How to modify a Holga plastic lens...

kelly1

I'll be trying this out when I get home

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3776957225/modifying-a-holga-dslr-lens-to-really-be-f8

Anyone got one of these?

magicbastarder

seems a bit odd; they bought a deliberately **** lens, but it was actually too ****, so they decided to make it look like just a moderately **** lens.

kelly1

I think removing the "aperture" makes it softer. And I don't need unnecessary vignetting, I can add that in LR myself...

magicbastarder

but surely you can add everything in PP; including the softness of a holga lens?

kelly1

You can soften an image but it's hard to reproduce CA/distortion in s/w. Anyway, I'll continue to experiment. I'm not sure what point you're making really.

pete4130

They are sh1t.

I got one a few years ago and its just crap. Maybe I got a "bad" one but its crap. IT looks terrible on my D3. Marginally better on a crop sensor DSLR. I did get a specific Nikon fit Holga lens.

I was REALLY excited about it when I ordered it. I think I took 4 shots with it and its sat there for over 2 years unused.

Bad lenses work better with larger formats I think. So a "Holga" lens on a Holga with a 6x6 or 6x4.5 looks ok...



Above with the obligatory scratch and duct tape peeling from the heat to try stop the scratching as the film moves across the frame...


I got nothing like that with the holga on my DSLR. I got bad vignetting, REALLY bad focus, poor exposure and lack of clarity....but it looked terrible instead of looking good.

kelly1

I'm hoping the modification will make the lens more usable. At least I'll be able to see through the viewfinder! As it is, it's *really* dark.

AnCatDubh

Meh......, I have one..... and...... I love it. Its a fun lens. Cost less than a tenner and it generates fun. It is what it is. A piece of plastic which kinda lets light through to the sensor. Admittedly fun doesn't turn into particularly great image quality but then again if you are looking for image quality you'd probably be shooting with your best prime. The images it produces are probably of the kind that only a mother could love but hey, who are your shooting for to please in the first instance with a plastic lens?

I actually love the vignetting so this mod wouldn't be a runner for me. Then again for a tenner, it'd be worth buying one just for the crack of seeing how it would turn out.

The darkness through the viewfinder is woeful to work with. It's really a bright day lens if you want to compose through the view finder properly. Otherwise point and click and hope for the best.

I know lots of people don't and won't get its *charm* in its limitations and yes, to many/majority it probably is just sh**e but that doesn't particularly matter.

To repeat myself, for me it is fun... pure fun. Like photography as a hobby should be really - something you find fun. Something that amuses you. Something to enjoy.

kelly1

Thanks ACD.

I took the "vignetter" off last night and I'm happy with the way it works now and I find the image quality surprisingly good for plastic!

Few shots I took yesterday:

AnCatDubh

well in fairness, they are all rather tasty photographs. I like them.

I presume the view through the viewfinder is way brighter?

Do you think the better quality image is down to (in part perhaps) a presumably faster shutter speed attained at f8 rather than f25 (or whatever your actual lens is). I find mine suffers even on relatively bright day with slow shutter speeds (unless I push the iso way up) particularly when you point it into a shaded area. I don't often carry a tripod with me so handheld + low shutter can be a challenge.

But nice one, that looks like a win for you. Well done.

kelly1

Thanks very much ACD. Yeah, viewfinder is a good deal brighter. I still have to work out what equivalent f-stop it's at.

I found it almost unusable with the vignetter and it's quite usable now. I'll be using it more. Still need to find interesting subjects.

DaireQuinlan

You realise what the inevitable next step is, right ?

http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=65&product_id=70

kelly1

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

You realise what the inevitable next step is, right ?

http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=65&product_id=70

It's quite evitable! I've no burning desire to shoot film, for now.