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Subject: Re: Digest Number 1023
Date: 2012-01-03 21:06:45
From: Steven Lederman

Thanks for the reply, Rod;
I used slide film with my Holga; Provia 400 and HP5 (which I haven't sent in to Dr5 yet) and I didn't mind some of the results I achieved with the Provia.
However, once you compare the Holga shots to shots taken with a TL-120, you realize just how much of a toy the Holga is.
I was just wondering if it would be possible to replace the lens elements on the Holga with better ones; not the whole lens assembly, but just the glass lenses themselves.
Has anyone on the list had experience with grafting the lens elements from one lens assembly to another?
-S

Re: Better Optics On A Holga?

Posted by: "RodS" rsage@earthlink.net roderickdsage

Mon Jan 2, 2012 1:25 pm (PST)

The Holga is really only good for print film, since there is no exposure adjustment.
There were Holgas made with single element "glass" lenses, which are supposed to be sharper. It was called a Woca and was just available a short time.
http://www.lomograp hy.com/magazine/ reviews/2009/ 02/08/woca- 120g

RS

Subject: Re: Better optics on a Holga
Date: 2012-01-03 23:22:14
From: Bob Aldridge

Before you go down this route, there are a couple of things to consider:

Firstly, what lens type does the Holga use? I.e. single element? Simple doublet? Or a "proper" photographic lens with, many element in several groups? I'd suspect that - at best - it's a doublet. Would there be room within the existing lens mount for better, more bulky, glass?

Secondly, how flat is the film held? Because, if it's not perfectly flat, you're totally wasting your time with better glass. And, whilst camera backs look simple, in practice they're anything but simple. It's what distinguishes a Leica from a Zorki, for instance!

I suspect the Holga back is just good enough for the existing glass...

Bob Aldridge

On 04/01/2012 03:06, Steven Lederman wrote:

Thanks for the reply, Rod;
I used slide film with my Holga; Provia 400 and HP5 (which I haven't sent in to Dr5 yet) and I didn't mind some of the results I achieved with the Provia.
However, once you compare the Holga shots to shots taken with a TL-120, you realize just how much of a toy the Holga is.
I was just wondering if it would be possible to replace the lens elements on the Holga with better ones; not the whole lens assembly, but just the glass lenses themselves.
Has anyone on the list had experience with grafting the lens elements from one lens assembly to another?
-S

Re: Better Optics On A Holga?

Posted by: "RodS" rsage@earthlink.net roderickdsage

Mon Jan 2, 2012 1:25 pm (PST)

The Holga is really only good for print film, since there is no exposure adjustment.
There were Holgas made with single element "glass" lenses, which are supposed to be sharper. It was called a Woca and was just available a short time.
http://www.lomograp hy.com/magazine/ reviews/2009/ 02/08/woca- 120g

RS__

Subject: Re: Digest Number 1023
Date: 2012-01-04 02:42:35
From: George Gruschow

Has anyone on the list had experience with grafting the lens elements from one lens assembly to another?

Yes.. Don't go there unless you want to get into camera or lens design and consider it a learning experience. It'll likely take you *days* to get the thing built / cleanly assembled and adjusted (spacing & centering) well enough to outresolve the *worst* prime MF lens KEH will sell you.

You can probably get an old f/3.5 TLR that'll shoot sharper pictures than you can hope to get out of a perfectly-hacked-up-holga for around the same price as a lens wrench.