Author Topic: Shooting 3200 asa in my Holga..disaster! (Read 8681 times)

Diane Peterson · « **on:** November 11, 2012, 03:02:13 PM »

Can someone give me some clues to shooting & developing 3200 speed film in my Holga? I was so excited to develop this roll of film I took over the last week and it turned out with nothing on it! I developed in Arista premium at 68 degrees for 10 1/2 minutes..perhaps I should have gone for 13 minutes based on some information I found last night but just not sure..Help anyone?

LT · « **Reply #1 on:** November 11, 2012, 03:17:33 PM »

first things - were there any frame markings or numbers on the film rebate? If no, then either your developer has died, or you have fixed the film before development by mistake.

If there are frame numbers or markings clearly developed on the rebate, then the film hasn't been exposed sufficiently. What were the conditions of exposure? If daylight, then I would be REALLY surprised ... you shoudl have shots that are about 1-2 stops overexposed (given that both the 3200 films are somewhere around 1600 iso) if your holga usually exposes 400 speed correctly (as most generally do).

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #2 on:** November 11, 2012, 03:25:27 PM »

There are numbers on the film frames. I was shooting at night in well lit areas such as shopping centers etc.

LT · « **Reply #3 on:** November 11, 2012, 03:31:03 PM »

Quote from: Diane Peterson on November 11, 2012, 03:25:27 PM

I was shooting at night in well lit areas such as shopping centers etc.

Not enough light then. Use a flash, or use when there is better light around, or use a speed enhancing developer. Low light photography is really about experimentation, especially when using a camera like the holga ... expect some more disappointment before you get it right.

Why not try bracing the camera on something and using the bulb option? You'll probably overexpose that way, but at least you'll have something on the film to mess with.

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #4 on:** November 11, 2012, 03:32:49 PM »

Thank you Leon, that does make sense..I was just stumbling around in the dark !

LT · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2012, 03:36:08 PM »

Quote from: Diane Peterson on November 11, 2012, 03:32:49 PM

..I was just stumbling around in the dark !

boom-tish!

(ps I've added a little bit more to my response)

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2012, 04:36:20 PM »

Thank you again Leon. Those are great suggestions!

Francois · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2012, 05:08:12 PM »

Lens cap on is a sure fire way to get dark pictures too

The best thing to do is take a meter reading and compare to what the camera gave you.
Now, I'm going to take an educated guess...
According to the Kodak chart I have, subjects lit by streetlight should get 1/15@f/2 on 400 ISO.
On the Holga, taking an f/11 as the average aperture (the old ones are at f/13), it would need to be exposed at 1/4 second on 3200 ISO film.
Considering the holga is clicking at minimally 1/60, that would be a 4 stop push... big.

Holgas were obviously never intended to be used by low light.

Just use the cardboard computer on http://www.squit.co.uk/photo
They have a lot on information printed on their card.

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2012, 05:13:14 PM »

Thank you Francois. I appreciate all the help you & Leon have offered up!

Francois · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2012, 05:26:13 PM »

That's what we're here for

astrobeck · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2012, 06:41:15 PM »

Hey Diane,
That is really frustrating to have happen.
My seat of the pants estimate would probably say expose for at least 15-20 seconds.
I don't know what the reciprocity is of this film, but don't give up!!!
Night shots are awesome when they work.
Whenever you decide you want to do star trails, call me and I'll give you the scoop on that.

This interior shot was 12 seconds with 100 speed film. Just to give you an idea.

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2012, 07:15:00 PM »

Thank you so much Beck with the words of encouragement! I never give up on anything I want badly enough!!

Photo_Utopia · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2012, 08:46:11 PM »

Hi Delta 3200 is a great film, nominally 1000ISO but designed to push to 3200 and beyond. Like others have pointed out the fixed lens and shutter are Ok for sunlight and even dull conditions but night scenes at ƒ11 is more than a push.
This was shot at 1/15 at ƒ3,5 rating the film at 6400EI

So I think your expectations were a little high...

jojonas~ · « **Reply #13 on:** November 12, 2012, 09:15:55 AM »

this is what I usually use to check in what light I can shoot my toycameras before going out

^{(my holga has the original f13 but I usually measure at f11. info: _{http://www.squarefrog.co.uk/basics/apertures.html} )}

charles binns · « **Reply #14 on:** November 12, 2012, 02:46:53 PM »

You can also push Delta 3200 to a whopping ASA 25,000 if you develop it in DDX. This might help in low light conditions.

SLVR · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2012, 02:19:16 AM »

Im going to try to push the delta 3200 in Xtol. I just did a roll of 120 through the bronica at 12,500 and the results were amazing.

SLVR · « **Reply #16 on:** November 21, 2012, 02:30:41 AM »

ah screw it, im too happy to wait for the weekend...

iso 12,500 1/60th at F2.8

Xtol @ Stock 20* 12.5min. 15 sec agitations every min for the first 7.5min then 10 sec agitations every min and half the last 5 min.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #17 on:** November 21, 2012, 03:10:17 PM »

:O I'm pretty much floored by your results tintin! that looks leaps and bounds better than what I imagined it'd look like. I'll keep that in mind if I need some extra speed~

SLVR · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2012, 03:31:53 PM »

i was giddy after i got out of the darkroom. Im curious to see what the results would be at 25000. A lot of stuff ive seen in 35mm at 12500 was WAY chunkier than this. The bigger negative seems to help. Also Im convinced that Xtol is fairly decent when it comes to pushing. A lot of people online when i was poking around were reccomending microphen. Ive never used it but Im sure the results cant be much better than this.

Francois · « **Reply #19 on:** November 21, 2012, 08:35:10 PM »

Now, that's what I call a result!

SLVR · « **Reply #20 on:** November 21, 2012, 08:45:27 PM »

had that gossen lightmeter i got maxed out, Francois!

Francois · « **Reply #21 on:** November 21, 2012, 09:34:00 PM »

Always comes a point where you can't get any reading... the cells on those were not as sensitive as silver crystals.

I must admit that 25000 is way beyond where the wheel will stop. I don't know if there's such a thing as "crank it to 11" on a meter

SLVR · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2012, 10:51:58 PM »

I figure if i do go ahead with 25000 ill just do a reading to 12500 then bump up a stop. Hopefully that works.

Francois · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2012, 11:08:45 PM »

That should work.

DonkeyDave · « **Reply #24 on:** November 22, 2012, 05:47:11 PM »

Along the same theme, I couldn't get some delta 3200 quick enough for a night shoot, so pushed some HP5 using DDX. I needed ISO6400 and developed for 28 mins in DDX - results were far better than I expected, and better than the one roll of delta 3200 I exposed at 6400.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37385617@N00/8175951211/#

not sure if that link will work, haven't posted a pic on this forum yet so technology is getting the better of me

Francois · « **Reply #25 on:** November 22, 2012, 06:40:30 PM »

It only worked halfway.
You just select the share button on flickr and select the entire BBcode and paste it here.

Here's what it looks like

East Hoathly Bonfire Procession by donkerdave, on Flickr

Author Topic: Shooting 3200 asa in my Holga..disaster! (Read 8681 times)

astrobeck