Holgaroid Pics

[kaffinito]

Hi all,

I ended up getting a Holga with a Polaroid back to it so I could have some fun with a plastic toy camera and wanted to share the results. I also shot some rolls of film with it, but I won't have those back for another week.

I don't have a scanner so I had to take pics of the pics using my D90 so I apologize for the fuzziness and the lopsidedness of some of the photos. Hope you enjoy them!


These were shot at the Sanford train station in Florida using the "count to two" rule.

Thanks for looking!
Karen

 

[Gdad]

Those are way cool- I love the last one!

Is it a pinhole camera? What is the "count to two" rule?

 

[kaffinito]

Nope - it's a Holga with a Polaroid back attached with a lot of electrical tape. It uses instant film, so I don't have to go nuts waiting for my film to get developed. (I'm still too chicken to develop my own film.)

The "two second rule" is in bright light, set the Holga to Portrait mode (I know, a joke!) and when you push down on the shutter count one thousand one one thousand two. And of course the count goes up depending on the amount of available light.

I love this thing!

 

[Gdad]

Wow- that's interesting. You are in bulb mode and a daylight shot with this setup takes a two second exposure? Are you using a tripod? Or is there another shutter in the Polaroid back?

I would love to see a picture of the Holga/Polaroid rig itself!

 

[kaffinito]

Thanks for asking! Here are a few pics of the setup.

This is the Holga front with the Polaroid back. (I used my Holga lens cap for a pinhole camera so I had to use the one from the Diana for now.) I don't use the flash - it's pretty useless as far as I can tell.

Here is a side view with most of the tape removed. You can see where the paper strips from the instant film come out and how the Holga front perches on the Polaroid back.

Here are the two halves separated.

And finally here is a look inside the Polaroid back. If it didn't have picture directions I'd still be figuring out how to put the cartridge in it.

When the Holga arrived I got it out of the box, threw the Polaroid back on, and after 20 or so wasted films finally figured out how to shoot with the thrice darned thing. I haven't read the instructions yet, but I have a feeling that they won't be very helpful at this point....

I don't use the tripod for this, since the Polaroid unit keeps falling off of the back of the Holga. I have to grip the camera firmly and hold it at waist level to keep it steady and not breathe. I actually have no idea if the Holga is in bulb mode or not. (Ok I just looked and it's set to N) There is only a slide that keeps the light out that you remove before shooting, but no extra shutter. You can use the same film - (must be the type you have to roll or squeeze) to make a modified pinhole camera.

If you have an old Polaroid camera or a new one you wouldn't mind cannibalizing you could probably make one of these yourself without too much trouble. It would save you the cost of the back, and heck the Holga is cheap enough.

 

[Gdad]

Well that about the coolest thing ever.

I actually bought an old OLD Polaroid Series 20 last weekend for $3 but I guess it's too old to get film for from what I can tell- couldn't find any on Ebay anyway.

 

[kaffinito]

Maybe there isn't still film available, but you can take out the roller mechanism from the back of the old Polaroid and use it for pinhole cameras or to make a modified Holgaroid with some Fuji 100 b&w instant film.

As long as you have the roller mechanism, that old Polaroid of yours will come in pretty handy. If you decide you don't want it, I'll gladly take it off your hands!

Edit: and if you think about it, that old backing and some instant film would make a great (and cheap) art project for your kids.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Nice pics! I just ordered my self a Holga 120 CFN ($27.00) because I saw it on Amazon and it intrigued me. I started doing some research on the whole lomography thing.

I can't wait until my camera comes in..I fully intend to take it on my next WDW trip too along with my Canon digital. I think I can get some vintage style shots of WDW that'll be awesome.