Holga Lens for Olympus

[Sprocketdog23]

Mine arrived today, made of the best soft plastic money can buy, it weighs next to nothing, with its plastic bubbly lens, and that special Holga aperture with extra holes to leak light in. A lot of fun to be had for 20 quid.

I have discovered you need really good light, and for me it's working best on my E-620 when I shoot in Live View with a square 6:6 frame, 800 ISO and above, in B&W with the contrast at maximum, and the red filter on.

High winds this morning, combined with slow shutter speeds, so I took shots of the last few leaves still on branches blowing about in the garden. Anyone else using one of these and what settings have you tried.

[Sprocketdog23]

Re: Holga Lens for Olympus

Depends what your into, and what your artistic bent is I guess. For me photography is not all about expensive glass and perfect photo's. If you have ever built a pinhole camera from a shoebox you'll know what I mean.


They have a very wide fan base from experimenters like me to professional award winning photographers such as David Burnett.

Also, each Holga lens has its own unique imperfections, which can be further customised with a few hand tools once you get it. Anyway, some further links below for those who like to get out more.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/holga_mon_amour/

http://www.davidburnett.com/portfolio.html

http://www.annumatthew.com/PortfolioMemories_1/index.html

http://www.holgamods.com/

[Benedict]

Re: Holga Lens for Olympus

Also, each Holga lens has its own unique imperfections, which can be further customised with a few hand tools once you get it.

Hasn't anyone noticed we are now in the digital age. Heath Robinson's are sooooooooooooooo last year

[Sprocketdog23]

Re: Holga Lens for Olympus

I agree with you Benedict, but think it a sad state of affairs......I teach Digital Graphics & Digital Photography and Digital Video Production to degree level students. I asked them the other day if any of them had ever built a go kart or a sledge, or soldered resistors and things on a circuit board and made a radio when they were kids. Of the 25 students present, not one of them had ever made anything from bits and bobs, in fact they didn't have a clue how to wire a plug, or change the oil, or take a wheel off a car.. Hmmm, Heath Robinsons or not, the digital 'throw away' age has a lot to answer for.

[StephenL]

Re: Holga Lens for Olympus

Not my c of t, but I agree everyone should have some experience of building something for themselves, if only to better appreciate the craftsmanship of a professionally made product.

[Footloose1949]

Re: Holga Lens for Olympus

Have always liked dabbling with things mechanical, few years ago, 'cobbled up' a 350mm, (approx!) f1.4 telephoto, using a Pentax helicoid close-up mount, casting the tube with black fiberglass resin, then machining this to fit a T2 mount on one end, and 6" diameter condenser from an enlarger, on the other end. Some really weird colour shifts, very diffused and soft colours, a bit like using an uncoated Victorian view camera lens!