The Pinhole Project: Revisited.

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Stephanie Brim

Mental Experimental.
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I'm trying to get into this in earnest now and I have a plan...but I need materials. Unworking medium format box cameras and such may be helpful as well as any spools from 120/220 film that you don't need. My goal is to actually make two cameras: a medium format normal pinhole and a medium format panoramic pinhole. These are, of course, just fun workshop projects that may or may not work...but it's the work that counts. Keeps me busy and all that.

Frankenpinhole is sitting in pieces at my desk while I try and figure out a better way to use it. I'll probably still use the shutter assembly from the Falcon Miniature...it seems to be a very easy way to do things.
 
Suggestion. Make the panorama pinhole camera first and then make a film gate mask to convert it into a normal camera.
 
I guess I could donate a couple spools to the cause. I'm new to the discussion- what's this "Frankenpinhole"? Is there hope for it yet?
 
The Frankenpinhole is the combination of a Falcon Miniature and an unworking Argus C4. The Argus holds the film while the Falcon's shutter assembly allows for an actual shutter. The pinhole is made from a piece of tin foil between two thin rounds of cardboard. It's a monster.
 
If you ever want to print the panorama negs in an enlarger, you want to think about the format. A 6x12 needs a 4x5 enlarger, 6x17 would need a 5x7 enlarger, 6x24 would need an 8x10 enlarger. 4x5 enlargers are more available, enlarging lenses are easier to find for them, and they are cheaper than 5x7 enlargers. 8x10 enlargers are in a world of their own.
 
I'd probably just contact print at first...then I'd find someone here in Iowa with a LARGE enlarger if I wanted to print them. ;)
 
Have you tried making a matchbox pinhole, for 35mm? :) I did that several months ago, was fun and had some interesting results.
 
I know that I can make things that would work with the cameras I have, but this is mainly an arts and crafts project with something useful coming out at the end of it. I actually want to spend the time to build the things. It's fun, educational, and makes me appreciate those who build cameras.

But anyway, the plan is this: a trip to Hobby Lobby this weekend should yeild plenty of materials. I'm going to be working with mostly foamcore because it's easier to cut than wood and very easily glueable.

Have I mentioned how much I liked Arts and Crafts in gradeschool? :D
 
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Stephanie,
When I was building pinhole cameras, I found one of the more important but less glamourous things to have was a good, smooth, flat surface for gluing on. Something that my glue wouldn't stick to. I got (from a kitchen/bath remodeling place but something like Lowe's or Home Depot would probably have 'em as well) a granite tile. 12"x12", very flat, and elmers won't stick to it. Ceramic tile might work also but I couldn't find anything big enough that was also smooth and really flat. The peice I got had a chipped corner and so was cheap; 5 or 7 bucks. It made a very good building surface. Very thick glass would work pretty good too but I got the granite first.
Rob
 
Stephanie,
why don't you use an Holga? You could have a 6*6 box for a song. I've done that with my Holga turning it into a pinhole camera.
Marc
 
I made one out of a brownie box camera once.. I tore the thing apart and broke/fixed the mechanism so it would stay open and not reclose or something. It's been a while! I might suggest as far as the pin hole is concerned to get a small piece of brass, very thin, and then talk to a jeweler and ask if they will drill a tiny hole for ya. its much more precise and gives a sharper image I have found!
 
Thought I'd update this. I'm planning to start building at least one and maybe even two cameras within the next week: one I'm calling the Kodak Pinhole that cannibalizes the box Brownie I have (I'm using the guts) and one I'm calling the WAPPC (Wide Angle Panoramic Pinhole Camera). The panocam is going to present an engineering challenge and I'm excited. When I do something, I really have to *do* something, you know?

The one thing that I know is that the film is likely going to have to slightly curve...I'm still trying to figure out how best to do that and still have the camera be light tight. Maybe I'll draw something up and go scan it somewhere so that I can show you guys what I'm thinking.

But yeah, so I'm making progress. It's a lot of fun.
 
Exposure. My pinhole is f138 and takes 2 seconds a bright day and 10 seconds on a dull day, and half an hour on a really dull day. You need a tripod and some time. All ISO 100. Distance from pinhole to film plane is your equivalent focal length, mine is 12mm and without a viewfinder it's a bit hit and miss.
 
I'm going to try and get mine around f/100. For the pano, I'm going to TRY and make it a focal length of 45-55mm depending on how it works...I'll try things before I make the final camera. The Brownie is going to be around 75mm.
 
Yeah, but I'm going to use rollfilm. I think it'll be the easiest and most economical way for me to do things. I can get 10 rolls of Arista EDU Ultra ISO 100 film for about $14. Foma. Dev in Rodinal and I'll have myself some really nice negatives.
 
Think its possible to modify a 110-micro camera into a 135mm? Along the same vein as a pinhole, or possible remove the 'lens' and keep the shutter button mech?

Worth tearing apart that little plastic box? or merely make a 135mm from scratch??
 
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