How to load 35mm film in a Holga plastic camera

How to load 35mm film in a Holga plastic camera

I like to do things differently. So here is MY way of loading 35mm film into a Holga.

Tools needed:
-masking tape
-duct tape
-Holga plastic camera(120N, 120SF, 120NF, 120CFN, 120Gn, 120 GFN, 120GCFN, etc)
-35mm film - Fuji, Kodak, Ilford, Tmax, no name brands...whatever
-a few pieces of cardboard or styrofoam


Step 1:
open up the camera and take the FILM SPOOL out.

Step 2:
measure where you want the film in the camera to go, and tape the film to the film spool with masking tape. note: I like lightleaks and I feel that depending on where your film is located(because it's smaller than 120 film) you get different light leaks. So here I am experimenting for the very first time putting my film at the very top of the window to see if the effects are any different. Take up the back red window properly with a few layered pieces of tape or you end up with a red square on your picture, sometimes more intense, sometimes less, depending on the light situation. Lightleaks may also come in from the sides where the camera clasps are, so you may choose to tape that off too. I taped that off because I've had one too many unfavourable incidents where my camera opened up.


Make sure cat approves of your taping.



if you get approved...carry on to step 3...

Step 3:
Put the film with the spool inside the camera. The film spool will be held in place by square pieces of cardboard I cut up to fit into place.





ALTERNATIVES:
You can A) choose to NOT put in anything there and allow the film to roam freely. This will most likely do nothing much but give you a loose film spool and therefore give you blurry images.
or B) you can put a piece of styrofoam instead of cardboard. I didn't have any.

Step 4:
Turn the film knob until the film is tight across the window. Put the camera backing back on and close it shut. Put tape over the clasps. And turn the film knob once to make sure you're over the burnt out piece of film that was exposed during this loading.





and that's it!! You're ready to shoot!