The Universal Electronics Company was set up in Hong Kong in 1967 by Mr Li Ting-mo. Its’ principal product was accessory flash guns, but when camera companies started putting a flash into their cameras in 1975 Mr Li knew he had to look for a new product.

He decided to produce a cheap 120 format camera as a sort of “people’s camera” for the people of China, and set about designing one in 1981. However, by the time it was ready to go to market, the Chinese had abandoned the 120 format and were buying 35 mm cameras, so Mr Li had to sell his cameras in the west. He subsequently designed and manufactured a number of 120, 110 and 35 mm cameras. He was apparently still involved in the company he created until 2015 when he was 85. “Holga” is said to come from the Cantonese word for “very bright”.

It is not known when this Holga 120GTLR was made. The letters indicate that it is a twin lens reflex camera with a glass lens (many Holgas had plastic lenses). It is designed to take 12 photos 6 x 6 cm, or 16 photos 6 x 4,5 cm with the use of a plastic mask*. The lens is actually a wide angle for both formats. 

The reflex viewing system includes a pop up plastic shield in four parts, which shades the (circular) viewing screen and provides a frame for direct viewing. This requires three operations to fold it away. The reflex image is upright but laterally reversed. There is no compensation in the viewfinder(s) for the different formats. Loading and unloading film is extremely difficult because the film compartments are too small.

By turning the knob directly above the flash, a series of filters can be rotated into position giving a white, red, yellow or blue flash. The Holgas became cult items in the late 1990’s, along with the ‘Diana’ cameras of the 1960’s.

*Some (120 film) Holgas could also take 35 mm film with an adaptor kit, but the film chamber in this one is not wide enough to take a 35 mm cassette.