Pinhole Camaras

who has used one of t hese fun little things. I saw them in my Porter's catalog and they were only like ten bucks so I thought Id try one out. They are just like this little paint can that you put photo paper in and expose it. At least I think that's what you do. Anyone who has used them can you explain how exactly you use them to me. HEHE.

GQ

they are fun, you can make them yourself.

you use a sheet of film and then uncover the pinhole to expose it. usually there's some sort of conversion chart to help you get the exposure. you get some neat, interesting images!

Ive done em before when I had access to a darkroom. We used to use photographic paper, take our pin cameras into the darkroom when we were done and fish the paper out to develop.

I've made a pinhole camera with a cardboard box and light sensitive x-ray film.

I wish i still had it. Captured images were really amazing and very spooky.

I have made (and still do) many pinhole cameras in the past. I like to collect, restore and shoot vintage cameras. I took an old Argus (mid-50's) TLR, took out the takiing lens and made it into a pinhole camera. That way, I can use 120 film, and can use the viewing lens to help with composition of the shot. I have one I made as a school project. It's made out of a suitcase. It's my "spy" camera cause everyone thinks it's just a suitcase. Also makes it easy to carry around. I have a habit of going walking around town at night taking photos. I LOVE night photography.

I love vintaqge camaras too. I collect them, mostly just to look at and decorate. Maybe I will be adventurous and try to get one of them to work.

Trisha

This is something that ive wanted to try for a while but never got motivated to look them up online and get the material list and instructions. :0)

An interesting way to do it is to use an slr camera, put a hole in the lensecap and put the camera on bulb or something. This way you can use the light meter I think in the camera. But kinda defeats the point of a home made camera.

Theres a show on ftv here in canada and one of the photogs shown on it uses mostly pin hole camera's and shes had some intresting ideas. One of them was a box with the paper inside shaped like a tube, and 4 pin holes, one on each side of the box. The idea was to get a 360 degree picture, but it didnt turn out the way she expected. Intresting concept though.

For those that want to make one, I hear its good to use tin foil or a flattened piece of soda can, and gently make a very small hole with a needle. Or you can buy a small piece of steel that had a hole created with a laser in it for you for moree accuracy.

You can also buy Holgas which have been modified to be pinhole cameras.

I have also seen some really nice wooden pinhole cameras that took roll film. They were really beautiful, solid wood with brass trim. They were kinda expensive, tho.

Hmm, a wooden pinhole camera, sounds like a fun woodworking project. It sounds difficult to do the film advancing though.

Here (http://shop.lomography.com/shop/main.php?cat=Special%20Format%20Cameras&pro=phs) is what I was talking about. This one takes 35mm film, and for $140 US, film advance shouldn't be a problem. ;)

I made one in my highschool photography class but gosh that was so long ago. I do remember they were fun to use.

Here (http://shop.lomography.com/shop/main.php?cat=Special%20Format%20Cameras&pro=phs) is what I was talking about. This one takes 35mm film, and for $140 US, film advance shouldn't be a problem. ;)

That's pretty cool... I bet you'd get some funny looks using it... :lol:

Probably so. You can also buy "Pinhole lenses" that willfit on most modern slr's by t-mount. So if you don't have a t-mount for your camera, you'd need one and the pinhole lenses. Or you can buy an extra body cap and drill a hole in it with a hot needle.

I have seen some shots taken with one of the pinhole lenses attached to a Digital Rebel that were pretty cool.

For anyone interested Freestyle Photo (http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_main.php?cat_id=2203) sells lens cap "lenses" predrilled with a pinhole for most SLR"s for around $30.

I have an idea, perhaps not such a "bright" one, but would like a little brainstorming by the lot of you.

Most of you know that I live in Tahiti which is one of the most photogenic places on the planet. I was curious if it might be a good business idea to purchase a few of these cameras and taking a roll of photos with it and publish these photos in an album of sorts (staying with the opulent look) of the camera. Then reselling the camera and prints as a unit. I think that it would be a one of a kind memento of a very beautiful place along with the option of using it on other vacations..

Any ideas? Pricing, Marketing etc.

I'm not sure how well that would work, Chief.

AS far as pricing, goes, Freestyle (link above) has cardboard pinhole cams that you put to gether yourself for $30. They take 120 roll film and make 6x9cm negatives.

I was thinking of going with the "high priced" wooden models. They have a rather expensive price, but they also look like something that I would like to own and cherish for my lifetime.

The places that I would want my photos and products available would be the high end boutiques and shops of Tahiti. The clientele, I believe would be agreeable to having purchased not only a camera but photo's taken with that very same camera.

I realize that the price would be quite expensive, but art is never cheap, especially if it is good art.

Those are too cool. I have never shot a pinhole camera. I guess I should try it. Looks pretty cool!

Yeah, Chief, those wooden pinhole cams are really nice looking. I think the cheapest I've seen is around $125. But that is solid wood with good brass hardware. IT would look really nice with a nice coffee table book.