Shanghai4 TLR shots

Here are some shots taken with the recently acquired Shanghai4 Twin Lens Reflex camera.

Initially, I was worried that the few specks of dirt on the picture taking lens and even the mirror would affect the picture quality, but apparently not. Either way, I've since sent the camera in for servicing (overly tight shutter due to dried lubricant, uneven lens plate surface and usual stuff that occurs with vintage cameras) and re-leathering. Basically this would mean pasting back the same leather so it holds on for a few more years of handling, or at least 1 year I hope.

Other accessories added include 2 X 34mm UV filters and 1 X 34 to 35.5mm step up ring, plus a 35.5mm Hoya metal lens hood.

This camera does not have a built in exposure meter, so having no handheld meter on hand, I used the caveman method of argaration. Used my trusty Nikon F601 to meter, took note of the aperture and shutter speed settings, then adjusted on the Shanghai4 accordingly or as close as I could. This resulted in less than ideal exposure but did give me a rather wider latitude for error and made the bulk of my focus areas' exposure decent enough. I cannot wait for my Sekonic L308 handheld meter to arrive in January 2009. :saliva8zc:

Here're the pictures, taken with Kodak Tri-X 400 B/W film. This camera will predominantly be shooting B/W.













One thing to note, if you're not looking to do multiple exposures, you must remember to advance the film after each shot because if you don't, the shutter release STILL fires. So all you purely digital pundits who wanna go into something like this, better get used to the PROPER photography techniques or you'd end up like this....



Yep, even as a seasoned FM2 user, where I need to manually advance the film after each shot, this mistake was made at least twice on this roll of film. Considering there were only 12 exposures, that's a 17% error possibility per roll. Sheeesh. I do kindda like the effect of this particular screw up though. :lol:

No post processing was done other than to resize it to 800 pixels wide and add a watermark.

Holga! At last!

I have often toyed with the idea of getting into Lomography but never quite got round to it for several reasons. Then, prices of an entry level camera were quite high, and not many places were stocking Lomography cameras.

Lately, two of my students got me interested again when they showed me some pics they took using their Holga cameras. I was hooked and decided there and then I would get one.

They recommended me a Holga 120 series, which in layman terms, takes medium format film. Some research revealed that being a popular brand for Lomography, Holgas had a wide range of accessories available, including 35mm adaptors and filters for their 120 series cameras and there are even several mods available for the base level Holga 120!

I was in two minds whether to get the cheaper plastic lens version or the glass lens version but in the end, one of them suggested the glass lens version, since it was afterall, going at a cheaper price of $75 at InQ Box Suntec. Thanks for the headsup guys! So off to InQ Box at Suntec I went, to put my money down for the Holga 120GCFN which stands for G(glass lens), CF(Color Flash - built in flash with four different color filters for the flash, red, green and yellow as well as the standard white), N(night mode or Bulb mode where the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release is pressed down)

I got a roll of B/W film from a colleague at a throwaway price and the moment I got my Holga, I loaded the film. It's been a long time since I've used film and this is the first time I am using a medium format.

Further reading revealed some minor home modifications one can do to seal up the Holga from light leaks. I am however, going to take my first roll au naturel before sealing it up with gaffer tape or black velcro.

Here it is, straight from the box in its all plastic glory.



I can't wait to develop my first roll of B/W but I am also prepared for the quirkiness of a Holga in that every shot is an experiment!

Random thought of the day - Ansel Adams once said, a good photograph is knowing where to stand.