pinhole camera enqueries

[berisshock]

hello everyone! i'm making a pinhole camera for my project?
Can anyone give me some advice?
if possible, please share some pics of yr pinholes
and what is the exposure like
as well as the materials used to make.
thanks!

[enivre]

Try going to the library or doing a google, there are quite a few books that I've read which have taught me how to make my pinholes.

Also go do a search, I've posted photos of my DIY pinholes before.

Hope this helps,
Ervine

[peepeedog]

hmmm i bought a P-sharan STD35 from japan for like 10 yen and it was an entirely build-it-yourself-from-scratch kinda thing so maybe that might help you.

i still have the instruction sheet and the actual thing if you want to have a look.

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by enivre Try going to the library or doing a google, there are quite a few books that I've read which have taught me how to make my pinholes. Also go do a search, I've posted photos of my DIY pinholes before. Hope this helps, Ervine

i have a tight scheudule, so its a kinda do-or-die thing. lol!
but still thanks for the suggestion.

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by peepeedog hmmm i bought a P-sharan STD35 from japan for like 10 yen and it was an entirely build-it-yourself-from-scratch kinda thing so maybe that might help you. i still have the instruction sheet and the actual thing if you want to have a look.

it will be great if i can have a look at the instruction sheet
thanks!

[jinglejangle]

i made a pinhole recently. it's a kit going for about 16 dollars. you can get it at this toy shop at serene center. some camera science kit. takes 35mm film.

[catchlights]

exposure time is depends the size of the pinhole (aperture) and the type of film (ISO) your use. mostly is a few mins, and the optimum size of pinhole is depend on the focal length of the camera you made, and size of negative do matter.

to make a pinhole from scarp it is not difficult, but it is how to attach the film to the camera is the most tricky part.

since you have a 35mm slr camera, you can get a body cap drill a large hole, and get a thick aluminum foil, using a sewing needle to make a tiny hole, attach the aluminum foil to the body cap, make sure no light leak, just put on the pinhole body cap, load a roll of film, you are ready to go.

hope this help.

[enivre]

Originally Posted by berisshock i have a tight scheudule

Hm... no matter what u will still need about a day to construct and test the camera leh... 1 day at least, that's if u know what you are doing.

I agree with bro catchlights about the tricky part being the film attachment. You can try using an existing MF film back like I did to help you with the film transport issue.

Or you can just shoot 4x5s so you don't need to worry about film transport.

And like he mentioned, the easiest way is still to use an exisiting camera, heck, you can even use your digital cam if you wish!

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by jinglejangle i made a pinhole recently. it's a kit going for about 16 dollars. you can get it at this toy shop at serene center. some camera science kit. takes 35mm film.

cool! where is the exact place of the toy shop?

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by catchlights exposure time is depends the size of the pinhole (aperture) and the type of film (ISO) your use. mostly is a few mins, and the optimum size of pinhole is depend on the focal length of the camera you made, and size of negative do matter. to make a pinhole from scarp it is not difficult, but it is how to attach the film to the camera is the most tricky part. since you have a 35mm slr camera, you can get a body cap drill a large hole, and get a thick aluminum foil, using a sewing needle to make a tiny hole, attach the aluminum foil to the body cap, make sure no light leak, just put on the pinhole body cap, load a roll of film, you are ready to go. hope this help.

this sounds really easy but we aint suppose to use film. most likely using RC.
thanks for the idea nevertheless

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by berisshock this sounds really easy but we aint suppose to use film. most likely using RC. thanks for the idea nevertheless

than you can find a biscuit tin something like this, at the center of the cover do the same like what I suggest how make a pinhole on body cap.

and you can use magnetic strip (can easily get from any stationary shops) to secure the RC print on the base of tin box, use black electrical wiring tape (can easily found in any hardware store) to seal the tin cover up for preventing light leak, and use black paper card to make a "lens cap cum shutter", you are ready to go.

btw, can make a few boxes, so you can take a few shots at one go.

[jinglejangle]

it's at the second floor. first shop you reach when you walk up the stairs. owned by an indian family if i'm not wrong. walk into the shop, turn left. you should see a few science kits there. stumbled upon it on one of my after school comic and icecream treat. (:

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by catchlights than you can find a biscuit tin something like this, at the center of the cover do the same like what I suggest how make a pinhole on body cap. and you can use magnetic strip (can easily get from any stationary shops) to secure the RC print on the base of tin box, use black electrical wiring tape (can easily found in any hardware store) to seal the tin cover up for preventing light leak, and use black paper card to make a "lens cap cum shutter", you are ready to go. btw, can make a few boxes, so you can take a few shots at one go.

thanks
i got my pinhole camera done already.
but its really difficult to make the aperture real tiny.

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by jinglejangle it's at the second floor. first shop you reach when you walk up the stairs. owned by an indian family if i'm not wrong. walk into the shop, turn left. you should see a few science kits there. stumbled upon it on one of my after school comic and icecream treat. (:

wow. i'll go look for it soon i guess. thanks!

[catchlights]

I use aluminum sheet cut from coke can, and make a tiny hole using sewing needle, the trick is to rotate the aluminum sheet instead of the needle, once the fine hole being made, use a finest sandpaper to sand the back of aluminum sheet, you should have a perfect round pinhole.

[jinglejangle]

heh i faced the same problem. i use aluminium foil for my pinhole. i scanned a roll, everything came out unclear and unfocused. haha. guess i gotta redo the pinhole.

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by catchlights I use aluminum sheet cut from coke can, and make a tiny hole using sewing needle, the trick is to rotate the aluminum sheet instead of the needle, once the fine hole being made, use a finest sandpaper to sand the back of aluminum sheet, you should have a perfect round pinhole.

thanks! i'll try that. i made the hole on a table. lol!

[berisshock]

Originally Posted by jinglejangle heh i faced the same problem. i use aluminium foil for my pinhole. i scanned a roll, everything came out unclear and unfocused. haha. guess i gotta redo the pinhole.

aluminium foil is a bit too thin i feel.
try using the foil from the milo tin, i think its much easier to handle

[jinglejangle]

way cool. i'll redo the thing and test again. btw, when you guys shoot with experimental pinholes, do you tend to scan or develop your rolls? or do you just process first and see if it is worth scanning and developing? my first roll was uber crap and i spent quite a bit scanning the entire roll. ):

[enivre]

actually I've read alumn is not a good material to use because microscopically it oxidises, causing the hole to be imperfect. shrug...

I personally have used alum from cans, seems okay except for the occasional flaring.

My latest ones I use brass from brass strips I bought from Art Friend. But brass is a lot harder to penetrate.