The Photography Thread

[Zanza]

You can pick them up on eBay pretty cheap. They sell them in a few different varieties:

120N = Just a Holga (no flash) with a plastic lens
120FN = Usual flash Holga with a plastic lens
120CFN = Colour flash Holga with a plastic lens
120GCFN = Colour flash Holga with a glass lens

The standard Holga packages include a 4.5x6 mask for taking the usual rectangle sized photos, although you can also get a 6x6 mask for taking square photos.

A Holga of any variety usually costs around ?20 on eBay if not less, so don't be tempted by the ridiculous prices in your high street shops, I know a place in Liverpool selling them for around ?90.

You can also pick up some funky filters for the Holga, which you would probably be interested in for getting dreamy or strange effects, and can also be attained pretty cheaply on eBay.

The Holga is pretty cool camera, especially because they are so cheap, but more so because no Holga is the same, and the results you get with one you won't get with another, mainly because they are so poorly manufactured. They are also good for experimenting with, because you can throw them around and not have to worry about them getting damaged, as they are pretty sturdy, but if they break you can always grab another for under ?20.

[Emir]

You can pick them up on eBay pretty cheap. They sell them in a few different varieties:

120N = Just a Holga (no flash) with a plastic lens
120FN = Usual flash Holga with a plastic lens
120CFN = Colour flash Holga with a plastic lens
120GCFN = Colour flash Holga with a glass lens

The standard Holga packages include a 4.5x6 mask for taking the usual rectangle sized photos, although you can also get a 6x6 mask for taking square photos.

A Holga of any variety usually costs around ?20 on eBay if not less, so don't be tempted by the ridiculous prices in your high street shops, I know a place in Liverpool selling them for around ?90.

You can also pick up some funky filters for the Holga, which you would probably be interested in for getting dreamy or strange effects, and can also be attained pretty cheaply on eBay.

The Holga is pretty cool camera, especially because they are so cheap, but more so because no Holga is the same, and the results you get with one you won't get with another, mainly because they are so poorly manufactured. They are also good for experimenting with, because you can throw them around and not have to worry about them getting damaged, as they are pretty sturdy, but if they break you can always grab another for under ?20.

Thanks for the info.
I think I'm gonna pick up one or two at the weekend.
Can't wait to start playing with 'em. I think I'll get some filters too.

[dave heats]

Hey everyone
what would everyone recomend as the best SLR camera to get me started? Im after spending around ?300-?350ish if possible and am fairly new to this expensive camera business!

[bangaio]

Digital or film? If you are after a film SLR the world'w your oyster but remember that with a film camera, all a body is is a light tight box. It takes meter readings, maybe autofocuses the lens and holds your film. The key is Lens and Film. I'd say a second hand Canon or Nikon body. They'd both be dirt cheap and you could get a good mid range zoom to start you off. The systems both have pros and cons but with eirthe one you;d be judt fine. Maybe an EOS 100 or similar would be a good start and probaly less than ?90 at a jessops or similar and would leave a bit of room for a lense. In fact you could get a used canon film body and their cheap as chips but very very good 50mm f1.8 lens to get started. The EOS 100 or maybe a later 50 or 30/whatever they were called would be dead simple but well specced.

ok so you may want digital. if so your choices are limited at that price. The thing about digital is you are locked to the sensor inside the body and that's a pretty important factor! Digital is funny too as it's now like the computer business where specs mean everything and people upgrade a ?3000 camera at the drop of a hat often to take snaps of their kids and pets! Just wtf at digital camera forums!!!

Maybe a body like a used EOS 300d or a Nikon D50 would be a good start. Or how about a Canon D30 or 60 - all should be pretty cheap on the used market bar the nikon. Again remember lenses are very important, you could spend thousands here but budget for a good starter lens.

The choice is yours really buit it'd help to know if you are looking at film or digital to start!

[dave heats]

Sorry, should have mentioned I'm after a digital! I do alot of photo editing on my laptop, but up until this point I've made do with a very poor sony 2mp camera, and whilst its ok for throwing in your bag, I'm after the highest quality SLR I can get with my limited budget.

Its interesting to hear you mention buying used camera mate, is this a widely accepted way to get into photography? In my cluelessness I was worried about potentially scratched lenses etc.

Nikon and Canon seem to be the most highly regarded manufacturers in my price range, but any particular models better than others?

[Ginger Tosser]

Some good 2nd hand stuff here: https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm

Tbh there's probably very little to choose from between Canon and Nikon, both produce top quality kit.

