Putting a good lens on a Holga?

[tojeem]

I've heard of people pulling apart Holga cameras and converting the lenses to Nikon mount, but has anybody converted the body to take decent (Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander, etc.) lenses? It mustn't be that difficult. Could be interesting.

Just a thought.

 

[useless generation]

I've often thought about converting my hOlga wide pinhole into a 6x9 panoramic camera by putting the lens from a 4x5 camera in it but don't know if that would work?

 

[jsrockit]

You're missing the whole point. The charm of Holga images lies in it's lens.
The body is nothing special.

Hmmm, while what you say about the lens is true... the body offers light leaks and other weirdness that was part of the holga look... or at least they used to before the whole lomo thing (when there was just the Diana and Holga and not all of the variations).

 

[jsrockit]

I have had three and they all broke before it started to leak, so I agree with the lens part.

When I bought a Holga in the early-mid 90s, they leaked right away. Many people taped them up with electronical tape to stop the leaks. I have a feeling they have changed the design since then. The only Dianas were old ones since you couldn't get them new. They would leak for sure.

 

[shadowfox]

You're missing the whole point. The charm of Holga images lies in it's lens.
The body is nothing special.
Anyway, the standard lens is a 60mm covering 6x6 so your Leica glass would be useless.

Not missing the point at all.

From a tinkerer's point of view, the Holga body (newer ones that don't leak light) is an economical option to serve as film holder.

Then you can replace the lens with a 4x5 Schneider or Wollensak or Tessar (not Leica).

I'm seriously thinking about getting the new Holga Pan that has the opening for 6x12, and replace the lens.

 

[FPjohn]

I'm resisting mounting it to a Protar.

'Hope someone does.

yours
FPJ

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

I've heard of people pulling apart Holga cameras and converting the lenses to Nikon mount, but has anybody converted the body to take decent (Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander, etc.) lenses? It mustn't be that difficult. Could be interesting.

Like others, my immediate thought is, "But why?"

For a tinkering project, I might suggest putting a lens on a 2x3 baby graphic. You get a cheap, reasonably good, lightweight box with a focusing mechanism and the opportunity to couple a rangefinder. Graflex roll film holders are OK. Horseman are much better but require a little tinkering to fit right.

 

[johannielscom]

Baby Graphic, or Busch is a good suggestion, and you could even use a 6x6 or 6x9 magazine (graflex 22 or 23, Horseman, etc) to craft a front lens onto.

Or buy my 6x7 from the classifieds 😀

 

[agour]

Not missing the point at all.

From a tinkerer's point of view, the Holga body (newer ones that don't leak light) is an economical option to serve as film holder.

Then you can replace the lens with a 4x5 Schneider or Wollensak or Tessar (not Leica).

I'm seriously thinking about getting the new Holga Pan that has the opening for 6x12, and replace the lens.

last time I checked 'lomography' stuff was rediculously expensive for what it is.

Surely it would be cheaper to buy an old battered camera and replace the lens on that?

 

[rbelyell]

i just got a holga pano 6x12 for just this possible purpose, of putting a 4x5 90mm self focusing lens on it thereby having a gaoersi or dayi at a fraction of the price. needless to say i am really interested to see if someone else has done this.

 

[shadowfox]

last time I checked 'lomography' stuff was rediculously expensive for what it is.

Surely it would be cheaper to buy an old battered camera and replace the lens on that?

Okay, then give me some examples of old battered camera that has these:

1. Built in viewfinder
2. A level on top
3. Holds 120 film pretty well
4. Designed to do 6x12 from the get go
5. I don't have to worry about bellows leaking light
6. And has a plastic lens mount easy enough for me to hack and glue a 4x5 lens + shutter into

For less than $80 and I don't have to wait for months to show up on ebay. 🙂

 

[Denverdad]

Not missing the point at all.

From a tinkerer's point of view, the Holga body (newer ones that don't leak light) is an economical option to serve as film holder.
...
I'm seriously thinking about getting the new Holga Pan that has the opening for 6x12, and replace the lens.

I've had similar thoughts, except it occurred to me that the Holga 120PC 3D (stereo pinhole) might be the better platform on which to build the camera, if only because that one is on sale at Freestyle right now for $30 (versus $80 for the 120 Pan). 🙂

I also wonder what the maximum aspect ratio one could squeak out of that body is? Longing for a bit wider than 6x12, I was hoping it could be opened up to 6x14 (or 2.5:1 ratio), which would make for 5 exposures per roll. It doesn't quite look like it would make it though.

Jeff

 

[rxmd]

Okay, then give me some examples of old battered camera that has these:

1. Built in viewfinder
2. A level on top
3. Holds 120 film pretty well
4. Designed to do 6x12 from the get go
5. I don't have to worry about bellows leaking light
6. And has a plastic lens mount easy enough for me to hack and glue a 4x5 lens + shutter into

For less than $80 and I don't have to wait for months to show up on ebay. 🙂

Neat idea, but you could probably get the same out of old bellows cameras, except that the cameras are more compact and a lot nicer. They are bellows cameras so you might need to fix light leaks, but then the alternative is a Holga which is all light leaks too.

For example you could use cameras for 116 film, which has a negative area of 2.5"x4.25", which is a little wider but otherwise pretty close to the 56x112mm you'll get with your typical 6x12 camera. You can find guides online to use 120 film in 116 cameras.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

A Kodak 2C folder will give you 6x12. Kodak 3A will do 6x14. At that point, the hardest thing is getting the film properly spaced then keeping it flat across the film plane. The spacers to interface with the spools are a pain since they have to be made all the same and one needs to have a key in it to be able to wind the 120 spool. After those little issues, it's gravy.

Phil Forrest
(still cutting up cameras)

 

[rxmd]

A Kodak 2C folder will give you 6x12. Kodak 3A will do 6x14. At that point, the hardest thing is getting the film properly spaced then keeping it flat across the film plane. The spacers to interface with the spools are a pain since they have to be made all the same and one needs to have a key in it to be able to wind the 120 spool.

I guess with something like Sugru it wouldn't be too difficult to make four spacers of equal height with a key in one of them.

I can see that keeping the film flat would be a problem... two separate little guide rails in the camera should be doable? But then again maybe not worry too much.... after all it's a Holga that we're comparing it with! 😀

 

[shadowfox]

Neat idea, but you could probably get the same out of old bellows cameras, except that the cameras are more compact and a lot nicer. They are bellows cameras so you might need to fix light leaks, but then the alternative is a Holga which is all light leaks too.

For example you could use cameras for 116 film, which has a negative area of 2.5"x4.25", which is a little wider but otherwise pretty close to the 56x112mm you'll get with your typical 6x12 camera. You can find guides online to use 120 film in 116 cameras.

From what I gather, the light leaks on newer Holga bodies are less of a problem (or feature 🙂 ). Regardless, a Holga with Duct Tapes will look ... almost normal 😛

Of course I agree with you that old folders are much nicer, but between the dealing with bellow leaks and engineering a working 120 holder that would be somewhat decent is beyond what I'm willing to undertake.

Thus the Holga panorama idea.

 

[shadowfox]

I guess with something like Sugru it wouldn't be too difficult to make four spacers of equal height with a key in one of them.

I can see that keeping the film flat would be a problem... two separate little guide rails in the camera should be doable? But then again maybe not worry too much.... after all it's a Holga that we're comparing it with! 😀

Never heard of that Sugru.
But that just gives me some ideas 😀