Holga HPL-C
Its fixed f/0.25 pinhole aperture and plastic body create soft, dreamlike images with unlimited depth of field, deliberately rejecting modern optical precision. This lightweight 38g lens mounts natively to Canon EF bodies and produces a pronounced vignette on full-frame sensors for a distinct lo-fi aesthetic. It is best for experimental photographers seeking unpredictable, art-focused results rather than technical sharpness.
Aperture f/0.25
Mount Canon EF or Canon EF-S
stabilization Yes
af type manual focus only
lens type prime
34 Overall Score
Price $0
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong bokeh (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong aperture (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong stabilization (82nd percentile) 82nd
Cons
- Below average af (13th percentile)
- Below average macro (14th percentile)
- Below average social proof (16th percentile)
- Below average optical (20th percentile)
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/0.25 |
| Min Aperture | f/0.25 |
| Constant | Yes |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF or Canon EF-S |
| Format | full-frame |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | Yes |
vs Competition
| Spec | Holga HPL-C | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | - | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 17-28mm | 12-35mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/0.25 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Canon EF or Canon EF-S | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | - | 590 | 290 | 450 | 306 | 326 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | Linear motor |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holga HPL-C | 13.3 | 99.9 | 32.4 | 14.2 | 20.2 | 99.9 | 33.6 | 16.1 | 82.4 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 98 | 78.2 | 65.1 | 85.8 | 96.7 | 66.3 | 97.7 | 55 | 82.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 86.9 | 82.1 | 86.1 | 91.7 | 82.2 | 84.2 | 78.6 | 89.6 | 36.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 86.9 | 87.3 | 75.2 | 85.8 | 88.2 | 84.2 | 68 | 69.1 | 36.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.9 | 82.1 | 85.4 | 51 | 86.5 | 84.2 | 80.6 | 85.1 | 96.9 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 98 | 75.7 | 72.5 | 40.3 | 78.5 | 77.6 | 95.8 | 89.6 | 82.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Price History
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
