Pinhole Basics

[Pianissimo]

I'm relatively new to pinhole photography...my main shooter was an oatmeal box with plain cut-up photographic paper until I got bored of it.

I'd like to use my SLR or DSLR (or even better, rangefinder) as a pinhole camera. I've already given the whole "poke a hole in the lens cap" thing a shot, it worked decently. However, I want to have a wider shot.

So basically from what I understand, the closer the pinhole is to the film plane, the wider the focal length will be. Which is a good argument for using the rangefinder - shorter distance between the the film plane and the lens mount, and no stupid DSLR cropped sensor...not to mention you can move the lens mount plane farther from the film plane thanks to the SC mount...yahoo! So basically, I still want to have the pinhole fairly inside the camera, right? But not too far so that the actual lens mount blocks out some of the image. How do I know when that happens? Anyone know? Should I just make my own DIY pinhole camera? I'd like to use my RF...

 

[Papercut]

there are FOV calculators out there that would answer your question mathematically -- as far as how far from the film plane to get the view you want, but you may just have to experiment with different lengths mounted on your specific camera to know when the mount itself stops intruding on the FOV. Might be easier to build a matchbook camera of the focal length you want ... but perhaps you will enjoy the challenge! 🙂 Good luck and post some images of how it goes!

also, you might want to register and try asking not-so-basic pinhole questions like this at www.f295.org -- bunch of pinhole fanatics there and they're both friendly and helpful 🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

Here is some more info on pinholes:

http://www.huecandela.com/hue-x/pin-pdf/Prober-%20Wellman.pdf

 

[dazedgonebye]

I can also recommend f295.org.

I've often thought of using a recessed lens cap of some sort to get wider angles out of a 35mm body. I've never gone through with it though.
I would think you could shave perhaps 10mm off the fl with a recessed cap of some sort without a problem. No way to know though until you try it. Or, you might find someone on f295.org that has tried it.

Here's a basic pinhole project using an old 6x9 folding camera. You might consider something like that. It gives me about a 45mm fl on 6x9...about 20mm on 35mm.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemphoto/sets/72157600694635077/

 

[Pianissimo]

Thanks for all of the helpful replies!

I'll definitely register there. When I first did pinhole photography I was not thrilled, but seeing this girl's photos completely changed my mind:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmpicket/
(particularly http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmpicket/3003455591/)
Of course most of her newest stuff is large format with the pinhole very close to the film, and I'm not expecting to get that wide with 35mm. But I do want to go decently wide.

I'm gonna go ahead and give it a try...right now it's nearly impossible to find any lenscaps for Nikon rangefinders, much less cheap ones, so I'm gonna make my own. Hopefully I'll be back with a project! : )

 

[neelin]

http://www.mrpinhole.com/index.php

design calculator

 

[dazedgonebye]

Thanks for all of the helpful replies!

I'll definitely register there. When I first did pinhole photography I was not thrilled, but seeing this girl's photos completely changed my mind:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmpicket/
(particularly http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmpicket/3003455591/)
Of course most of her newest stuff is large format with the pinhole very close to the film, and I'm not expecting to get that wide with 35mm. But I do want to go decently wide.

I'm gonna go ahead and give it a try...right now it's nearly impossible to find any lenscaps for Nikon rangefinders, much less cheap ones, so I'm gonna make my own. Hopefully I'll be back with a project! : )

She is a member at f295.org as well. Very inventive with her cameras and some real fabrication skills that I envy.

 

[amoebahydra]

The largest acceptable pinhole size can be obtained by Prober-Wellman formula. For daylight and object at infinity, the formula is as follows:

pinhole size in mm=0.03696 x SQRT (focal length)

I am using turret to hold laser-formed pinholes and zone plates of different size optimised for different focal length.

 

[dazedgonebye]

The largest acceptable pinhole size can be obtained by Prober-Wellman formula. For daylight and object at infinity, the formula is as follows:

pinhole size in mm=0.03696 x SQRT (focal length)

I am using turret to hold laser-formed pinholes and zone plates of different size optimised for different focal length.

Nice. Where did you get the turret?

 

[amoebahydra]

Nice. Where did you get the turret?

My turret was made by Pinhole Resources and placed order with Eric Renner who is the writer of Pinhole Photography.

http://www.pinholeresource.com/shop/index.php?keyword=turret&Search=Search&Itemid=2&option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse

 

[dazedgonebye]

My turret was made by Pinhole Resources and placed order with Eric Renner who is the writer of Pinhole Photography.

http://www.pinholeresource.com/shop/index.php?keyword=turret&Search=Search&Itemid=2&option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse

Wow. As cool as that is, I don't think I can swing $299 for it.