How to Modify a Holga to use 35mm Film Video Tutorial:
Workshop One
Though you can spend loads of money buying modifications for your Holga, one of the
greatest things about it is that Do-It-Yourself Modifications are nearly free and
completely easy to do. Today I will be showing you how to install 35mm film into your
Holga using only household objects.
Task Analysis
Why someone would learn the skill
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There are a couple of reasons why someone would want to install 35mm film
into a Holga, both fiscal and artistic.
Fiscal:
o 120 film is nearly obsolete: it was first created in 1901 and intended for
amateur photography and has since been superseded by the now most
common 135 (35mm) film. Where 120 film most commonly has a frame
size of 56x41.5mm the 135 is 24x36mm, a significantly different frame size.
You can still find the 120 film in specialty stores or online but it’s wicked
expensive and also a costly hassle to get developed (most places simply
won’t develop it anymore). 35mm is the standard film now, so it’s cheap
to buy and cheap to develop.
o You can buy 35mm film adapters; “they are available in two models: full
negative and "panoramic." Both adapters come with a light-proof back
and a mask made to hold the 135 canister in place. The only difference
between the two models is the size of the mask. The "panoramic" adapter
will mask out the sprocket holes.” These are pretty expensive though,
because they are specialty items and you’re more than likely going to have
to purchase them online. This tutorial will show you how to do the exact
same thing, but with rubber bands, tape and foam!
Artistic:
o Because the 35mm has a significantly smaller frame size, by wedging the
film in the Holga, and performing several necessary modifications, the
result is an intensely artistic and unique design. The camera is able to
capture a still the covers not just the films intended photo space but also
covers the sprocket holes:
o Because the camera is designed to wind a different size of film, and
because you need to cover the viewer window in order to save the film
from being overexposed, with 35mm film the user must manually wind
the film; this offers a great deal of artistic control. He/she can create
panoramas:
o
o Enhance some of the techniques that the Holga can already perform, such
as double exposure:
o
Prerequisite skills, knowledge, and attitudes
 For the purposes of the video I am going to assume that the viewer already has a
Holga and knows how to conventionally use it with 120 film. I am going to be
expanding on some of the Tips & Tricks that this camera can perform. That said,
the prerequisite skills necessary for this video is simply knowing the basic
operations of this little plastic box (though I will be going over, step by step, how
to alter the thing so it’s not absolutely necessary that they do know how to use it)
Special materials or tools required
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Holga
35mm film
Some thin rubber bands
Foam/Sponge - 2 chunky squares and a thin strip
Black tape
Scissors
Garbage bag or dark room (closet) for unloading your film
Warnings of dangers, either overall and at specific junctures
 This film substitution is a pretty risky process and, like most things, excellent
results are not always guaranteed. The first few times I did it I completely ruined
the photos in the winding process. The reason Holga’s faded out in the first place
is because their plastic shell is not light proof. They remain a cult toy because the
distortions that they by nature create (vignetting, blurring, lights streaks, double
exposures, etc.) are desirable artistic effects. Creating good photos in 35mm is a
skill that must be practiced. That being said, don’t be discouraged if your first
batch is streaky, chopped up (from incorrectly manually winding) or overexposed. Use the failed batches as a something to learn from.
 When manually winding the film it is absolutely necessary that this occurs in a
DARK place or else the film will become overexposed and the pictures will be
destroyed. For the purposes of the tutorial I will be ruining the film for the
purposes of demonstration (because I can’t really do a video in the dark) but I
need to make very clear that this is an important step to occur in the dark.
The critical main steps (no more than 5 -7) and their sequence
Preparing the Camera for 35mm film
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Open the back of the Holga; remove the film winding spool and place
elastic bands around the two sides.
Use electrical tape, or duct tape to cover the film counter window on both
sides.
Open film, use the end strip and tape it directly in the middle of the film
spool, between the two elastic bands
Inserting Film
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Insert the film in the left side of the Holga using foam/sponge to secure it
in place
 There should be one sponge on the bottom of the film, one on top
and one covering the whole surface of the film to stop it from
moving.
Place the spool in the right side of the Holga as usual
Close the back.
Tape shut all of the edges where the back connects to the front, it more
important that the light not get in with 35mm than 120 as there is not
backing protecting the film from exposure
Winding Film
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Because there is no counter for 35mm in this camera, you must count the amount
of clicks as you wind. Generally this takes 30-35 clicks to avoid overlapping
images. Remember, once you’ve chosen your number, don’t deviate from the
pattern. This will take some time to perfect as every camera is different.
Tips & Tricks
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Panoramas, or, Overlapped Exposures
o For those who are feeling comfortable with the manual winding try only
partially winding the film and lining up your subject for an overlapped
exposure, or panorama
o These can be beautiful but difficult to develop. For this effect you will
need to be able to develop the photo yourself as many labs will not be
equipped to develop such a unique print.
Double Exposure
o There is not mechanism in the Holga, like most cameras that makes you
wind the film after each photo. This allows you the opportunity to take
multiple shots on one frame.
o Watch out though! The more you expose the film, the more likely you are
to ruin the image. Try it out though, and see what happens. Sometimes,
beautiful things can occur!
Removing Film When Ready to Develop
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Take the camera into a DARK place (This is REALLY important)
Take the film out of the camera and wind it manually yourself (I encourage you
to try this in the light once or twice before taking it into the darkness so you can
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be sure what you’re doing. I am ruining this roll of film right now for
demonstration. Lucky for us this stuff is cheap!)
Take the film to a lab for processing, or develop it yourself if you know how.
Steps that require specific shots or cutaways
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Should be zoomed in on camera when I’m performing actual mods.
Could show a winding chart when talking about winding.
Emphasize the winding must be done in a dark place, maybe do a shot of me
walking into closet, shutting of light.
Tips & Tricks can offer visual examples
Audience
Who are they?
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Photographers, artists, people interested in manual photography.
This video will not be for the modern digital photographer, as this process takes
time; most photographers nowadays are accustomed to a certain level of urgency
in their picture taking: point, shoot, on the web, done. This will be for those
interested in the natural, editless distortion that the Holga can offer: No
Photoshop Required!
What skills do they have now that you can build on?
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They know the ins and outs of the toy cam. They know how to use 120 film
already and this tutorial will offer tips on how to get the most out of the camera.
With these cheap and reversible modifications they will be able to get entirely
new results from this little plastic box.
What skills do they need in order to meet your objectives?
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Time & Patience, this tutorial does not guarantee results but will give them the
tools they need to be able to do this on their own.
They need a Holga; they need to know how to use the Holga. They need to have
access to a lab to get the film developed and/or for some techniques need to be
able to develop their own film.
Objectives
What can users do after instruction that they couldn't do before?
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Load, Use, and Remove 35mm film from a 120 film camera. Also they will be
equipped with a few tips and tricks to get the most out of this style of
photography.
At what level of mastery?
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Very basic.
What tasks will permit you to observe that your users doing to
demonstrate that they have met the objectives?
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I will encourage the viewer to follow along, step by step as I do the tutorial. That
way, when the video is complete they will be able to do it on their own.
Developing the film will let them know that they’ve done it right! Or at least will
let them know what they need to work on in the future, for example:
o Over exposed? Next time tape up the outside of the camera tighter and
make sure that when you are winding the film it is absolutely pitch black.
o Over-lapping Images? Next time use more clicks between shot (35instead
of 30)
o Too much wasted space between exposures? Next time use fewer clicks
between shots