Diana F+ VS. Holga (The First Round)

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In 2008, after I got my new Diana F+, my Holga lies in the cabinet at home every day. Let’s see the “conversation” between them!

Holga: Why isn’t our owner bringing me out anymore after you got here?
Diana: Maybe she wants to try something different.
Holga: I can shoot square frames too! I want to enjoy the sunlight as well. Look how good I am under the sun!

Diana: Oh, I can do that too! Besides enjoying the sunlight with her, I can accompany her at night too! You may have the ‘B’ mode, but you still need her help to hold your shutter! I only need a cable release to lock my shutter, and then I can do the rest on my own!

Diana: And when it’s cloudy, I can do pinhole shots as well! So I am the winner for this round!
Holga: ……………………………

Bring home a winner! Drop by our online shop or one of our worldwide gallery stores to get your Diana F+. Check out our films, lenses and accessories, too.

written by la_mala on 2011-07-04 #gear #review #lomography #holga #comparison #diana-f #film-camera #user-review

Mentioned Product

Lomography Diana F+

Take timeless and dramatic photos on 120 film with the Diana F+. Create stunning soft-focused images and customize it with sweet lenses or even an instant back for additional effects and flexibility.

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46 Comments

vicuna · 2011-07-04 20:53
Not easy to compare both cameras and declare a winner :) I love my Holga 120 SF as it's the very first Lomo cam I had, and I'm never disappointed by the results. But I also love my Diana F+, with it's "transformer" ability with different lenses and pinhole function! :) Both are winners for me! :)
kingdjin · 2011-07-04 22:18
great review..but i prefer the holga :)
z · 2011-07-05 02:03
Oh my god. I love this article.
boredbone · 2011-07-05 09:02
great photos. but i'm partial to holga.
ibkc · 2011-07-05 15:06
I'm delighted that the author loves her Diana F+. I have both cameras, including the Diana F+ which came with the Deluxe set and all the lenses and the 35mm back, and I honestly use them both about equally. To me, the results they produce are different enough that it is worth it to keep them both in use. It's not like we HAVE to pick between them -- is it? In fact, it never even occurred to me to do a "Diana vs. Holga" comparison, and this review hasn't done much to change my mind on that. Sorry. :(
gvelasco · 2011-07-05 18:15
Nice idea for an article. I really like your pinhole pix. I have several Holgas, but no 120. I have the Diana with everything. I prefer the Diana because of her flexibility.
sidsel · 2011-07-05 19:22
lovely pix and truly fun style, I really enjoyed this article!
ahleng90 · 2011-07-05 20:34
photos from diana are unic!but i love my holga :)
mrbryson · 2011-07-06 03:37
i'm leaning towards HOLGA because it feels good in my hands! :D
disdis · 2011-07-06 14:25
I agree with @vicuna... no winner for me, both can be friends and live together
marie-v · 2011-07-06 14:27
I got a Holga for my birthday in november and I was given the choice, I could switch it for a diana if I wanted to. Before I always wanted the diana, but the Holga just felt right for me, it felt like it suited me better than the diana. Sometimes I wish the holga had more accessories, but I never really regretted the decision. :)
jojothemonkeyy · 2011-07-06 14:42
I think its great that you're doing this challenge article-style :D
I feel that for lomo beginners most ppl have a problem deciding between a holga and a diana because the holga is always touted as the easiest beginner camera to use
I do agree to that, which is why a Holga was my very first camera ;)
but after getting the diana I realise that the holga does have its limitations regarding aperture sizes and lack of customisability
Proof: I use my diana 5 times more often than I use my holga XP
Looking forward to the other rounds of the challenge!
laurasulilly · 2011-07-06 15:00
Well, I can't tell for the Diana F+, but my original vintage Diana needs so much light and many negatives come out with poor or with no information at all on them that I'd definitely go for my customized modified Holga from Holgamods.com. I use it for B&W mostly, and I have seen so many great B&W fine art photography done with the Holga which I haven't seen with Diana F+ (mind you, I'm talking about fine art, and not Lomo snapshots) that (until now) nothing can beat my Holgamod in picture quality. I don't know why, but the Diana F+ seems to be a rather fancy accessoire to me, and the Holga a camera which can be used to produce some great art (all of the books on toy camera photography as an art form I've seen so far feature mostly Holga shots rather than Dianas, I think). but again, you're totally welcome to disagree or prove me wrong, since this is just a question of personal choice, really. Also, I might change my mind if I ever happen to get a Diana f+, who knows...
h_hache · 2011-07-06 16:36
Holga!!!
t0m7 · 2011-07-06 16:53
I have both cameras (Diana F+ without accessoires) and Holga 120 S (and CFN) too, but i like the dreamy diana pictures more than the often too sharp holga pics. but the holga feels more sturdy.
Both cameras are great and i would miss each one!
rake · 2011-07-06 18:17
I love this, the diana is great, but I like my holga. Just more weight, less fuss, and is less delicate. I never bonded with the diana like I did my holga.
blinghaha · 2011-07-06 20:36
Hmmmm interesting...anyone have a go to lend me? ;)
blinghaha · 2011-07-06 20:41
Holga* damn auto correct
robotmonkey1996 · 2011-07-06 21:50
U can mod holgas
stouf · 2011-07-06 23:03
Holga...Holga...Holga...Holga...Holga...Holga...Holga... Ahhhhh... : )
electrovenstar · 2011-07-07 04:24
cute article. :) i love it
antibiotyx · 2011-07-07 08:05
haha! both cameras are great, but holgaga is still my darling.
pangmark · 2011-07-07 08:39
Think my Holga is winning ;p I have a friend on here and she seems to love her Diana but her holga pics are insane! There's something about the feel of the Holga. P.s I've dropped mine in the toilet been on a motorcycle accident with her (broke me shoulder) and she's been dropped on the tiles too many times to count but she's still rockin! Could you say the same for your Lady Di?
pangmark · 2011-07-07 08:41
Oh, and the reason i chose the holga in the first place was for the lack of accesories. so i wouldn't waste my money :D
psychicd · 2011-07-07 10:04
love my holga too..just bought 120N glow in the dark..i already had my GCFN..
kamera-man · 2011-07-07 14:38
I have both and can't decide but like that the Diana F+ has more flexibility with lenses and the interchangable backs are a big plus, too.
kdstevens · 2011-07-08 04:29
Both cameras have their strengths and I use both regularly. The Holga images are distinct with their vignetting, pin cushion distortion, and high contrast. The Diana images can seem antiseptic in comparison.
rhemaangel · 2011-07-08 14:27
Sheesh! That's like asking to pick your favorite child! Each is different, but I love them both the same.
kdstevens · 2011-07-08 17:36
Diana: "Oh, I can do that too!"

