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Jul 21

Dual Lens

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One response so far

One Response to “Dual Lens”

1. # casperskittyon 06 Nov 2010 at 9:05 pm

   You should also consider the 35mm format Holga 135 TLR:

   If you are new to lo-fi photography, I would recommend starting out with a dedicated (not dual format) 35mm lo-fi camera.

   Why?

   1. Lower cost of film. You get more frames per roll, and if you are a beginner, the way to get good at shooting with film, is to shoot lots of it. I find that when beginners use 120 film, it's higher costs and higher cost of processing keeps them from shooting because they are very much aware of how much each shot costs.

   2. Easier to find. 35mm film is much easier to find than the 120 film used in the Holga 120 cameras. I see it in the drugstores, as well as few grocery stores (although that is becoming a much rarer experience).

   3. Easier to get processed. Most drugstores and large big box stores like Target or Walmart still have 1-hour labs, but only for 35mm film. You will have to find a local lab to process your 120 film, or send it out.

   4. Lower cost of processing. It cheaper to get your 35mm film processed. If you skip the prints and just get the roll processed and put on CD, you can cut the cost down even more. Tip: If you want prints, then you only pay for the ones that came out. This keeps the cost of processing down.

   5. It should be a dedicated 35mm camera, and not a 120 format camera outfitted with a 35mm back because unless you are buying a 35mm adapter for the camera with a built in counter, it is hard trying to wind the film such that the frames are evenly spaced. Why is this important? Most 35mm labs rely on the spacing to print your film. If it is uneven or wider than normal, they won't be able to print your film. Also, with a 35mm film back, you are cropping into the 120 frame quite a bit, so that the original viewfinder is but a suggestion of what will be in the frame. Many people complain that they lose too much of what they see in the viewfinder.

   The Holga TLR isn't the only lo-fi 35mm camera you should consider. Take a look at one of these 35mm cameras:

   Holga 135 or 135BC Similar cheap lens and operation as the Holga 120 cameras. 1 aperture setting (yes, the camera has 2 settings, but they are identical), 2 shutter settings, N (1/100 sec) and B (Bulb setting) tripod mount, cable release socket If you want the corner vignetting like on the larger format camera, get the Holga 135BC.

   Sample photos:

   Superheadz Black Slim Devil
   This is a clone based on the popular vintage Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim. It has no exposure controls and no flash option, but with it's wider than normal lens (22mm) it is capable of taking some outstanding photos.

   Sample photos: There really isn't a good Flickr group for these cameras yet, so the sample photos are from the Vivitar UWS

   The Diana Mini
   Lomography took the Diana camera, and shrunk it down to 35mm format. The Mini, while it lacks the interchangeable lenses of the full sized Lomography Diana+, is still a feature packed camera (at least compared to the Holga and Black Slim Devil). The frame format is unusual. They stuck with the square format of the Diana camera, but it is centered on a standard 35mm frame. The reason for floating the square on the 35mm frame is that be using a standard 35mm format, most 1-hour labs will be able to more easily deal with making scans or prints, since they are set up for regular 35mm film. You can also set the camera to half-frame 35mm, which is 2 vertical 24mm x 17mm images. This translates to 2 images on a standard 35mm frame. Currently a favorite of mine, it lives in my camera bag so it is handy where ever I go. 2 aperture settings, 2 shutter settings, N (1/100 sec) and B (Bulb setting) tripod mount, cable release socket This camera is unusual in that it offers square format,24x24mm on a standard 35mm frame (24x36mm). It also offers a half frame option, 17x24mm frames (it doubles the number of exposures you get on a roll of film)

   Diana Mini sample photos:

   The Diana Mini is nice, but I find that unless I am working close and with a flash, the images tend to be on the softer focus side, to the point of being blurry. You might want to consider the sharper lens of the Superheadz Slim cameras, but the trade off is no flash, and no exposure controls (Black Slim Devil, White Slim Angel or other variant, all the same camera in diff colors).

   Take a careful look at the sample photos on Flickr to help you make a decision.

   Whichever camera you choose, remember that the point of lo-fi photography is to have fun and don't sweat the details!

   For tips for lo-fi cameras, check out my website:

   For how-to videos for Holgas and Diana cameras, check out my youtube channel:
   http://www.youtube.com/kaituba