Since my decision to return Diana Mini (it seriously makes my stomach hurt thinking about it) I immediately began researching other plastic cameras, and settled on trying out the Holga. The Holga (also from our friends across the pond) originated in the 70s, and is famous for the same great quirks that the Dianas possess. Obviously, I bought one of the Holgawood series cameras, the Holga 120N "Jawz". This model is made to take 120mm film, however, I have purchased a cheap conversion kit so as to load it with 35mm film. The benefit to this is that I will now pay much less $$ for the film, and for the developing process. Not to mention that 120 film will only allow for a maximum 16 exposures (depending on which setting you're shooting in) whereas a 35mm roll will allow for 36 exposures.
Right off the bat, I've noticed some differences between my Holga 120N and the Diana Mini. The Holga is about 3 times the Mini's size, and because I was so familiar with the teeny-tiny DM, I almost fell out of my chair when extracting the Holga from her package. This is not necessarily bad, just different. Because I've only got 35mm film, I did the conversion right away, which merely consisted of removing the interior mask of the camera and replacing it with the kit mask. The kit mask extends to the left side of the camera and serves to hold the smaller 35mm roll in place, while also providing guides so that it may wind properly on the take-up spool. Wow, I'm just now coming to realize that I've learned so many new terms!
I actually thought that loading the Holga was less cumbersome than loading the Mini. Oddly enough, you have to tape the tongue of the film to the take-up spool, as there are no pegs for the sprocket holes to lock on to. Using tape just seemed natural to me anyhow.
Now, onto the best part. And this is a small victory for me, but definitely worth mentioning! The 35mm conversion kit includes an advance wheel sticker. Because the 35mm conversion kit camera back does not have the standard red window (the Holga back that the camera comes with has a red window so that one can see which frame they're on) I was provided a nice advance wheel sticker with frame counting capabilities. SO! I don't have to wonder if I've turned the advance wheel far enough, I can turn it until the correct frame number appears next to the arrow marking! When using the Mini, you are provided a counter window which is located under the advance wheel, and consists of numbers separated by dots. Sometimes the wheel would advance the number, sometimes it would not. I never really knew what it was doing.
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| Here's my new Holga! How pretty :) |
This time, I hope to have some developing success so I can post my images! Cross your fingers!
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