mounting a holga lens on a copal shutter

[davido]

In my long journey to find a way of creating holga like images but with shutter control, my most recent idea is to mount just the meniscus lens from a Holga on a Copal 0 shutter.
So what I need is a lens mount, which the can be threaded into the back of the shutter.
Has anyone done this? I'm having a difficult time finding these optical mounts, though I think that something from this page is what I might need: http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=1524
It's all quite complicated however :confused:

david

 

[jeffreyg]

David,

While it is not something I would even dream about here is my go at it: what about a step-up ring of the correct size if available? The lens from the Holga could probably be fitted to the ring. It seemed like the rings on that website were mainly for microscopes an might be too small.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[Oren Grad]

If you don't mind spending way more than it's worth, you can have SK Grimes make a mount adapter for you:

http://www.skgrimes.com/whats-new/2009-2/stock-holga-adapters-for-canon-eos-and-nikon-cameras

What kind of camera do you intend to use it on? Don't forget that to "focus" a Holga lens to infinity you'll need to maintain a pretty short flange-to-film distance.

 

[lecarp]

I would think a series type filter holder should do it, you just need to figure out what size by measuring the lens element.

 

[Jon Shiu]

How about just use cardboard and tape. I have used a Diana lens in a Supermatic shutter, but I put the lens in front of the aperture.

Jon

 

[MSchuler]

Something from here?

http://www.edmundoptics.com/optomechanics/modular-mounting-components/?ref=menu

 

[pen s]

My question is; what camera are you mounting it to and how do you intend to focus it?
Knowing what you have in mind will direct the conversation.

 

[Marc B.]

You could use solid metal, screw-in lens caps, or caps for/from filter stacks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/52mm-Metal-Screw-in-lens-Cap-Filter-Stack-Strorage-Case-Nikon-Lenses/320956773093?_trksid=p2047675.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D15538%26meid%3D8288963965580181830%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D7473%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D220989334514%2

Find a cap with diameter and thread size that fits your shutter, then drill whatever size hole
in the cap adequate for the Holga lens.
You could basically epoxy the Holga lens to the metal screw-on filter cap.

Marc

 

[davido]

Holga meniscus on a Horseman VH 6X7

Good question Pen s. & Oren Grad

I have a Horseman VH which is a folding medium format which has limited movements, has a ground glass (or reflex viewer which is fantastic) and takes large format type shutter/lenses.
So, I think the camera should work quite well with the Holga lens. The coverage will be fine (same format as Holga) and the focal length of 60mm will be fine. My only concern is the whether the aperture of the Polaroid Copal shutter (00 I believe) will be wide enough and not cause vignetting?

Jon, thanks for your practical suggestion. I will definately rig up something with cardboard to try this out first, before sinking money into a threaded adapter and retaining ring. I did hear back from S. K. Grimes and the price for said item would be about $130 (as it's custom).

My thought at this point is to drill a hole through a thin piece of wood or plexi slightly smaller than the diameter of the meniscus. Then mount the lens over the hole with tape or glue and then mount (tape) the substrate over the backside of lens behind the shutter, attempting to have the lens as far inside the shutter barrel as possible (as it's 20 cm deep) to avoid vignetting.
For those who have not seen it, the Hola lens is only 22.5 mm in diameter. it's quite small. The diameter of the shutter is aprox. 25mm wide open.

Perhaps if this works well enough, I might invest later in the threaded adapter.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

david

 

[davido]

I took Jon's suggestion today and put together a quick version using cardboard and duct tape. Unfortunately, for the camera to focus at infinity the lens board has to be pulled almost all the way inside the camera body, which takes it off the track, so it makes it difficult to focus. I'm also not sure, but I think the depth of the shutter (aprox. 20mm) is causing vignetting because the lens board is so close to the ground glass. The camera itself is said to take no longer that a 65mm lens.
So back to the drawing board.
I'm thinking now that a Mamiya C twin lens series camera might be the ticket? It will take a 55mm lens and it has bellows.

 

[MSchuler]

One benefit of the Mamiya is that its lens mounting method is very low-tech. However, if you want to use a TLR shutter for your lens, it seems like things would be more complicated, what with the principle lens plane lying to the subject-side of the shutter (i.e. increasing the focal length) and not matching your viewing lens, focus-wise.

 

[davido]

I'm not quite sure I understand MSchuler? If the taking lens and the viewing lens are the same, then focusing should work fine.
I came across this camera online http://sandehalynch.wordpress.com/defocus/
It uses two older lenses from folders, which have both been modified the same.

 

[MSchuler]

Sorry! For some reason I was thinking that you would only replace the taking lens.

Thanks for posting the example of the C3 with Agfa lenses - it looks very interesting.

 

[MDR]

Holgamods has an example of a new shutter for the Holga http://www.holgamods.com/shutter/shutter.html

 

[davido]

Holgamods has an example of a new shutter for the Holga http://www.holgamods.com/shutter/shutter.html

i actually spoke with Randy at Holgamods and he does install a Polaroid Pathfinder shutter into a Holga. However, the vignetting is apparently fairly serious (like looking through a tunnel) and much of the film area is lost. So I decided against getting one.
If you're interested contact him, he's a nice guy.

 

[jamesjames]

I've been fitting shutters to Holga for about 5 years now. I'm making and making them to order here and in Japan.
They retain all the Holga focus, aperture and vignetting characteristics. Simply put, they give the same result a Holga does. Only, you mostly get shutter speeds from 1s to 1/500s, B and T. And a flash sync at all speeds.
Just start by measuring everything (film plane, infinity focus length etc) with callipers. Rip off the Holga shutter/lens mount and cut off the screw on mount. Attach that to the new shutter and attach it to the camera body. Screw the lens onto the mount and off you go.
That simple... not exactly. Lots of cutting, bonding, cutting, testing correct focus... the usual Holga modding heaven n hell. Just keep an eye on keeping measurements true.
It still throws the ppl in the pro lab into fits every time I pick up a dozen rolls of perfectly exposed Velvia from Holga.
I keep 2 myself so theres always one for Velvia and one for Polaroid. I even have a Pin-hole lens (40mm), which can be used on them. I've currently 3 orders to fill, so it'll be a while before any more would be available.


Thats a totally fake 70-200mm mod, btw. But still, a project in the making?

 

[davido]

Hey JamesJames

This is very cool. Could you tell me what type of shutter you are using? I think I understand what you are doing. If you could attach a picture of one of your mods that would be really cool.

thanks,
david

 

[bimaneg]

i'm interested too, maybe a picture is worth a thousand words