The Next Digital Holga?

Pentax Optio H90; The Next Digital Holga?

OK, so although the Yashica EZ F521 was slated to be a “digital Holga”, its limited availability in the US may have generated a false start. After all, by definition a Lomographic camera must also be a camera for the masses; if the masses can’t purchase it readily, then what’s the point?

For those seeking Lomographic qualities in a digital camera, the readily available Pentax Optio H90 may be a viable option. Its inexpensive, minimalist design gives it a Holga-like quality.

What makes the Yashica EZ F521 so Holga-like is its viewfinder (a rarity these days, and so necessary to the Lomographic experience), two-zone focus switch, fixed prime lens, separate, removable lens cap, and plasticy feel. And then there’s those two Philips-head screws on the front that secure the lens assembly just begging to be removed. I see mods in the future.

Although its native resolution is only 5MP, it interpolates up to 12MP, so the images are likely to be soft. While the lens is fixed at 43mm (35mm film equivalent), there’s a 4x digital zoom, sure to soften and add artifacts. The fixed aperture of f/3.0 in combination with the electronic-only shutter also contribute to some unique characteristics of this camera. The sensor is scanned from top to bottom, so any horizontal movement during exposure reads as wavy vertical lines. Very cool.

Yashica EZ F521: Slated to be the “Digital Holga”

By contrast, the Optio forgos the optical viewfinder and separate lens cap, mimicking the current trend in compact digital cameras. For about the same price, you get a 28-140mm zoom lens, auto focus and digital image stabilization.

Each camera has ways of manipulating its images, which may not necessarily contribute to their “Holganess” one way or another, which is more about the native optical characteristics of the camera. The Yashica has six digital color “filters” that can be applied during shooting; Normal, Sepia, B/W, Negative, Red, Green and Blue. During playback, these can be applied in different combinations to yield up to 11 different color effects. The Pentax has eight digital filters which can be applied during playback: B/W, Sepia, Toy Camera, Retro, Color, Color Extract, Color Emphasis, and Soft.

Let’s face it, the Yashica is an anomaly. No one is going to go out of their way to design a digital camera with the degree of optical quirkiness necessary to qualify as a Holga. But we can keep our eyes open for inexpensive digital cameras that keep photography fun.