This was the first year in as long as I can remember that I didn't buy anything in the Prime sale. And it wasn't for the lack of great Prime Day camera deals (some of which are still active, if you act fast) – this is a rare year where I'm actually downsizing my camera gear, rather than adding to it.
Still, we all know how hard GAS hits. I was feeling a bit of FOMO and missing having a fun new toy to play with, so I wanted to buy something. Which is when I stumbled upon the Holga HL 60mm f/8 – an all-plastic, low-fidelity lens that's under $20 and is exactly the kind of scratch that my creative itch was after. If you want one, you can buy it right here.
If you haven't heard of Holga, it's a Hong Kong company that is hugely popular in the lo-fi and Lomo communities for its uber-cheap and ultra-creative cameras and lenses. Light leaks, vignettes, uneven exposures, unique aberrations… if you prize images that have a bit of texture, tactility and tattiness, you're going to love Holga.
However, just because it's a super-cheap lens that's intentionally rough around the edges, that doesn't mean it can't produce good images. Quite the contrary; if you embrace what it offers, you can get good and even great shots. Just look at some of the photos on Lomography's gallery page:
As one YouTuber described the HL 60mm f/8, "This is the worst lens I've ever used… but I love it." As a lover of weird, vintage and character lenses, that was music to my ears!
As much as I love super-sharp, clinically crisp mirrorless lenses like my Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L, they're just a bit… well, boring and conventional. I have much more fun playing with old vintage lenses like the Helios 44-2 or similarly lo-fi modern lenses like the Pinhole Pro Max.
Maybe it's a sickness and maybe some folks think such lenses are a complete waste of money. Well, when you're spending less than $20, so what? The truth is, $20 doesn't buy you a lot these days – especially when it comes to camera gear. But I'm willing to bet that I have more fun playing with this cheap and cheerful lens than I do 90% of the soulless, sterile, carbon copy mirrorless lenses that come across my desk every day.
The Holga HL 60mm f/8 is the kind of lens that I'll slap on my camera when I wander around a quiet town on a lazy afternoon, taking pictures just because I bloody well want to – not because I'm trying to impress anybody. But the truth is, it probably will impress people; because in case you missed it, the lo-fi look is back big time.
Thousands of young photographers are spending crazy money on 20-year-old digital cameras and developing film so they can achieve the old-school aesthetic. And countless content creators are spending crazy hours with LUTs and layers trying to make modern images look as grungey as they do on a lens like the Holga.
Get yours for under $20!
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If you want the vintage vibe, take a look at the best Lensbaby and Lomography lenses that add real character to your images. And if you just want a camera that looks vintage but is actually packed with modern tech, check out the best retro cameras.
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