Holga 135BC Plastic 35mm Camera - "Bent Corners" Version

by Holga

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 2.3 x 4.9 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001E791FS
• Item model number: 170120
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #97 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Film Cameras
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

The manufacturer of the Holga camera has created three new versions oftheir world famous camera in 35mm format. The new models are Holga 135(Item #167-120), Holga 135PC (Item #168-120) and Holga 135BC (Item#170-120). The Holga 135 is a standard 35mm camera with similar features tothe Holga 120N (item #144120) except that it includes a cable releaseadapter in the shutter release button. The Holga 135PC is similar except that in has a pinhole instead of a lens. The Holga 135BC is the same as the Holga 135 except that it includes an internal mask to create a soft vignetting of the corners or bent corners effect. The Holga 135BC falls into 35mm Holga family. It is the artistic brother to the Holga 135. It includes a permanent internal mask to create a soft vignetting on the corners of your image. Features include: -Standard tripod mount (1/4-20) -Bulb selector for extra long exposures -Cable release adapter in the shutter release button No batteries required.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice intro camera for lo-fi newbies, October 29, 2010

By 

sunshinediva24 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holga 135BC Plastic 35mm Camera - "Bent Corners" Version (Electronics)

I've been shooting with my DSLR for a while now, and I never really had a use for film cameras until I got intrigued by the toy camera phenomenon that's been sweeping the nation. I thought about getting the Holga 120, but after doing extensive research on the cost of developing 120 film in my area (about $12 per roll, which has 12-16 exposures), I decided to go with the 35mm camera, where if I'm using Snapfish, i can get the whole roll developed for $3-5 for 36 exposures.

I must say, the Holga 135BC is a fun little camera! I took it on a trip to the mountains and got some great shots of the fall foliage. The vignetting (black corners) came out on about half the pictures; some of them came out without much vignetting at all, which was surprising. There haven't been any light leaks, which may disappoint some users, but I know there are some mods out there (involving drilling holes into the side of the body) to create that effect if you wish. Double exposures are quite easy to do. I recommend using ISO400 speed film for best effects, especially when you're just beginning. The aperture is pretty much set at something like f8 and the shutter speed is around 1/100 (though this can vary), so most indoor pictures and even outdoor pictures in overcast lighting came out dark and dismal. I kind of wish I had bought the one that comes with a flash unit (holga 15b) but I'm gonna purchase that separately. The ones I took in sunlight are great though, so i recommend taking your Holga outside on a pretty day for your first roll. As for loading and unloading the film, it's quite easy to do. Just remember to press the film release button on the bottom of the camera before you rewind your film to avoid stretching or ripping apart your exposed film.

Overall, i think that the Holga 135BC is a wonderful little camera, great for those of us trying out a plastic camera for the first time, and a great attention-getter in public. I would definitely recommend it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Missed points, March 18, 2011

By 

Hirokit - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Holga 135BC Plastic 35mm Camera - "Bent Corners" Version (Electronics)

There are lots of mentions of the technical specs and the vignettes and stuff so I'm not going to go deep into it. But I will say the bent corners does work. I have yet to experience many light leaks with this camera. But being a simple and fully analog camera, modifications and fixes are easily done at home. A warning though: the 135 is not as easy to modify and disassemble as the 120.

Many digital buffs like to say there's no point in the inconvenience of film and hard-to-control cameras like this when things like vignetting, grain, and blur can easily be done digitally. All I can do is shake my head and say "you miss the point entirely" to them. First off, the joy of the analog process is a factor. Now I'm sure others will want more solid reasons. Alright. Speed. There are no on and off switches. Photographic moments can be fleeting. I can't tell you how many moments I missed by trying to pull out my camera from my bag, or waiting for it to turn on. With this nifty guy you just lift it up and click the shutter. It's as fast as your hands will go. In addition the lack of controls not only puts your focus on the subject rather than settings, you come to expect "imperfect" shots anyway so once you understand the basics of using the camera you can take shots really fast and not mind what simple settings there are. Another big plus, portability. You may hesitate to bring an expensive DSLR out to a demanding hike or rough neighborhood. But a sub-$50 camera not so much. Also if you're a fan of candid shots, people are less intimidated having this pointed at them than a digital "real" camera. The clumsy clack sound the shutter makes will also alert them far less.

If you are the adventurous types, total unpredictability is a pro. As an iPhone user I have plastic camera simulation apps. It's not the same. You look at it and select and shake for a different effect and it's like photoshop on auto. Plus, no film wind techniques and light leaks, no personal interior mods or character unique to your own camera. The grain achieved digitally doesn't even match the warm analog grain and blur. Another thing usually seen as a disadvantage is development time. All I will say on that is the feeling of waiting for your film to develop, it's like Christmas presents. It all really makes photography exciting again. This is further heightened if you develop your own film. At that point you're involved intimately in every step of the process of making the image, so when you come out with something, it's just... Special.

All in all I highly recommend this fun little camera if you want to break away from stale digital perfection for living, dynamic shots you can inject your own character into. You may have a little trouble controlling it at first so don't use your first roll on your grand vacations or first dates or anything. But once you get the hang of it, this Holga will do you wonders. Seeing as the price is relatively cheap I also recommend having several of these for different films and effects. Personally I'd recommend other kinds though like the TLR (great for waist level candid shots, low angle) or another style of plastic camera. I own the TLR as well as a Diana Mini. But more important than what you own, have fun!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great toy camera, July 31, 2010

By 

Alana S (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Holga 135BC Plastic 35mm Camera - "Bent Corners" Version (Electronics)

This is my first Holga, so I can't really compare it to any of the other Holga models. I love that it takes 35mm film and is incredibly easy to use. It's also extremely compact and lightweight. It is a plastic camera, so it feels flimsy (not that I expected otherwise), but I've dropped it twice now and it's been totally fine.

The pictures are the quality I expected. Being able to do multiple exposures is nice. I love the bent corner look and the way the colors turn out. For the price I paid, I'm very happy with the camera, and have a lot of fun using it. So far I've only used the 400 ISO Lomo film, and that's worked out nicely. All in all, it's a nice break from the predictability of digital photography. Do keep in mind that you'll need an external flash if you want to take any indoor or night photography. Without it, photos are very grainy or don't come out at all.