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Holga Exploration
By an Amazon.com customer
Lomography Holga 120N Medium Format Fixed Focus Camera with LensLomography Holga 120N Medium Format Fixed Focus Camera with Lens
Buy new: $27.43
Versions with expensive filter wheels are probably not worth the extra cost, as one can easily rig something in front of the lens. The 120N has a working hot shoe, so flashes can be attached.
Permacell Gaffer Tape 25 Yards x 2"- BlackPermacell Gaffer Tape 25 Yards x 2"- Black
Buy new: $17.95
Essential! Keeps the back from falling off, or makes a flap to cover the film counter window. Tape over the film advance knob when not using the camera to help prevent the film from moving about. Much less sticky than duct tape.
Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic LightingLight: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting by Fil Hunter
Buy new: $30.91 / Used from: $24.82
Must have book on photographic lighting.
Vivitar 285HV Auto Professional FlashVivitar 285HV Auto Professional Flash
Buy new: $89.95 / Used from: $75.00
Works with the Holga 120N, big and scary. Good exposure dial on the side to figure out a ballpark power rating, and can be cabled to light meters with suitable wiring. Recently rebranded as the "Cactus KF36" according to Strobist.
Lumiquest The Softbox III - Lumiquest LQ-119Lumiquest The Softbox III - Lumiquest LQ-119
Buy new: $35.95
Can be strapped onto the Vivitar (or other manual flash or light sources) with velcro straps (sold separately). Folds flat, so easy to transport. Handy when one needs a quick soft box.
Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Light MeterSekonic L-358 Flash Master Light Meter
Buy new: $259.00 / Used from: $225.00
Good for reflected, incident, or flash triggered metering, less hassle than juggling another camera and the Holga. There are 1 and 5 degree add-ons for this meter, though these are expensive. I'd get the 5 degree (1 degree seems to small a circle), or consider a meter with these builtin.
Sekonic "T" Synchro Cord f/Digital Flash MeterSekonic "T" Synchro Cord f/Digital Flash Meter
Buy new: $29.95
Connects Sekonic L-358 to Vivitar for cord-based metering.
Sekonic NP Finder 5 Degree for L-358Sekonic NP Finder 5 Degree for L-358
Buy new: $139.95
Optional. Nice to have when dealing with lots of reflected light or other cases where the incident light reading will be off.
Fujifilm Fujicolor Pro 400H Color Negative Film, ISO 400, 120 Size, Pack of 5, USAFujifilm Fujicolor Pro 400H Color Negative Film, ISO 400, 120 Size, Pack of 5, USA
ISO 400 works on cloudy days in Seattle. Loading film is a bit tricky, I've taken to first wrapping the film a few times around the receiving spool, then inserting the spools into the camera, as 120 film has plenty of paper protecting the film from accidental exposure.
Fujifilm Neopan 400 Professional - Black & white print film - 120 (6 cm) - ISO 400Fujifilm Neopan 400 Professional - Black & white print film - 120 (6 cm) - ISO 400
Buy new: $2.89
Low cost starter film for B&W. Practice with this first before dabbling with more expensive films. On very sunny days, I've had good luck with ISO 100 or even ISO 50 films.
Epson Perfection V750-M Pro Color ScannerEpson Perfection V750-M Pro Color Scanner
Buy new: Too low to display
I have my film developed at a local lab, then scan it with this scanner. I also use other medium and large format cameras, so wanted a nice scanner. For a Holga, a cheaper film scanner or even print scanner should suffice to digitize the images. Have not experimented with a darkroom-in-my-bathroom, so have no chemical recommendations.
Lomography Holga Four Color Filter Set for Color or Black & White Film.Lomography Holga Four Color Filter Set for Color or Black & White Film.
Buy new: $9.79
Did not like the colors that came with this set. Probably better to rig your own filter holder, then buy filters you like for that.
Strathmore Series 300 Tracing Paper Pads 9in x 12inStrathmore Series 300 Tracing Paper Pads 9in x 12in
Use tracing paper to create soft-box light effects on the cheap. Or, spool it across the film plane and mark in your own focus distance readings by pointing the Holga at a candle or similar bright light source.