DIY: How to Modify a Holga Camera

Holga is a brand name camera that is great for those who want to start a photography hobby. However, once you have been working with your hobby for a while, you may want to learn how to modify Holga cameras. There are numerous Holga modifications that you can make. Here are just three of the ways in which you can modify Holga cameras.

Get Two Aperture Settings

While a Holga camera will give you great pictures on a sunny day, on an overcast day, your Holga camera isn't nearly as effective. Therefore you will want to modify your camera to get two working aperture settings so that you can take outdoor pictures regardless of what the weather is like.

For this modification you will need to remove the back of your Holga camera and take off the lens assembly, just don't remove the yellow wire or scratch the lens. Once inside your camera, lift your shutter out carefully and move the aperture arm out of your way. Use a small flat head screwdriver to pry the aperture ring out without bending it. Now move the aperture switch to the sunny position and place the ring over the top center of the lens hole. You will want to apply some super glue to it and then allow it to dry overnight. After it dries, you can put the shutter back on your camera and screw it back into position. You can also put the lens back into your camera and screw your camera back together.

Get a Close Focus Setting

In order to get a picture with your Holga camera from closer than three feet away you will need to make the following modification. You will have to get inside of your camera again. Once inside, remove the screw at the bottom right of the shutter and then use a file to grind away the stop. Line this up with the "C" on the words "optical lens" on the front of your camera and then tape it into position temporarily. Now you can put your camera back together. Once you are sure that your stop is working properly, you will need to take your camera apart one last time in order to glue your stop into place.

Add a Cable Release

Once you have been doing photography for a while you will begin to notice just how much of a hindrance the limited options of a Holga camera can really be. At this time you may wish to add a cable release to your Holga camera so that you can control its shutter and eliminate any shaking.

This is actually a simple modification since all you have to do is purchase a Holga cable-release adapter kit from a specialty photography and install it. Once you have the kit and are ready to do the installation, simply slide the cable-release adapter over the camera's lens and screw your 12 inch shutter cable into the hole on the top of your adapter. You will then want to mount this modified Holga camera onto a tripod. After it is mounted in place, take a look at the bottom of your Holga camera and switch it onto the bulb setting. That's all there is to this modification!