HOW TO: Combine that old TLR with a DSLR for Retro Visual Sensation!

April 28, 2009 | Category: How To...., Photography

Ingredients:

1- Digital SLR
1- Older Twin Lens Reflex camera (Rollie, Yashica, etc. I used a $5.00 eBay Kodak Duaflex IV)
1- Macro Lens (mine is a 60mm 1:1)
1- Heavy duty cardboard tubing
1- Roll of gaffers tape

Remove the popup shade covering the viewfinder on the top of the Twin Lens camera. Combine ingredients. Enjoy!

What exactly is this going to accomplish?
Nostalgia of coarse! More specifically, your photos should have a distressed border and added textures from the focusing screen on the twin lens camera. Every camera is different and each will give a unique look. I’ve also noticed that by tilting your SLR slightly, you can accomplish partial focus effects similar to that of lensbabies. Welcome to the world of TTV (Through The Viewfinder) photography!

Tips:

Shoot at a super high ISO for that extra “graininess” (I used 1600 for most of these shots).
Keep in mind that the more you stop down, the more imperfections, dust, scratches will show up.
For expired film looking color, experiment with different “incorrect” white-balance settings.
This camera setup makes for great candid shots because the camera doesn’t appear to be pointing at your subject
Don’t permanently attach the D-SLR to the tube. This allows for camera tilting to achieve a partial focus effect.

A few more….

Here’s the setup.

For more on this style of photography, google “through the viewfinder” or “TTV photography.”

Tags: Combine, Dan Newton, daniel newton, How To...., look, Nv, old borders, photographer, Photography, Reno, retro, through the viewfinder, TLR, ttv

6 Comments

Anthony S.
on June 1st, 2009
1
Haha. This is hilarious! Not to mention GENIUS.
russ morris
on June 3rd, 2009
2
There’s a great group of shooters doing this on flickr, too. check out our group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/throughtheviewfinder/

… many AMAZING photographers are addicted!

r!
Sean O'Brien
on June 3rd, 2009
3
This is also a great icebreaker, because no one can figure out what the heck you’re doing, and some are compelled to ask.
Sean
on June 3rd, 2009
4
We had someone demo this at our local photo club meeting about 6 months ago..he take some amazing shots with his…

http://www.schenectadyphotographicsociety.com/2009/MonoPrintFeb.jpg
Danny
on June 14th, 2009
5
Reminds me of the ol poloroid tricks back in the day.
Dave
on October 14th, 2009
6
Chicks’ll get naked for you when they see you swinging this big thing around. Oh, yeah.