Christmas Goodies - Wise Counsel Requested

[jon koss]

It has been a while since I thought about buying a camera. It will be a while before my Rolleiflex is holding me back rather than vice versa. So my wife really caught me by surprise when she walked in with an internet ad in her hand, and then asked me if I would like a Lomo Fisheye Camera for the holidays. I was not familiar with it and eventually decided that it was a bit too funky for me. But... as long as the offer was on the table I asked if I could extend it to some other funky camera. Permission granted. Naturally I could think of nothing on the spur of the moment! I finally came up with the Zero Pinhole but I am sure there are other choices out there.

So, I would be eternally grateful if folks could toss out ideas for funky cameras that would make sense as a one-off gift. Pinhole would be dandy but it is not essential. Budget can run from el-cheapo up to moderate. Any type of format would be fine. The idea is not to fit the camera to my typical shooting, but to take a flyer and possibly have some fun and make some discoveries along the way.

TIA,
J

 

[Jim Jones]

Much of the pleasure in pinhole photography is in building your own camera; perhaps also designing it. Visit http://www.f295.org/ for a look into this interesting side of photography. Another site with much information is Dead Link Removed. The most extensive source information on pinhole photography is Eric Renner's Pinhole Photography: Rediscovering a Historic Technique, available from Pinhole Resource or online booksellers. Pinhole cameras can be expensive, or can be made or adapted from nothing but odds and ends. They can be designed for performance, or as works of art in themselves. In science and industry they have permitted photography impossible with conventional cameras. They have introduced children to photography. But don't give up your Rolleiflex. It's a great camera, too.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Much of the pleasure in pinhole photography is in building your own camera; perhaps also designing it.

Not for everyone, Jim. I take no pleasure in that side of it at all. But then, despite having taken a number of pinhole pics I'm proud of, I can't pretend to be a pinhole addict.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Greg_E]

Many people like the 8banners pinhole cameras.

Or you could always go with a Holga, or Lubitel for a toy.