Vintage-Toy Camera

Around 1998 a good friend of mine gave me a Holga 120 film camera as a gift. I had used 35mm and medium format cameras in color but never experimented with plates toy cameras like this. I have to admit, I was a bit doubtful of the quality of image this camera could produce. I bought some film at the local camera store and gave it a try. Just like all new creative endeavors, I had made my share of mistakes. I loaded the film too loose, I advanced the film incorrectly and removed the film in bright sunlight. All of these “mistakes” created images I wasn’t expecting. Which was a good thing. Also, not having to fuss with dials and controls gave me the freedom to act spontaneously, which made my image fun and unusual. Before I knew this new love for this plastic fantastic camera had me interested in other cameras of its type. Soon I was experimenting with the Diana 120 film vintage camera, the Japanese tin 120 film camera and others that I’d found and purchase on eBay.

Date

September 14, 2020

Category

Gear

Tags

120, 35mm, 620, Antique, Camera, Diana, Double and Triple Exposures, eBay, Holga, light-leaks, Lomography, Medium-Format, Old-school, Photography, Plastic-fantastic, Rocket Camera, Thrift-store, Vintage