should exchange it for a Diana...

I'd like to play with color but not sure local labs process 120... do they?
I've already been developing my own B&W (thanks to you all), but not sure about doing 120! I know I need a different film reel/tank, right?
And, I have no idea how I'll scan them... my scanner does slides and 35mm negatives...

Any tips would be appreciated! I dig the look the Holgas can produce, just not sure about the 120 film...

Thanks!

 

[EcoLeica]

Holgas are so much fun and 120 film isnt as hard as you think! Trust me once you get those negatives back you will be blown away and pretty soon you will think that 35mm isnt good enough.

as for your questions...
- Exchanging for a diana wouldnt achieve much, as both cameras take 120 film, dianas just make 4x4 photos on the 120 film

- some local labs should be able to process 120 film, it is a common film for some pros, so find a local pro lab

- most single developing tanks should have a adjustable reel to allow you to change between 35 and 120...it is usually a twist and extend motion. If not you should be able to pick up a cheap 120 tank second hand. The best advice is to find a expired roll of 120 and practice in the daylight, loading it onto the reel to build up confidence.

- If you are getting the lab to develop the film then get them to do the scans as well, otherwise you might need to update your scanner

 

[rxmd]

Holgas are so much fun and 120 film isnt as hard as you think! Trust me once you get those negatives back you will be blown away and pretty soon you will think that 35mm isnt good enough.

To be honest if the Holga is all to compare 35mm with, I think 35mm still stands out by a fair margin quality-wise. The Holga is really about using a very good film technology with an amazingly bad lens to produce average results that have the badness of the taking equipment as a distinctive flavour.

 

[hans voralberg]

120mm is to me easier than 35mm to load and use. I think you use plastic reel, if that's the case I'm pretty sure it's adjustable, and most tank can do 1 roll of 120mm.

 

[Phantomas]

Watch out when using that Holga - the back falls off quite easily. Know from experience. Tape it or something.

 

[Ronald_H]

Dunno about the US but the photo service of a well known Dutch department store still offers 120 processing, both C41 (color) and B/W. Just ask around a bit. 120 is still sold, so someone should be able to process it, right?

Holgas are fun in a lo-fi kind of way, but if you want to explore what 120 really can do, maybe you can try a cheap 'serious' medium format camera. The Yashica 124 or 124G is a common starting point for many, including me. Mine was a mere 115 Euros and quality is simply breathtaking.

 

[johannielscom]

...The Holga is really about using a very good film technology with an amazingly bad lens to produce average results that have the badness of the taking equipment as a distinctive flavour.

Very well put. BUT, the results can be very nice at times nonetheless.

What's said above re. ease and versatility of 120, +1. I've seen your 35mm shots and loved them, I'd like to see what your 120 Holga shots will look like! Give it a go!

 

[gho]

Definately give the Hoga a try, but be aware, that you are stuck with ~f13 and 1/100.

For developing 120 film, most tank reels can be adjusted to take 120 film. I had good results with Diafine, Tri-X and Foma 200.

In Diafine, Tri-X is around ISO 1250 and the Foma comes out very nicely when exposed around ISO 100.

Due to its simplicity, the Holga can produce some surprising results and it is very hard, to get the exposure right. If you want some level of control, it is a good idea to know in which conditions you are going to take the pictures and choose the film according to that. Or you could use a film with high exposure latitute and adjust your developing.

I have the impression, that it is a very hard camera to master, especially when using slide film.

However, for my taste the camera is a capable tool for producing outstanding results, but well, if you are striving for consistency, some time with the camera and in the lab is surely needed.

If the first roll does not come out perfectly exposed, don't be disappointed. Anyhow, perfection and controllability is not the point of taking pictures with the Hoga as I understand it. I like the surprise effect.

Maybe the phrase 'Worry less and take more pictures' summarizes my feelings towards Holga type cameras.

Have fun with your new tool/toy, I am curious how your pictures will turn out!

And yes, I do recommend black electricians tape as an essential accessoire as well, if you do not like the light leaks (if any)...

 

[venchka]

Walmart develops 120 color negative film. You put it in an envelop, they send it out, and the negatives come back in 2 weeks. You can get develop only (cheap at $0.86/roll) or with prints for a few dollars more. Search this forum for Walmart and my screen name for instructions. It's easy. Don't ask the staff. 99% of them will give you a blank stare or flat out deny that they can or will do it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Amy,

How to load and otherwise handle 120 film (which is NOT 120 mm, by the way): http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps how load 120.html

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ronald_H]

Walmart develops 120 color negative film. You put it in an envelop, they send it out, and the negatives come back in 2 weeks. You can get develop only (cheap at $0.86/roll) or with prints for a few dollars more. Search this forum for Walmart and my screen name for instructions. It's easy. Don't ask the staff. 99% of them will give you a blank stare or flat out deny that they can or will do it.

Looks like what I was talking about 😉 Turnaround here is only two days though and price quite a bit higher (2.59 Euros).

A friend wanted to have B/W 120 film developed and asked the people in the HEMA department store. They were quite clueless, but advised him to send it in and see what would happen. In a worst case scenario they could only send back the roll right? What he got back were perfectly developed negs, quite a pleasant surprise.

 

[cfritze]

Freestyle Photo has a nice "holga manual" online that has some useful pointers. For instance, you can load standard 35mm film if you fit some foam inserts to the camera. this gets you long images with exposure out through the sprocket holes on the film.

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

I have been shooting Holgas with some success for about 3 or 4 years now. If you have interest in learning how to have tons of fun with plastic cameras, visit Square Frog for info on the care and feeding of your Holga: http://www.squarefrog.co.uk/.

Also you can visit www.toycamera.com/ to see galleries of Holga and Diana pix, if you wish.

And finally, you can check out a Holga exhibit I curated in St. Louis about a year ago, called The Holga Polka Invitational: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvSsu2w-Jvg.

The Invitational featured 86 images by 40 artists who incorporated Holga images into their own medium - photo, painting, sculpture, ceramics, etc - to provide different approaches to utilizing this plastic gizmo.

Good Luck with your Holga, and I would suggest gaffer's tape, rather than electrical tape. The electrical stuff gets gooey when it's hot, and I always end up with it stuck to my forhead!

Mark

 

[DRabbit]

Thanks so much everyone! Great info here!
Back before I decided to develop my own 35mm film, a friend sent me a link to a local pro lab and they had very reasonable rates... I think I'll try to dig up that info for color films... I'll talk to them also, maybe if I can figure out how to develop the 120 myself (B&W), I can pay them for just the scanning (for now).

 

[LeicaM3]

Walmart develops 120 color negative film. You put it in an envelop, they send it out, and the negatives come back in 2 weeks. You can get develop only (cheap at $0.86/roll) or with prints for a few dollars more. Search this forum for Walmart and my screen name for instructions. It's easy. Don't ask the staff. 99% of them will give you a blank stare or flat out deny that they can or will do it.

Walmart does not just develop 120 color negative film, they will send out 120 b&w as well as slide film.
b&w goes do dwaynes.
rest goes to fuji (well, kodakchrome goes to dwaynes as well).

It is way cheaper via mallwart than sending it to dwaynes yourself.

120 rocks, stick with it!

 

[hans voralberg]

maybe if I can figure out how to develop the 120 myself (B&W),

Exactly the same as 35mm, just different loading and different time, more developer and fixer, that's all.