Thursday
Jun192008
Holga and Diana Camera close-up photography
Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:04AM
This will be a post in progress, as I'm still working out the nuts and bolts of this. I've been interested in close-up photography with my Holga and Diana cameras, and I've been gathering information on how this works.
First a little information. On any camera, you can shoot close-up photos by attaching a close-up filter to the front of your lens. These close-up filters strength are expressed in numbers called diopters.
The formula for determining how close you can focus, is:
focus distance (in meters) = 1/ diopter
On a Holga, screw-in diopter filters may be attached by using a step-up ring. If you are a 35mm photographer, you may already have a set of close-up diopters you can use. If you have 52mm filters, get a 46mm-52mm step-up ring. If you have 49mm filters, get a 46mm-49mm step up ring. The 46mm end of the ring can be screwed into the plastic of the Holga lens. The diopters can now be attached to your camera.
For a Diana, I am still researching and experimenting with ways of attaching the close-up filters. For now, I would suggest tape. If you have a more elegant solution, please let me know.
I haven't checked the chart to see how accurate it is. That is the next step. I will post results when I have them.
First a little information. On any camera, you can shoot close-up photos by attaching a close-up filter to the front of your lens. These close-up filters strength are expressed in numbers called diopters.
The formula for determining how close you can focus, is:
focus distance (in meters) = 1/ diopter
On a Holga, screw-in diopter filters may be attached by using a step-up ring. If you are a 35mm photographer, you may already have a set of close-up diopters you can use. If you have 52mm filters, get a 46mm-52mm step-up ring. If you have 49mm filters, get a 46mm-49mm step up ring. The 46mm end of the ring can be screwed into the plastic of the Holga lens. The diopters can now be attached to your camera.
For a Diana, I am still researching and experimenting with ways of attaching the close-up filters. For now, I would suggest tape. If you have a more elegant solution, please let me know.
I haven't checked the chart to see how accurate it is. That is the next step. I will post results when I have them.
in Article, Camera Mod, Tech Tips
Article, Camera Mod, Tech Tips
Reader Comments (2)
this is interesting! I've heard that you can hold the lens of the holga over the hole after unscrewing it, increasing the distance between the lens and the film. This allows close up shots!
I would also love to try an extension tube on a holga, i reckon its easy to make one!
For the traditional Diana 151 cameras Kodak Series VI 'push on' filter rings work, They come in two pieces, the outside ring and an inner ring that screws into the outside rings thread to hold whatever filter (be it a wratten colour filter or diopter) into the filter ring. You have to find the right sizes though, as they come in a few different dimensions.
42mm ones will fit snugly inside the barrel, but need to be removed to focus. Alternatively I have the adapter ring that fits around the focus ring, the measurement on the side of the ring is 31.5mm (1 1/4 inch). I'm inclined to think that the larger ring (the one that fits inside the lens barrel) might be a better option however, if you have the 31.5 mm one on too tight you have to be careful not to pull the lens out when removing it! Yes, that has ahppened to me...
:-)>