Holga, the Globally Popular Hong Kong-Made Toy Camera｜Made in Hong Kong

Have you ever heard of a camera brand named “Holga”? It is a classic Hong Kong-made brand that has become internationally renowned. Let’s take a look at the story of Holga.

The plastic toy camera, Holga, was invented by Mr. Lee Ting-Mo in Hong Kong in 1982. He initially produced flashlights and was the first Hong Kong-based developer of flashlights. Later, he designed the Holga 120s, a more general version of a film camera.

Originally named “Holgon,” which means “good light,” It was the name of the flashlight company. However, since many camera brands at the time ended in “a,” it was later changed to Holga.

In 2001, photographer David Burnett used a Holga to take a photo of former US Vice President Gore, winning the White House News Photographers Association’s “The Eyes of History” award. Since then, this Hong Kong-made camera has gained international recognition, attracting many renowned photographers, with sales peaking at over 100,000 units per year.

Holga’s low-cost lens and plastic housing often produced defects such as vignetting, color distortion, light leaks, and blurry focus, creating a “flawed beauty” photography style that many photography enthusiasts admire.

In 2015, Holga raised funds to release a digital version. Holga Digital was designed to resemble the original film camera, and it also eschewed an LCD display, requiring users to use the viewfinder to take photos. The resulting pictures could also mimic the effects of the Holga film camera.

Unfortunately, Holga ultimately succumbed to the changing times and was discontinued in 2016.

Image source: Internet, will remove upon request.

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