The Holga brand was established in 1982 in Hong Kong and ceased its activities in 2015.

After a few years as the director of the Yashica factory in Hong Kong, Mr. Lee partnered with his brother to establish a company manufacturing camera flashes, notably for Agfa. The business thrived until the introduction of cameras with built-in flashes. In order to keep the factory operational, Mr. Lee shifted to manufacturing cameras. These cameras had to use 120 film, be simple, and affordable, targeting customers in China where the practice was to use 120 film. While Chinese factories produced cameras, they were too expensive for the general population.

The model was named Holga and was somewhat poorly made, but it was inexpensive. However, preferences changed, even in China, where people no longer wanted the 120 format and preferred the 135 format. Holga did not sell well in China, prompting Mr. Lee to seek opportunities in Western markets. Bingo, it became an iconic product in those markets.

Originally, the camera was a 120 format (6 x 6 and 4.5 x 6), without any adjustments. The shutter speed and aperture were fixed. The camera was made of plastic. The camera had numerous flaws, making its use quite unpredictable if one sought high-quality results. In this aspect, the Holga is very similar to the Diana. Nevertheless, these imperfections contributed to creating a trend that reached its peak in the 2010s.

The camera was sometimes modified by enthusiasts to accommodate 35mm film; a model for 35mm film was consequently manufactured.

Following the discontinuation of the Chinese brand, Lomography took over the production of these cameras and introduced various playful variations. It appears that the model is still available for purchase.

Regarding this particular unit, it is challenging to determine whether it is an original model or a production by Lomography.