Barrel with switchable pinholes

AgX · Jun 7, 2017

There is this Kickstarter project offering that barrel:
Dead Link Removed

There is a lot of chit chat on their site but no decent description at all. Neither the number of holes nor their make is stated.

The photos show a lens-like barrel with bayonet mount with instead of a focusing ring, a ring to select the holes by twisting.
Their seem to be the following holes:
0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.5, 0.8mm diameter

There are two disks with holes that can be twisted into the optical axis. One serrated one seemingly is the base, twisted by the barrel ring. The other disk contains the holes proper. The material and thickness of this disk is not given.

The idea is to be able to rapidly change from a hole that enables use of the viewer to the hole for exposing.

OptiKen · Jun 7, 2017

Interesting project. Too bad they don't have OM or LTM m39 or m42 mounts.
That's all I use

AgX · Jun 7, 2017

You only would need a lens-side bayonet part from a junk lens or an extension tube or even body cap and DIY that onto the pinhole barrel instead.

The question is how useful such barrel is.

ChuckP · Jun 8, 2017

Wouldn't you need a way to change the focal length when changing the pinhole? Like the ones used in view cameras that allow you to use different pinhole sizes optimized for the different adjusted bellows lengths. Or are they just letting you use various non optimum pinholes for the artistic looks?

AgX · Jun 8, 2017

In theory each pinhole size is optimal for a certain extension. In this case where the holes are rapidly growing this seems no issue to me.
I assume image quality is not what this thing is aimed at.

TheToadMen · Jun 8, 2017

You can't change focal length with this device itself. You could use tubes if you like. It's some kind of turet with different pinhole sizes. The largest one is meant for shooting a pinhole film. I believe a zone plate can be fixed too.

Example of pinhole movie: (not my type movie, but it shows the possibilities)

TheToadMen · Jun 8, 2017

The pinhole to mounting flange is 11.3mm, so the effective pinhole to film plane length is FFD + 11.3mm for each mount.

The FFD (Flange focal distance) of each camera mount below:

Canon EF: FFD = 44mm
Nikon F: FFD = 46.5mm
MINOLTA、SONY α（MA/A): FFD = 44.5mm
Pentax K/PK: FFD = 45.5mm
Olympus、Panasonic M4/3, MFT: FFD = 20mm
FujiFilm X: FFD = 17.7mm
SONY E: FFD = 18mm

For my Nikon camera this means:
1) focal length = 11.3 +46.5 = 57.8 mm (from pinhole to film plane)
2) pinhole 0.1 mm gives f /578 and pinhole 0.8 mm gives f /72. Not a bad range.

Calculating f-stop: f = l/d
(f = F-stop, l = focal length, d = diameter pinhole)

AgX · Jun 8, 2017

Have you got any hint that indicates the largest hole is for inserting a film?

TheToadMen · Jun 8, 2017

AgX said:
Have you got any hint that indicates the largest hole is for inserting a film?

Nope. I've asked them today if the Pinhole lens will have a zone plate included (wasn't decided yet) or if I could swap one myself. Will let you know when I've got an answer.

Jim Jones · Jun 8, 2017

The Pinhole Pro appears to have some serious limitations, especially in marketing. As OptiKen hinted, selling a LTM version with appropriate adaptors for whatever camera the buyer uses would be more economical and practical. Minimizing the overall length would extend the wide angle coverage, one of a pinhole's strongest points. If the construction is as good as the promoter claims, large format photographers may find it worth the introductory price. It is at least more elegant than the discs with multiple apertures used a hundred years ago. I mistrust anything that appears to be designed more for gadgeteers than for serious photographers.

redrockcoulee · Jun 9, 2017

TheToadMen said:
Nope. I've asked them today if the Pinhole lens will have a zone plate included (wasn't decided yet) or if I could swap one myself. Will let you know when I've got an answer.

That would be great as I ordered a K mount version. I think that the largest opening is for shooting video that is possible in a non film camera.

TheToadMen · Jun 10, 2017

redrockcoulee said:
That would be great as I ordered a K mount version. I think that the largest opening is for shooting video that is possible in a non film camera.

Not exactly, I can shoot a short movie with my Nikon F5 (but I see your point).

TheToadMen · Jun 10, 2017

TheToadMen said:
Nope. I've asked them today if the Pinhole lens will have a zone plate included (wasn't decided yet) or if I could swap one myself. Will let you know when I've got an answer.

I got this answer: "Thank you very much for backing us. Yes we are considering including Zone Plates in the Pinhole Art. We will be announcing more details and release it to our existing Pinhole Pro backers first before we release it to the rest of the public."

I told them I only shoot analogue so I won't be making pinhole movies. Maybe it helps? I think it would be nice to be able to switch between a normal pinhole and a zone plate with one twist on the "lens".

tezzasmall · Jun 10, 2017

Only just found this thread about this kickstarter and it seems to have finished...

Has anyone else enquired about backing / purchasing it still?

Terry S

TheToadMen · Jun 10, 2017

TheToadMen said:
I told them I only shoot analogue so I won't be making pinhole movies. Maybe it helps? I think it would be nice to be able to switch between a normal pinhole and a zone plate with one twist on the "lens".

Another reply:

"Actually we are already conducting research on zone plates - due to the precision design of the Pinhole Pro, if we add a zone plate to replace one of the pinholes, it means the zone plate has to be less than 3.6mm in diameter. It poses a manufacturing challenge as well as an optical one. We are planning to release a separate zone plate lens or integrate the zone plate into a redesigned future version of the pinhole lens."

John Koehrer · Jun 10, 2017

Not to denigrate the project but weren't plate with six shooter pinholes commercially
available several years ago from one of the pinhole(camera) makers?

Barrel with switchable pinholes

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