Holga Panorama 6x12 Or BelAir X 6-12?

[blee1996]

Most modern 90mm lens that covers entire frame of 6x12 might be too big. Thus most of people used older Schneider Angulon 90/6.8, which is tiny in its category.

I have two modern 90/8 for 4x5, one Schneider and one Fujinon. Both are way too large for the throat and lens board of Holga Pan camera. Let alone they will be too front heavy as well. I already noticed that the Russian 114/8 lens made the Belair front-heavy, and I have adopted a new kind of holding method while tripping the shutter stably: basically both my hands will be on the lens board and shutter instead of the camera body.

I end up a 3D printed Kraken 6x17 for the Fujinon 90/8, which is humongous compared to the Belair. Belair is just so great for carrying around and handheld shots.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Lucky you. Would have cost me about $600 in Europe...

I timed it perfectly. I got them for $100 each.

 

[blee1996]

The Belair 6x12 with Belairgon 114/8 is a good combo: compact and fun to carry around. Here are a few shots from a recent walk along the San Francisco Bay.

Drift wood from winter storms - Belair_114_FP4_005 by Zheng, on Flickr

Mirror slough - Belair_114_FP4_003 by Zheng, on Flickr

 

[blee1996]

Continue to enjoy the Belair: it was a breeze to bring on long trips and snap away. A few shots from Manzanita Lake and Reflection Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Clearing clouds - Belair_114_FP4B_001 by Zheng, on Flickr

New and old conifers along the lake - Belair_114_FP4B_002 by Zheng, on Flickr

Fallen trees - Belair_114_FP4B_006 by Zheng, on Flickr

 

[blee1996]

My Sunday hack: Holga 120 Pan with Wollensak Extreme Wide Angle 90mm f/12.5 lens.

The lens is tiny and comes with a Alphax press shutter. Let's hope it covers the 6x12 frame size in decent quality. But I'm sure it will be better than the stock plastic lens.

This is just a proof of concept, using cardboard tube and lots of painters tape. And fixed at infinity focus. The proper mounting hardware and focusing helicoid will come eventually.

Look forward to having some fun with this Frankstein 6x12 panoramic camera.


Holga_120Pan_EWA_90f12 Large by Zheng, on Flickr

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My Sunday hack: Holga 120 Pan with Wollensak Extreme Wide Angle 90mm f/12.5 lens.

The lens is tiny and comes with a Alphax press shutter. Let's hope it covers the 6x12 frame size in decent quality. But I'm sure it will be better than the stock plastic lens.

This is just a proof of concept, using cardboard tube and lots of painters tape. And fixed at infinity focus. The proper mounting hardware and focusing helicoid will come eventually.

Look forward to having some fun with this Frankstein 6x12 panoramic camera.


Holga_120Pan_EWA_90f12 Large by Zheng, on Flickr

Please share your pics from that!! Me wanna see!

 

[blee1996]

A few color slides from Belair X 612 with Belairgon 114/8: Reflection Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Reflection lake - Belair_114_E100G_005 by Zheng, on Flickr

Needles turn red - Belair_114_E100G_006 by Zheng, on Flickr

Fallen tree at the lake - Belair_114_E100G_003 by Zheng, on Flickr

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

A few color slides from Belair X 612 with Belairgon 114/8: Reflection Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Reflection lake - Belair_114_E100G_005 by Zheng, on Flickr

Needles turn red - Belair_114_E100G_006 by Zheng, on Flickr

Fallen tree at the lake - Belair_114_E100G_003 by Zheng, on Flickr

Wow those look fantastic! Thank you for sharing!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

My Sunday hack: Holga 120 Pan with Wollensak Extreme Wide Angle 90mm f/12.5 lens.

The lens is tiny and comes with a Alphax press shutter. Let's hope it covers the 6x12 frame size in decent quality. But I'm sure it will be better than the stock plastic lens.

This is just a proof of concept, using cardboard tube and lots of painters tape. And fixed at infinity focus. The proper mounting hardware and focusing helicoid will come eventually.

Look forward to having some fun with this Frankstein 6x12 panoramic camera.


Holga_120Pan_EWA_90f12 Large by Zheng, on Flickr

Really looking forward to see what you come up with re: focusing system. I want to do something similar, but I might even hack apart one of my spare Lomo Belairs to steal the front standard off it and mount it on my Holga body if the infinity focus will work. Then I can have auto-exposure at multiple speeds on the bigger image frame of the Holga.

 

[blee1996]

Really looking forward to see what you come up with re: focusing system. I want to do something similar, but I might even hack apart one of my spare Lomo Belairs to steal the front standard off it and mount it on my Holga body if the infinity focus will work. Then I can have auto-exposure at multiple speeds on the bigger image frame of the Holga.

I'm using my trusted and true M42 route. Material needed

• M30x0.5 to M42x1 adapter (ideally it should be M30x1 but I cannot find it)
• M42 lens mount flange ring with 4 screws
• M42 helicoid focusing tube (17-31mm)

As a matter of fact, I recently completed the hack and are ready to do some test shots.

 

[blee1996]

The test rolls from the Frankenolga Panorama was pretty decent: I was handholding, and it was a grey misty windy and cold day. Here are a few samples:

A look back to shore from the pier - Holga120Pan_EWA90_HP5V_001 by Zheng, on Flickr

Sandwiched between gentrification - Holga120Pan_EWA90_HP5V_003 by Zheng, on Flickr

Pacifica: the mural - Holga120Pan_EWA90_HP5V_006 by Zheng, on Flickr

 

[MTGseattle]

@blee1996 That's some very nice frankencamera-ing. I really wanted to like the Belair more. Perhaps I should have given it more of a chance. I even found the Belairgon 90mm. I sent that on to a person who will get good use out of it.

 

[blee1996]

My V2 of the Holga 120 Pan mod: this time a late model Angulon 90/6.8. I got the lens cheap since the shutter needs work. But I did manage to get it working. And I can tell the images are sharper compared to the Wollensak. And I feel the Holga Pan 120 has better film flatness than the Belair.

Holga 120 Pan with Schneidere Angulon 90/6.8 by Zheng, on Flickr

First one is mainly to show sharpness (f/16, 1/125s)
The curved bench - Holga120Pan_Angulon90f68_FP4_003 by Zheng, on Flickr

Second one shows good tonality (f/16, handholding at 1/8s)
The water cascade - Holga120Pan_Angulon90f68_FP4_005 by Zheng, on Flickr

 

[MTGseattle]

Nice work.

 

[OAPOli]

I've made a similar mod, but to the Holga WPC. Currently I have two lenses for it: Schneider 135mm f/8 Repro-Claron and Topcon 90mm f/5.6 (6x9 lens made for movements stopped-down). I've also used the Topcon 65mm f/7.

DSCF7507 by Olivier, on Flickr

Toronto beach by Olivier, on Flickr

Toronto Beach by Olivier, on Flickr

 

[blee1996]

@OAPOli very nice images! I especially like the image where the landscape is super sharp, with blurred movement of people.

I saw you have several 3D printed lens cones. Did you make yourself, or from some online store? Any details about those? It will be nice to have interchangeable lens Holga hacks.

 

[OAPOli]

@blee1996 thanks! All made myself. Happy to share the info but they would only work with those specific helicoids, lenses, etc...