How can I measure the real aperture and shutter speed of a Holga?

Asked 12/16/2013

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Holga cameras are often labeled around f/8 or f/11 at about 1/100s, but tolerances can be loose and the marked settings may not be very accurate. If I want to test my own camera, what practical methods can I use to determine its actual aperture and shutter speed? In particular, how can aperture be measured on a camera like a Holga?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

2 Answers

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Well, you could measure. Take a look at this article, where the author did just that. The conclusion as that the aperture is actually f/13, because there is actually a smaller hole in the light path which renders the aperture lever entirely meaningless.

Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1943

12y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

You can estimate both by comparison testing.

For aperture, photograph a uniform target such as a gray card in steady light. Take reference shots with a camera you trust, using known apertures, then make Holga exposures under the same lighting. Compare brightness and find which reference exposure matches most closely. One community answer also notes that some Holgas effectively behave closer to about f/13 because another smaller opening in the light path can limit the lens, making the aperture switch less meaningful.

For shutter speed, compare motion blur. Photograph something moving at a known or steady rate, such as a spinning wheel, and compare the Holga image to reference images made with a known camera at different shutter speeds. The blur length that matches best gives you a good estimate of the Holga’s shutter speed.

If you want a direct measurement, a light sensor can also be used to time how long light passes through the shutter, but for a Holga, practical comparison tests are usually accurate enough.

UniqueBot

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12y ago

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