Even in this era of digital photography there are more pinhole cameras available to buy than there have been at any time in history. Okay, I don’t have any actual facts to back up that statement but simple search on eBay or Amazon would suggest that it is probably true.
Before you go handing over your hard earned (or ill gotten) cash have a look at what you are actually buying. Essential it will be a blacked out box with a very small hole on one side and some film at the other. I think the average house has all you’d need to make a pinhole camera.
- Try the PaperCamera.co.uk guide to Downgrading your iPhone.
- Convert a SLR or DSLR to take pinhole photographs.
A spare body cap for a DSLR or SLR can be adapted take pinhole photographs in about ten minutes. You will need a drill, a pair of scissors, some glue, a small piece of black paper and a pinhole. Check out the Making a Pinhole for Photography article.
Remove the body cap from the camera and place on flat surface. Drill a hole in the centre of the cap, about 10mm or 3/8 of an inch should be enough. Make sure that there are no ragged edges or dust from the drill you really do not want that stuff inside your camera.
If you have not already done so you will need to make a pinhole. Using a glue of your choice (I find super glue best) secure the piece of aluminium containing the pinhole on the side of the body cap that will face the film or sensor. Take care not to cover the pinhole with excess glue.
You could in theory attach your adapted body cap to the camera and try it out at this point however I would urge patience. Give the vapors in the glue a chance to clear completely. Just like dust and filings from the drill you do not want want them circulating around inside your camera.
Time to give it a go. Attach the body cap. You probably wont see much at first but give your eye a chance to become accustomed to the very low light levels.
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A pinhole camera is no good without a pinhole. Use this guide to make pinholes from the odds and ends you can find at home. It is quite easy to obtain pinholes as small as 0.2mm diameter. Pre-drilled pinholes are available from the store at www.PaperCamera.co.uk/shop.
To make a pinhole for photography you will need a pin, fine sandpaper and a piece of aluminium. The aluminium can be obtained from an empty drinks can.
Place a needle on the centre point and press lightly.
A small dimple will appear on the rear of the aluminium.
Use the abrasive paper and work the dimple until flat or the pinhole begins to appear. Repeat the process as necessary to obtain the desired pinhole size.
The size of the hole can be approximated using a ruler and a magnifying glass or by using a scanner.
The finished pinhole ready to used in your pinhole camera.
Image quality will be increased if the side of the aluminium facing the film is black. Good results can be obtained using spray paint, marker pen or by masking round the pinhole with black paper or card.
Even in this era of digital photography there are more pinhole cameras available to buy than there have been at any time in history. Okay, I don’t have any actual facts to back up that statement but simple search on eBay or Amazon would suggest that it is probably true.
Before you go handing over your hard earned (or ill gotten) cash have a look at what you are actually buying. Essential it will be a blacked out box with a very small hole on one side and some film at the other. I think the average house has all you’d need to make a pinhole camera.
Try the PaperCamera.co.uk guide to Downgrading your iPhone.
Convert a SLR or DSLR to take pinhole photographs.
A spare body cap for a DSLR or SLR can be adapted take pinhole photographs in about ten minutes. You will need a drill, a pair of scissors, some glue, a small piece of black paper and a pinhole. Check out the Making a Pinhole for Photography article. Remove the body cap from the camera and place on flat surface. Drill a hole in the centre of the cap, about 10mm or 3/8 of an inch should be enough. Make sure that there are no ragged edges or dust from the drill you really do not want that stuff inside your camera. If you have not already done so you will need to make a pinhole. Using a glue of your choice (I find super glue best) secure the piece of aluminium containing the pinhole on the side of the body cap that will face the film or sensor. Take care not to cover the pinhole with excess glue. You could in theory attach your adapted body cap to the camera and try it out at this point however I would urge patience. Give the vapors in the glue a chance to clear completely. Just like dust and filings from the drill you do not want want them circulating around inside your camera. Time to give it a go. Attach the body cap. You probably wont see much at first but give your eye a chance to become accustomed to the very low light levels.
A pinhole camera is no good without a pinhole. Use this guide to make pinholes from the odds and ends you can find at home. It is quite easy to obtain pinholes as small as 0.2mm diameter. Pre-drilled pinholes are available from the store at www.PaperCamera.co.uk/shop.
To make a pinhole for photography you will need a pin, fine sandpaper and a piece of aluminium. The aluminium can be obtained from an empty drinks can.
- Place a needle on the centre point and press lightly.
- A small dimple will appear on the rear of the aluminium.
- Use the abrasive paper and work the dimple until flat or the pinhole begins to appear. Repeat the process as necessary to obtain the desired pinhole size.
- The size of the hole can be approximated using a ruler and a magnifying glass or by using a scanner.
- The finished pinhole ready to used in your pinhole camera.
- Image quality will be increased if the side of the aluminium facing the film is black. Good results can be obtained using spray paint, marker pen or by masking round the pinhole with black paper or card.