DIY 8X10 Pinhole camera

[nsurit]

Does anyone have any successful experience building an 8X10 pinhole camera? Anyone know of plans for such a beast? If not, does anyone have any experience/suggestions on cutting the slot into which the little ridge at the top of the film holder slips? I'm thinking of some sort of rubber band attachmnet structure like used on the Zero IMage cameras. Any ideas? Bill Barber

 

[SMBooth]

I can post you a photo of one. Quite simple really

Here is one for a foamcore. Just alter sizes and materials
http://pinhole.stanford.edu/foamcore.html

 

[nsurit]

Thank you for the plans. I'd originally planned on foamcore, however have changed my mind and will be using 1/2 birch plywood. Some of these dimensions will be helpful. Bill Barber

 

[DWThomas]

On my 4x5 version, I put a layer of black hobby foam on the surface the film holder rests against. I trimmed a groove in the foam where the locating rib on the film holder hit. The cut-out in the foam was such that the rib was just inside the opening except for the where it extended over the side frames. I've never had an 8x10 holder in my paws, but I imagine something similar could work.

 

[Jeff Searust]

Get a copy of Primitive Photography


By far the best book on the subject. I show it off in my class on film developing, and people are just amazed that such a book exists. It is the first book since the early 1900's that includes the entire process of camera making and emulsion making--- All of the old books started with first principles---

 

[jon.oman]

I made both a 4x5 and an 8x10 inch pinhole camera. The design was the same for both, with just a change in size:

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[jon.oman]

I made both a 4x5 and an 8x10 inch pinhole camera. The design was the same for both, with just a change in size:

I fat fingered the links to the last two images.....

 

[Klainmeister]

I made both a 4x5 and an 8x10 inch pinhole camera. The design was the same for both, with just a change in size:

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Love it, me wants! Actually, I am building something very similar in 16x20 soon, so take that!

 

[nsurit]

I have this book and yes, it is a good one. It doesn't however have plans for a pinhole camera. Plans for others but not pinhole. Bill Barber

 

[jon.oman]

Love it, me wants! Actually, I am building something very similar in 16x20 soon, so take that!

 

[jon.oman]

Here is an image taken with the 4x5 inch camera:



Here is an 8x10 inch image:

 

[Klainmeister]

What's your pinhole diameter for the 8x10?

 

[jon.oman]

400 microns / 120mm FL

 

[nsurit]

The project is coming along. I await a proper tripod socket from Skink and a 40mm drill bit and it will be ready to assemble. It is being constructed for an assignment in a printmaking class which requires it to be 3-D. Both the side boards are painted white and have screen printed copies of old drawings about how cameras/camera obscuras work. The top and bottom are black and the top has screen printed technical information on the camera. The front is a wood block carving depicting an eye and representations of day and night. A skink pinhole will be placed in the pupil. The front board has been inked and prints made from the wood cut, so it will be black (from the ink) and white/maple in the parts cut away. I'll post pictures when it is complete. Bill Barber

 

[nsurit]

Here is the camera near completion on its back in the paint booth.

 

[Klainmeister]

Hot damn! That is really beautiful. Well done sir.