Film For Use With Unmodified Holga?

[gnashings]

I guess I have felt that giving too much thought to film, etc., is out o keeping with the spirit of a Holga in the first place. No criticism of those who do, just my approach to the camera has been such that I feel more "in the spirit" of a Holga to just drop whatever I have in there and see what comes out. Having said that, it has been my experience, that with an unmodified Holga, a 400 speed film is just right for sunny - bright conditions, however, a little bit too slow for overcast/evening type conditions. As such, I have taken to pushing 400 film to 800 - seems to work. I know that "pushing" (aside from being a bit of a misnomer) has many drawbacks, and there is no magic bullet - the film is as fast as it is - but given the whole nature of a Holga, well, it seems to give me great results. And I love the Holga - I think you will too!

Peter.

[PhotoPete]

The aperture selector switch on an unmodified Holga has no effect, because the ring opening on the back of the lens (which is close to f/16) is smaller than the opening on the aperture arm (which is close to f/11).

You are so right! I can't believe I forgot a feature of the stock Holga...shame on me.

[winger]

I tend to put any expired film I have into my Holga. Usually that's 400, anyway. I'd like to try some 35mm, but haven't gotten around to it, yet.
Tri-X gets my vote, though. That'll go in even if it isn't expired.

[htmlguru4242]

Well, I ran two rolls of Tri-X 320 through the Holga in New York. The camera is actually pretty neat (though I did feel a little silly walking around with a huge plastic camera coated in tape ...). I haven't developed the shots yet, but I will tomorrow, so I'll hope for the best. I'll post scanse of the contact sheets when I get them done.

The first roll is going to be quite interesting, as I exposed the film for 6x4.5cm exposures with the 6x6 mask in; the overlap will be "interesting" ...

Thanks for all the help.

[jtsatterlee]

HP5 developed in Pyrocat HD

usually a 1:1:100 dilution semi stand development, 16 minutues (bright and clear day)

i adjust dilution ratios and time as the light level decreases.

in regards to the comment above about Delta 3200, i have shot that side by side with HP5 (same light) and gotten better results with HP5 (developed in P-HD 2:2:100 semi stand for 30 minutes) (In other words I do not use, or ever recommend Delta 3200)

if the neg is too thin, i put it in some selenium

[celluloidpropaganda]

I don't bother taping the most recent Holgas. The back stays on well enough and the worst light leaks I encountered are now blocked by the 6x6 mask. I just flock the mask and back, slap some tape over the counter window and go.