Holga: "Oh no you can't! Look at my dark corners--you don't do that nearly so well. Look at my pincushion distortion and my contrasty and saturated images. You are a talented and versatile young girl, but don't go putting on airs!"
tomkiddo · 2011-07-09 01:07
i think holga is better :)
aarevalo1987 · 2011-07-09 01:32
I don't have a Holga but have been thinking of buying one lately. I have a feeling it won't be as good as my Diana F+ Though.
1minute1second · 2011-07-09 05:59
I love both but majority of the time I will use my Diana because of all the flexibility.
adibfarhan · 2011-07-09 12:44
no no no. holga FTW.!
giuli · 2011-07-09 20:01
I also prefer the Holga. It feels more like a camera than Diana does. But I like to play with both of them, of course :)
aprilrich427 · 2011-07-10 02:01
all my diana pictures always turn out horrible! im a holga fan
noe_arteaga · 2011-07-10 06:10
The Diana F+ is definitely my favorite! I have a Holga, but not as reliable. With Diana, I have to qualms when using slower speed film because of the aperture settings. I love that you can use a different flash. Magnum Pinhole shots are amazing with the Diana, and you just can't do that with a Holga. I love light leaks, but Holga can sometimes just put some in there and could ruin the aesthetic you wanted. And the DIana is prettier, too!
superkulisap · 2011-07-10 11:22
Go HOLGA!
superkulisap · 2011-07-10 11:25
If I may add, it is easier to adjust the focal point of Holga compared to Diana.
pyromonkey333 · 2011-07-11 02:37
^ just what i was thinking, and focusing the mini is worst!
bubblylicious · 2011-07-11 15:42
I am gaga over Holga! :) I have a 2-year old 120CFN and it never fails to give me its ever reliable dark corners and crazy contrasts. Holgaga forever. :)
eva_eva · 2011-07-13 05:09
Gosh! I like this review! :) Both did nice job. :)
falsedigital · 2011-07-17 16:55
The Holga has a way better lens than the diana lens. It's much sharper in the center. I could care less what extra "features" the diana has. So I declare Holga the winner.
ananditya · 2011-07-28 00:03
is it really a competition.. i love my holga though :)
johan34370 · 2011-08-14 20:10
great review :)
jezzyjung · 2011-12-08 08:43
love both
durian · 2012-01-08 21:28
yeah the article is sorta partial. i started out with the holga and doing night shots which always came out great with the color flash edition. cant really agree with why the diana won, but i guess its a matter of taste.