[bangaio]

Right then scarp the film bit. I reckon for your budget you may have to kcik off with something like a Canon D30 nut you won't get much change from ?250-300 for the body alone. Check out jessops used, also www.ffords.co.uk places like the amateur photographer web site sales board etc. You may need to step up to a bit mre unless you ant a cheap prime (fixed focal length) lens to start with like the 50mm i sugested. Thing about most DSLRs is they use chips slightly smaller tghen a 35mm film frame so lenses have the effect of being a bit longer so a 50mm lens on a canon DSLR (excet the full on pricey ones) is like an 80mm on a film camera - a bit more like a short telephoto lens rather than Normal. Now this isn't a problem - 35mm was just a standard, medium format cameras are the oposite and film cameras always had different standfards but using old 35mm system lenses means there isn't the choice there was in film days so a cheap lens like that one may be too "zoomed in" for you. Anyway i'm ranting. Also the d30 etc are only 3mp+ but don't be fooled by that as the images they can produce are fantastic, you just wont be getting many A2 prints from them but they can go big.

Remember the point of getting an SLR is they are system cameras, you change the lens, add more lenses to suit your work so don't worry abot the lens too much. There aren't many cheap options and at your budget you may be a bit stuck. Maybe a good versatile fixed lens camera would be a better bet and if you love it you could move on to bigger better and more versatile systems as your talent develops.

Any questions i'd be only too happy to answer. Things like shooting RAW etc, all great but confusing stuff!

[superkully]

Someone mentioned Holga (and their kin) cameras in ntsc-uk!? Now I've seen everything on this site.

I cannot believe people have the audacity to charge ?20 for these cameras, I remember when I was at school in the early nineties getting some off my Dad who had gotten four instead of one as a joining gift for something.

They are terrible, really, really, terrible. At the most they are worth ?1-2.

?20! I've bought excellent condition 1960's 35mm cameras for ~?5 off eBay and they're so much more fun to own and use. Nothing beats the feeling of a very heavy, beautifully made camera which cost over ?500 in its day. The crappy lens on the Holga a-likes may give an effect which is cool for maybe a roll or two, but you'll end up wondering why the hell you paid so much money for one.

Just me ranting, I'll have a look this weekend to see if those cameras are still there in my Mum and Dads loft, if they are I'll send them off to whomever wants them for P&P cost.

[superkully]

I love Pentax SLRs, but I have a Canon G5 for digital.

For all things Pentax (film and digital):

http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/

And all things Canon (digital only site - excellent):

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php?

[Bassman]

I have Pentax SLR kit (ME Super, Super A and SFX plus lenses etc).

I have used digital for a few years (Olympus 1 MP then Kodak 4MP) and recently puchased the Samsung V800 (8 MP compact) which I am impressed with.

[Magnakai]

Superkully, I'll definitely take one of those Holgas

I've got a Lomo LC-A (thankfully not at the prices that lomography.com are charging!) and it's pretty fun to play with.

I'm trying to save up for a 350D. I'm using a Canon G5 atm, which is a lovely camera, but in comparison to my brother's 10D it feels very restrictive.
I think a 350D and a decent 50/1.8 lens will be good for nice sharp portraits with those lovely blown out backgrounds. There's little I love more than shallow depth of field.

This reminds me - I've got loads and loads to upload to my flickr...

[NeilMcRae]

Here are a few of my action shots from my track some taken by a friend of mine also:













got a couple of high speed 300mm zoom lenses, makes all the difference. 350d is an excellent camera, i prefer the D10 from Nikon. Check out Sigma's lenses they are superb.

[Zanza]

Must agree with you Superkully, they are **** camera's, but great for experimenting with and easily modded to take 35mm (if your planning on giving any away, I would love another ).

Like you said there are alot more fun camera's to pick up for the prices you would pay for a Holga: I recently got myself a Yashica-A and a Polaroid Landcamera 250, for around ?12 each, both in excellent condition with their original cases and instructions. They are so much more fun to use, and still give great results, unfortunately the film for old polaroids is a pain in the arse to find, usualy expired, and costs an arm and a leg

[Emir]

Someone mentioned Holga (and their kin) cameras in ntsc-uk!? Now I've seen everything on this site.


Just me ranting, I'll have a look this weekend to see if those cameras are still there in my Mum and Dads loft, if they are I'll send them off to whomever wants them for P&P cost.

Why thankyou kind sir, I'll take one.

[Magnakai]

Zanza, if you find a decent source for Polaroid film, let me know. I too got an ancient Polaroid off eBay but film's quite literally impossible to find. It's very irritating.