[B&H] Holga hpl-op pinhole speckled with paint?????

richmond23236 · #1 July 18th, 2012, 07:20 PM

Hi,
I just received a HOLGA HPL-OP
lens, which I am using on a M4/3 camera.

I am somewhat familiar with pinhole photography, but am confused a bit by what I found with this specific lens.

Noting that the image quality was not exactly what I had anticipated, I investigated the both the objective and subjective surfaces of the lens.

Not finding a 'pinhole', I encountered small diameter aperture...with what appears to be a clear lens or covering through which light passes.

At least one surface of this clear
lens/flat/etc is speckled with matte black paint. The speckle pattern is irregular to the extent that I do not believe that it is a feature of the lens (as in a zone plate or sieve).

Is this the correct presentation of this lens, or is this a defect?

zpuskas · #2 July 18th, 2012, 07:44 PM

If it's a true pinhole there is no lens, merely a very small fixed aperture (usually in a piece of metal). The advert says the hole is 0.25mm so that should work for some soft focus effects.

meyerweb · #3 July 18th, 2012, 07:49 PM

I suspect that piece of plastic is just shipping material, and is to be removed for use.

Chuck-B&H · #4 July 20th, 2012, 11:55 AM

Hello,

I asked 2 colleagues who shoot and blog about all things Pin Hole and Holga. They both agree that your lens does not sound 100% and should be returned for a new one.