Some pinhole ponderings from a newbie pinholio

[MIKE POBEGA]

Hi all, been loving the pinhole thing. I had original purchased a converted Agfa Clack a few years and did a few rolls with decent results but more importantly it showed me that this was a thing I wanted to explore deeper. I now employ a Reality So Subtle 6x9F, a Reality So Subtle 6x6 and am contemplating a Ondu 6x12 Rise. While the 6x12 does not interest me, the 3 hole rise aspect does. I find the perfect format for me is the 6x9. I need to add some foam to the film chamber as I am finding possible loose roll light leaks towards the end of rolls. If it does not work, I will dump the RSS 6x9 and get another. I have filed all areas that light could be leaking and am baffled but for $148 I could remedy in a week.

I have an 35mm adapter for the RSS 6x6 that I like using. I have figured out that it is 1/25 turns to the next exposure and get about 19 images a roll of 36. I could probably get more if I go closer yet but will not risk it.

I find exposures easy enough. I have meters and even have attached a show for my small Reveni Labs meter, which I like for my rangefinders and especially the crappy meter in my vintage Leica CL and meter-less Leica M2 and Nikon F2 with another un-intuitive metering system. I use a very accurate Light Meter App for Android. I have added custom F-stops of 135 and 160 to the assortment offered. Its a great App. I usually use my judgement and add or subtract a second or two if a big range of areas are present like the sun, etc. It works for me.

Most of all I like the control these cameras give me to create something near-surreal and interesting. I first fell in love with the unsharp image in 2004 when I travelled to London and Paris with a Holga. From there I went deep on Lomography with a LC-A, LC-A Wide, and LC-A 120 not to mention sprocket-less Rocket, Sardinia and Diana. Its been a blast. I laugh when I tell people that I have spent the first 30 years of my photography life seeking the sharpest image and now I want the blurriest.

I also like film, no I love it. While it has gotten costly, I still will not give up on it and hope I never have to.

I like it here too and am glad that there are many who feel as I do with analog and pinhole in particular.
Cheers!

 

[Ces1um]

Hi all, been loving the pinhole thing. I had original purchased a converted Agfa Clack a few years and did a few rolls with decent results but more importantly it showed me that this was a thing I wanted to explore deeper. I now employ a Reality So Subtle 6x9F, a Reality So Subtle 6x6 and am contemplating a Ondu 6x12 Rise. While the 6x12 does not interest me, the 3 hole rise aspect does.

The Ondu's are nice cameras. I have their most recent version in 135 format. The craftsmanship in their construction cannot be denied. One thing to consider though is their new shutter mechanism. I find it introduces a bit of shake when using it. It can also be a bit fiddly as the knob to "release" the shutter is kind of small. I've also had a bit of dust/sand get into my shutter slider and it produces a grinding noise on function and no longer really "snaps" open and closed. Have you considered a zeroimage camera? They have an available shutter release mechanism, which in my humble and obviously misguided opinion, would offer a better result and user experience. I personally haven't used one though so maybe someone here might be able to tell you their thoughts on the camera. I do know I wouldn't purchase my ondu camera again if I could go back in time. I think the older shutter design they had was likely superior.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I've got an Ondu 135, with the single or double frame option, and I like it -- the only things I'd add would be a clicker to improve frame counting (16 clicks for a double frame) and a self-returning shutter with cable release option (short bright sun exposures can be inconvenient with the existing shutter -- yeah, I know, load slower film).

 

[Ces1um]

I've got an Ondu 135, with the single or double frame option, and I like it -- the only things I'd add would be a clicker to improve frame counting (16 clicks for a double frame) and a self-returning shutter with cable release option (short bright sun exposures can be inconvenient with the existing shutter -- yeah, I know, load slower film).

You must have the previous version (or maybe the double frame option is different from my single frame version). My one has the clicker-11 clicks to start then 9 clicks to advance each frame. It works really well!

 

[Donald Qualls]

You must have the previous version (or maybe the double frame option is different from my single frame version). My one has the clicker-11 clicks to start then 9 clicks to advance each frame. It works really well!

There isn't much room inside the double frame; with the single frame masks out the frame gate is right at the cassettes. I've contemplated trying to cut one into the back plate, but I'm reluctant to cut up such a pretty camera. Otherwise, it might be possible to mount one made from a comb binder finger on the inside of the double frame gate (it would work there in either format) but haven't had time to fiddle with it.