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    Sunday
    May102009

    Video: Shooting with Diana



    Taking photos with your Diana+ is easy.

    Your camera prefers a fast film, so be sure to get film with a rating of ISO 400. ISO is the measure of how sensitive your film is to light. The higher the number, the more sensitive the film is to light.

    Slower films can be used, but you will have to adjust the aperture (Sunny,Semi-cloudy, Cloudy, P) accordingly. This just means, that if you are using a slower film, like ISO 200 or 160, that you use the Semi-cloudy or cloudy aperture when it is sunny out. These apertures have larger openings and will allow more light to hit the film, compensating for the slower film.

    Think SAFE!

    S - Shutter setting. For normal outdoor photos, set the shutter to N.

    A - Aperture setting. Set the aperture to the appropriate symbol, depending out the lighting conditions.
    Sunny
    Semi-Cloudy
    Cloudy
    P (Pinhole) If you accidently have your camera on pinhole, your negatives will be very underexposed using the N shutter setting, so nothing will come out.

    If you are shooting with a slower speed film (ISO 200 or 160), you will need to adjust the aperture accordingly.
    If it is Sunny outside, choose the Semi-Cloudy aperture.
    If it is overcast, choose the Cloudy aperture.

    F - Focus setting. Determine how far you are from your subject and set the lens to the appropriate distance.

    E - Expose your film by tripping the shutter lever.

    Wind the film to the next frame # in the counter window, and repeat.

    Reader Comments (4)

    Hi, I am alright with taking photos with my diana during the day. However, I'm not sure how to take night photos with my diana. If it is really dark with a few street lights, do I use 'B' and set the aperture to cloudy? and how long will I need to hold down when I take the photo? What if I use a flash? should I still use B instead on N?

    June 3, 2009 | Unregistered Commenteramouryj

    For night photos, use the B setting and the shutter release lock. Unless you are going for shaky and blurry photos, put the camera on a tripod. Cloudy aperture setting is correct. If you are using the flash, you can go either way. Use the N setting if you want to freeze all action. Use the B if you'd like to freeze the subject, but would like some of the background lights to show, or would like to have some light streaks showing.

    June 7, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterkai

    Oh man, you are rad. You should know that by now, but I am loving your site. I've had a Diana for almost 4 years, and I have loved using it casually, but I'm getting all kinds of creative ideas from your site and tips on lomography and the like. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

    July 11, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterLizzie

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