Holga Questions
February 24, 2010 4:33 AM Subscribe
Holga n00b here! I have some specific questions inside, but am also looking for general advice.
1. Should I throw away my masks and lens cap as some of the websites recommend? What would be the advantages of throwing my lens cap away, and if I got rid of the masks, wouldn't that damage the film?
2. I did a stupid thing: I'm using the 16 mask, but accidentally left the count slide-thing at the back of the camera on 12, and I've shot about half a roll or a little less. What's going to happen to my pictures? Are they going to come out at all?
3. How can I maximise light leaks? I love them!
I'd also welcome any Holga tips/hacks/techniques that any of you may have found particularly rewarding!
1. Should I throw away my masks and lens cap as some of the websites recommend? What would be the advantages of throwing my lens cap away, and if I got rid of the masks, wouldn't that damage the film?
2. I did a stupid thing: I'm using the 16 mask, but accidentally left the count slide-thing at the back of the camera on 12, and I've shot about half a roll or a little less. What's going to happen to my pictures? Are they going to come out at all?
3. How can I maximise light leaks? I love them!
I'd also welcome any Holga tips/hacks/techniques that any of you may have found particularly rewarding!
I took a lot of photos with the lens cap on before I threw the cap out. I once thought it would make a good post-modern art exhibit to have all these famous shots of my travels that I took with my Holga lens cap on.
Live and learn. The camera is suited to experimentation.
I don't use the metal clips to the side - just a small amount of duct tape to hold the back cover on. Mine doesn't take indoor shots at all. Maybe I have to keep the shutter open much longer, but it never seems to work. My main tip is to use a whole roll as fast as possible; don't let a half of a roll sit in the camera too long. Those shots never come out for me.
posted by yeti at 6:48 AM on February 24, 2010
Live and learn. The camera is suited to experimentation.
I don't use the metal clips to the side - just a small amount of duct tape to hold the back cover on. Mine doesn't take indoor shots at all. Maybe I have to keep the shutter open much longer, but it never seems to work. My main tip is to use a whole roll as fast as possible; don't let a half of a roll sit in the camera too long. Those shots never come out for me.
posted by yeti at 6:48 AM on February 24, 2010
The shutter button doesn't have a locking mechanism to prevent accidental tripping, I'd keep the lens cap, unless you want empty shots of the inside of your bag from time to time.
Cover the two sides of the film gate that the film runs along with electrical tape and, then you don't have to worry about it scratching the film if you don't use a mask. A lot of people say to get rid of them because without them it increases vignetting and, creates softer edges. I'd keep 'em, try them out and, see which you prefer.
Throwing away your masks (especially the 16 mask) will increase light leaks
Might or might not. There are two screws inside the film gate below the viewfinder which sometimes allows light through. My 120S has never leaked light from there.
posted by squeak at 6:54 AM on February 24, 2010
Cover the two sides of the film gate that the film runs along with electrical tape and, then you don't have to worry about it scratching the film if you don't use a mask. A lot of people say to get rid of them because without them it increases vignetting and, creates softer edges. I'd keep 'em, try them out and, see which you prefer.
Throwing away your masks (especially the 16 mask) will increase light leaks
Might or might not. There are two screws inside the film gate below the viewfinder which sometimes allows light through. My 120S has never leaked light from there.
posted by squeak at 6:54 AM on February 24, 2010
The shutter button doesn't have a locking mechanism to prevent accidental tripping, I'd keep the lens cap, unless you want empty shots of the inside of your bag from time to time.
You're just as likely to take empty shots of the inside of your lens cap in that case!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:10 AM on February 24, 2010
You're just as likely to take empty shots of the inside of your lens cap in that case!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:10 AM on February 24, 2010
But the difference is if you take a shot of the inside of the cap, you greatly reduce the chance of fogging the film from accidentally tripping the shutter to zilch and, can still use that frame.
posted by squeak at 7:44 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by squeak at 7:44 AM on February 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
2. I just woke up, so this might be wrong, but my thought is that you'll have 12, small, skinny pictures with narrow frames. They might look pretty much like normal photos. My first holga pictures, with the 16 mask, were disappointing for just this reason.
3. Don't use masks and don't tape anything.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:50 AM on February 24, 2010