In an age when anyone with a smartphone and a steady hand can get a perfectly focused, well-lit shot, lo-fi photos feel a bit passé. But if Holga Digital has anything to say about it, blown-out shots with fuzzy vignettes are about to become all the rage on hipster Instagram feeds.
That’s right: Holga, the humble analogue camera that filled the ’80s with arrestingly low-quality photos, is getting a digital makeover. Yesterday, Holga Digital of Hong Kong launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the classic camera back, with a few modern upgrades and some snazzy colours.
We were inspired by classic Holga camera and wanted to recreate the magical experience of using a Holga with our loved ones. We were also convinced we could enhance this experience by digitalize the original Holga.
The Holga Digital features a glass optic with f2.8 and f8.0 aperture settings, and a switch for toggling between a 4:3 or 1:1 aspect ratio. It can be outfitted with different lenses from the old Holga and an external flash. No LCD monitor, just through-the-lens shooting like the good ol’ days.
While the shots themselves are very much analogue, the camera’s sharing features are digital — images are accessed via a WiFi SD card or USB. Which means, you’ll be able to seamlessly upload your Holga masterpieces to social media so all your friends can admire and envy your retro-chiq sensibility.
Holga Digital’s Kickstarter campaign is off to a rocketing start, raising nearly half the funds it needed in its first 24 hours. If all continues to go well, the Holgas of the retrofuture will start shipping in December, just in time to capture the holidays.