My First Shots with the Holga 120N
Created: August 28, 2026
I recently picked up a Holga 120N and am loving it so far. The Holga is a simple plastic medium-format camera that shoots 120 film and has very few controls. There isn't a light meter, the focus is essentially guesswork, and the shutter and aperture settings are limited. The shutter speed is fixed at about 1/100 second, and the aperture has two settings: cloudy and sunny, or f/8 and f/16. It's a very basic camera, but that's what makes it fun to use.
I picked up the Holga because I wanted to try something completely different from the more traditional 35mm experience. The larger 6x6 images from 120 film are super appealing with the random light leaks and natural vignette. Instead of trying to get everything technically perfect, I focused on being more intentional with each composition.
For my first roll, I loaded it with Ilford HP5 Plus and took it out for a test run in Downtown Albany, Oregon. I wasn't sure what to expect, especially with the limited controls, but that was one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience.
What I Learned
The biggest thing I learned from the first roll is that the Holga really rewards experimentation. With so little control over the exposure and focus, I had to make my best guesses and move on. Some of the photos turned out better than I expected, while others didn't.
I'm also still figuring out how much light the camera needs. Without a built-in meter, judging exposure takes a bit more thought even though there are only two options, especially when the lighting changes throughout each shot. The first roll gave me a much better idea of what situations the camera handles well and where I need to be more careful.
Some of the architectural photos have noticeably curved lines, especially when shooting from a distance. The focal length is a rough equivalent to 33mm, but it's largely due to it being a simple plastic lens, which has significant barrel distortion. The closer shots tend to appear more accurate because the distortion is less noticeable in those compositions.
There were a few frames that didn't turn out the way I expected, but I think that's exactly what I was hoping for when I picked up the Holga. The imperfections, unexpected exposure, light leaks, and softer look give the photos a character that I wouldn't normally get from my digital camera.
After one roll, I'm still getting a feel for the camera, but that's part of the fun! I have a much better idea of what to expect now, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the next rolls.
The Outcome
Here are some of my favorite photos from the experience. Enjoy ❤️
