English: Occasionally, I shoot with a medium format Holga camera. I really like the results, especially shooting on Velvia film.

Since I no longer work in Cambridge, it's more of a bother to shoot medium format films since I can't find any photo shop in Wellesley that would develop them. So, I decided to get a Holga lens for the PEN E-P3 (and also for my Canon 5D Mk2) with the macro and close up kits. When I learned that Holga had improved the "holga look" in their new (series II) lens, I decided to give it a try; I've seen the pictures taken with the FIRST version, and I thought the results look like they were shot with early, 3-megapixel point and shoot cameras—I was disappointed to see the results.

The good news is that I think this SECOND version lens performs quite similar to what I am used to—although, it can never match the Holga magic you get from medium format.

This set (includes 15 photos) is a sample of what the new Holga lens (and in some cases, using one close-up snap on adapter) can do on a micro four thirds camera like the E-P3.

Overall, I like the results—soft, heavy vignette and crazy flares, just like what I am used to with the real Holga. You can only focus with the lens and cannot change the aperture. With the regular lens, focus distance begins (a few feet?) to infinity. I have to hold the camera steady, or else, even in bright light, chances are it'd be hard to nail focus. Put on a close-up lens, focusing gets even harder, but not impossible to do. I think the colors still don't look that convincing straight out of camera. I would tweak (add warmth) or turn them into black and white.

I need to shoot more with it—it's actually quite fun—especially using different close up lenses and macro lens.