Workshop & Call for Entries:Curious Camera - Plastic and Pinhole

This might be of interest -

Plastic & Toy Camera Workshops in Tucson, AZ

Friday March 27, 2009 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Saturday March 28, 2009 10:00am – 4:00pm

http://curiouscamera.org/workshop.html

1st Annual Competition

Get your creative juices flowing. It’s all about your visual brain. The photographer with the fastest glass and best optics isn’t allowed in this competition. This is about using the most basic tools and creating. We want you to have that feeling-the one that made you feel all warm and fuzzy about photography in the first place.

The Rules

1. The camera must have a plastic lens or a pinhole.
2. See Rule 1.

The Price of Submission and Submission Dates

1. $5 per image. You can submit any number of images.
2. All submissions must be received at ArtsEye / Photographic Works by Friday April 17, 2009

For more info:
http://curiouscamera.org/events.html

DIY 35mm for Holga and Diana Cameras

Here is my procedure for shooting 35mm film in a Diana (vintage or Lomography Diana+) or Holga. This should work for any camera that has a roll film compartment big enough for a 35mm cassette. I have a few older box brownies and folding cameras that use defunct film sizes that I will try this with.

Unloading the Camera:
Unloading the camera must be done in absolute darkness. If you don't have a film changing bag (you can get one from BH photo video or Freestyle Photos Supply), you can use a dark room. A windowless bathroom is ideal. Throw a towel across the bottom of the door to block out any stray light.
Open the camera.
Remove the 35mm film cassette and rewind the film back into the cassette.
Take the film to a photo lab and get it processed.
Tell them you do not want the negatives cut. Give them your 35mm plastic film container to put the film in when they are done. The reason for this is that the negative frames will be unevenly spaced and you will want to trim them so that they fit in a standard 35mm negative page. (also at BH photo or Freestyle).

You can ask, but they probably won't be able to deal with printing your negatives either, since they will be quite a bit wider than a standard 35mm negative. Even if you are willing to let them crop your image down to a 35mm frame, you will probably also want to include the image around the sprocket holes. Most 1-hour lab equipment won't print these, since it is not part of the normal image area for a 35mm negative.

If you want the entire negative, including the sprocket holes, your best bet is to get a film scanner. If you are on a budget, and most of us are, look at the Epson V500. The Epson 4490 is also a good choice. It is no longer in production, but if you go to the Epson website, they often have refurbished units for sale.

Edit: June 5, 2010

There seems to be some confusion about getting prints from 35mm film shot this way.

If you are looking for a simple way of getting prints out of your 120 film camera by shooting 35mm film, this isn't it.

While 35mm film is easier to get processed, the negatives created by shooting them in a 120 film camera are non-standard. Most 1-hour labs can't make prints, unless you don't mind getting parts of the image cropped out. Even so, they may not want to deal with your DIY 35mm film in making prints. They will have to manually set-up each print, because their automated equipment won't work.

There are labs (usually smaller mom and pop operations or specialty labs.) that can deal with this, but you will have to do the legwork and call or visit them in person to ask.

The best way of getting easy-to-print 35mm images is to use a 35mm lo-fi camera.

Unloading your 35mm Holga 135 camera.

I made a quick clip on unloading the Holga 135, but I seem to have misplaced it. Here are the 7 simple steps it takes to unload your Holga 135. These directions will also apply to any simple 35mm film camera, like the Lomo Fisheye, or other plastic 35mm cameras.

Step 1.
Press the rewind button on the bottom of the camera, this releases the winding mechanism.

Step 2.
Flip open the crank on the rewind knob.

Step 3.
Rotate the crank in a clockwise motion, with the camera lens pointing away from you.

Step 4.
Keep winding until you hear and feel the lead end of the film snap into the cassette. The tension on the knob will reduce quite a bit.

Step 5.
Pull up on the rewind knob to open the camera back

Step 6.
Remove the 35mm film cassette.

Step 7.
Take the film in to your film processor.

I am planning to reshoot this video, but you'll be able to rewind the film with these instructions.

What film should I use for my Diana or Holga?

Plastic cameras like the Holga or the Lomography Diana+ prefer films with ISO400. The ISO rating refers to the speed of the film.

For 120 cameras, what you need is 120 film, with a rating of ISO 400.

For 35mm cameras, you need 35mm film, with a rating of ISO 400.

There are several films that fit this bill, in Black and White, and Color.

For the 120 cameras, I recommend going with a major manufacturer, like Kodak, Ilford or Fuji, because they all use light colored backing paper with black numbers. This is good because it makes reading the frame number through the red counter window much easier.

BW films:
Kodak - Tri-X, Tri-X Pro 320, T-MAX 400
Ilford - Delta Pro 400, HP-5

Color Films:
Kodak - Portra 400VC, Portra 400NC
Fuji - Fujicolor Pro400H

These aren't special films, so you don't have to buy these films specifically. If you can't find anything on this list, just find something with an ISO rating of 400. You can use ISO 200 if your lighting conditions are bright. If you have a Diana, adjust your exposure the next aperture. If using ISO 200 film, if it is bright outside, use the semi-cloudy aperture setting. If it is semi-cloudy, use the cloudy setting. This is because the ISO 200 film is twice as slow as the ISO 400 film and needs more light to get the proper exposure.

I would suggest that you find a film that is easily available to you, then use it for several rolls. For those of you just starting out using film, be aware that film is a little more difficult than digital photography. It's easy to forget how many mistakes you make with your digital camera, because those mistakes are easily removed with a push of a button. With your Diana or Holga, you will see every mistake you make. Don't stress about it. It's all a part of learning how to use your camera. Be patient, and learn from your mistakes. If you aren't sure what you did wrong, ask. It's the best way to learn.

35mm film is easy to find. Many places with 1-hour labs will stock it. Check your local drugstores. It's less common now, but occasionally, I will find a supermarket that still stocks 35mm film.

You can buy 120 film, as well as 35mm film, from photo supply stores that cater to the professional photographer. If you live in a larger city, this should be no problem. If there aren't any such stores nearby, check online. I'm not sure which country you are in, but in the US, the unboxed rolls from Freestyle Photo Supply are some of the cheapest. It's also cheaper if you by the 5-roll propacks.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

I also recommend BH Photo Video store.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Rainbow Gardens, Seattle 2002

Camera: Holga (I think)
Film: Tri-X 320