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Holga – mask or no mask
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Folks,
I finally received my black baby from China. I was wondering though that I’ve seen comments about removing the mask for better results. Can someone put some flesh on “better”?
Also, there was a recommendation to slip a bit of card under the film spool to increase the tension of the film but elsewhere there’s a recommendation not to do it. Again, any thoughts?
Alan.
Welcome to the land of better = worser-
If somebody says something is better with a Holga,
you can never be quite sure what they mean…If you’re interested in light leaks inside your spool of exposed film,
then putting a piece of card in to help tension the take up spool might not be a good idea…Similarly, if you’re interested in using as much of the dodgy outside of the lens as possible,
then remove the mask-
it’ll make it worse/better-My only experience with a Holga was a few years ago, however-
I only put a few rolls through-
still have to process the colour one-Had to give the camera back in the end-
Would like one, can’t afford one-
I had to whittle my own…More experienced hands will be along soon-
but can’t wait to see what you do with this one…I’m not sure cos I threw it away… but I think the mask gives 15 6×4.5 exposures, whereas without you get 12 6×6 exposures. Remember to set the switch on the back to 12 or 15 depending on what you’re planning on shooting… otherwise you could end up with a Holga Pano like Alessia’s the day of the darkroom w/s.
I don’t bother putting anything under the spool to wedge it… I recall reading somewhere that Holga’s thesedays are slightly better built (joseph scoffs) than in the past and it isn’t really required… I can’t believe these were any better or worser built… but…
I do tape the outside edges.
I also taped up the Bulb button which sits just below the lens… you’ll press it on by accident and end up with even worser exposed negs.
Finally… get in the habit of winding on after every exposure.
Thanks buddies!!
There is a place that shows how to increase light leaks but get respectable images (again, define respectable).
I got one of those masks too John which is for the 16 shot route. But there’s already a mask in it for square format. I think the recommendation was to remove this one and tape up the edges of the frame that receives the mask. Fintan put a link on FB to place straws along these edges to protect the film too.
Alan
nfl-fan wrote:
Finally… get in the habit of winding on after every exposure.
winding on after every exposure is overrated….
irishwonkafan wrote:
I was wondering though that I’ve seen comments about removing the mask for better results. Can someone put some flesh on “better”?
.For me, not using a mask gives a slightly irregular (not square) border.
irishwonkafan wrote:
there was a recommendation to slip a bit of card under the film spool to increase the tension of the film but elsewhere there’s a recommendation not to do it. Again, any thoughts?
With older Holgas, this was done to increase the tension of the film as you said. Apparently it is no longer needed since they added those foam things into the Holga. However, I still do it.
Thanks Dave.
One person that I read a comment from this morning elsewhere was that the foam actually pops out and winds around the take up spool. Made in China indeed!
I suppose it’s down to taste for the mask and try out the foam for tension. We shall see.
Alan
from my experiences with the holga . . .
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Rip out those two foam blocks where the film
is loaded and the take up chamber, mine detached themselves
mid roll and got wound up inside the roll . . . great! not serious
but you can get light leaking into the finished roll.I cut a thin strip of about 5mm wide and about 15mm long of a plastic bottle
and folded it twice so it looks like a Z to form a spring that I slip under the
new roll to create some tension, that is what those foam BUMPERS are for :roll:____________
I only use the 6X6 mask which I flocked with a piece of very fine wet and dry
sand paper [wet] this removes the lovely shine of the plastic to reduce the light
from bouncing off the fheckin thing._________
behind the mast I masked off all the joints with black duct tape to prevent any leaks
and I dont have any in me olga.A 6×6 mask made from wet and dry-
Taking lo-fi to new depths Alan…Would love to see their faces in the lab when complaining about the scratches…
Sorry, I know you didn’t say that,
but I did have to read it twice…hmm thanks for reminding me, I never sorted
out the scratchin’ on the film . . . im running out of oil!!Kind of curious here . . . did you get the camera because you like a challenge or you want to take photographs? :D
Having said that, I want one, so someday I’ll invest (if that’s the right word)David
thedarkroom wrote:
Kind of curious here . . . did you get the camera because you like a challenge or you want to take photographs? :D
Interesting question. I got one because I liked the finish of the images. The central point in focus and the surroundings just there to emphasize the point of interest. I could do this in PS but it didn’t make sense anymore to try to replicate film or cameras when it’s so easy and cheap to do it for real.
And a Holga…well it’s a point and shoot with bad attitude. You’ve gotta give it no respect. Then if you do get something worthwhile then you’ve won. I just want to gain the upper hand before I tackle it. :wink:Alan
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