Hasselblad pinhole 'lenses'

eli griggs · Nov 20, 2022

Can some of you that have manufacturer's pinhole lenses for the Hasselblad 500 series or 'blad's earlier cameras, have images and experience that you can share about your use of these tools?

For example, I've got a German (I believe) the 75mm (duh) f256 apature lens which I like but sometimes wonder if a smaller stop might be something worth exploring for a less sharp photograph.

I, and others here would like to explore your thoughts and observations in this matter, so, Cheers and post when you can.

Light Capture · Nov 20, 2022

Smaller or bigger pinhole will result in less sharp result.
Reason to use different than optimal size can also be shorter exposure in low light or longer exposure in good light.
Smaller than optimal pinholes will produce less sharp results via diffraction and larger pinholes will produce less resolution.

Next incremental size will not affect sharpness significantly. For example going from 0.30mm to 0.35mm. Going from 0.30mm to 0.50mm will be readily visible.

Thickness of the pinhole material will also have significant effect on smaller pinholes. It won't have any influence on Hasselblad pinhole cap due to longer focal length and narrow angle of view. Effects are visible at over 100 degrees.

Nick Dvoracek · Dec 7, 2022

Mr. Pinhole can calculate optimal size (using Lord Raleigh’s equations) for any distance to the pinhole http://www.mrpinhole.com/calcpinh.php
For a brief experiment on how that affects the image

Diffraction Action: Six pinhole sizes at two distances from the image plane

One of the never-ending discussion points of pinhole photography has to do with the “optimization” of the size of the pinhole at a partic...

pinholica.blogspot.com

BrianShaw · Dec 7, 2022

xkaes · Dec 7, 2022

The size of the pinhole determines the focal length of the pinhole -- which is the distance between the pinhole & the film where the sharpest image is attained.

http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/pinhole.htm

The smaller the pinhole, the closer it needs to be to the film -- and vise-versa -- to get the sharpest results.

Sirius Glass · Dec 7, 2022

BrianShaw said:
View attachment 323513

Where can I buy a pinhole lens for the Hasselblad like that?

EDIT: I found on in the internet. Thank you for bringing this up.

MattKing · Dec 7, 2022

xkaes said:
The size of the pinhole determines the focal length of the pinhole -- which is the distance between the pinhole & the film where the sharpest image is attained.

http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/pinhole.htm

The smaller the pinhole, the closer it needs to be to the film -- and vise-versa -- to get the sharpest results.

I find this an interesting point of view.
I always think of it the other way around - the focal length determines the necessary size of pinhole - to get the sharpest results.
Probably because xkaes likes to build cameras around existing pinholes, and I prefer to fit pinholes to existing cameras.

xkaes · Dec 7, 2022

MattKing said:
I always think of it the other way around - the focal length determines the necessary size of pinhole - to get the sharpest results.
Probably because xkaes likes to build cameras around existing pinholes, and I prefer to fit pinholes to existing cameras.

It's a six of one -- half a dozen of the other.

eli griggs · Dec 8, 2022

The make of my 75 mm f250 Hasselblad pinhole is "Lochblende".

There is a code for sizes f16 - f1000, as follows;

B L E N D E N
R E I H E
16 22 32 64 90 125 180

250 360 500 720 1000

It's well made, well machines with a flat, black finish, heavily made and easy to fit into the camera lens mount.

lxdude · Dec 8, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Where can I buy a pinhole lens for the Hasselblad like that?

EDIT: I found on in the internet. Thank you for bringing this up.

Only German-made pinhole lenses by Zeiss are worthy of a Hasselblad.

Sirius Glass · Dec 8, 2022

lxdude said:
Only German-made pinhole lenses by Zeiss are worthy of a Hasselblad.

Where can I get one?

Arthurwg · Dec 8, 2022

BrianShaw said:
View attachment 323513

Who makes this pinhole? Have you used it?

eli griggs · Dec 8, 2022

BrianShaw said:
View attachment 323513

I really like your viewfinder.

Please, what is it marketed as, it looks like new construction to me?

Cheers

Arthurwg · Dec 8, 2022

Viewfinder is a Hasselblad sports finder.

BrianShaw · Dec 8, 2022

Arthurwg said:
Who makes this pinhole? Have you used it?

I don’t recall who the manufacturer was. It was store bought, though.

Yes, I’ve used this configuration a couple of times. Looks weird; Works great.

Edit: found the data sheet for the pinhole attachment.

Arthurwg · Dec 9, 2022

Thanks for that. I've used a Zero Pinhole camera with great success, but this one looks like a great alternative.

lxdude · Dec 9, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Where can I get one?

They don't exist. I was just sayin'...

europanorama · Dec 24, 2022

Custom Camera Building can make P67, M65, HBV pinholelenses. I have P67. one can exchange the lenses. and other lensplates can be used by using elastic tape. thread is quite coarse. maybe he can make better. or i dont know since pitch is small. i have his rotatshift lens 28mm shift at any position. FL will be a bit increased compared to normal register.

Sirius Glass · Dec 24, 2022

After receiving a pinhole lens cap from Custom Camera Building, which is f/220, I thought great with ISO 400 film that would be about 1/2 second based on Sunny 16 on a bright day. Then it dawned on me that with my Hasselblad CX there is no focal plane shutter and I have estimate the time. So what does one use to cover and uncover the shutter? Gaffer's tape might gum up the pinhole. Suggestions please.

BrianShaw · Dec 24, 2022

Fedora and foot taps. Use a fedora as a shutter and tap your foot fifteen times at a rate of 30 Hertz.

lxdude · Dec 26, 2022

BrianShaw said:
Fedora and foot taps. Use a fedora as a shutter and tap your foot fifteen times at a rate of 30 Hertz.

At my age. tapping my foot 15 times hertz like 30..

eli griggs · Dec 26, 2022

The rear baffles and mirror, with a holding cable release.

It throws opens the mirror and baffles when triggered and you just push down the cable lock release when through,bto close the baffles.

Resetting the mirror is just a normal rewind.

The mirror can be locked up, in advance, and the baffels only used but I do no see so much vibration risk keeping it down, before taking the long shot and so I do no use it.

eli griggs · Dec 26, 2022

lxdude said:
At my age. tapping my foot 15 times hertz like 30..

Use a credit size digital metronome, like my little, inexpensive, Sony to trigger and release the shutter/baffles.

BrianShaw · Dec 26, 2022

eli griggs said:
The rear baffles and mirror, with a holding cable release.

It throws opens the mirror and baffles when triggered and you just push down the cable lock release when through,bto close the baffles.

Resetting the mirror is just a normal rewind.

The mirror can be locked up, in advance, and the baffels only used but I do no see so much vibration risk keeping it down, before taking the long shot and so I do no use it.

Bingo

eli griggs · Dec 28, 2022

A little late but here are some snaps of my Hasselblad pinhole 'lens'.

Hasselblad pinhole 'lenses'

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