Hi there

Kinetic · Sep 8, 2011

I want to build a pinhole camera.It is almost done.I still have problems to fix:when I take a shot, I have to measure how much I have to turn the film so they do not mix-up or if my pinhole design is ok(I mean in mm.)
This are the details:
imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/pinholedesign.jpg/

Focal length: 28mm
Pinhole diam: 1mm
F-stop: f28

I have an AgfaPhoto 200 film, Vistaplus.I guess it is too sensitive, I should go for a simple B&W film.I now this is based in general on trial and error but I do not really aford it...
Some help with the f28?I need some very clear data sunny-exposuer, cloudy -exposure )
Do I have an optimal pinhole camera design, to short exposures?
I am very new in photography, I am a simple amateur.Sorry for my rusty english and my chaotic way of writing, but the ideas and questions just pop-up.

I love this site, this is the place to learn real photography.

Best wishes,

Alex Cruceru.

Rick A · Sep 8, 2011

There is a web site dedicated to making pinhole cameras, don't remember where at the moment. I believe your aperture and f/stop is wrong for focal length, should be much smaller. I'll find the site and give you the url.

link to pinhole calculator:

http://www.mrpinhole.com/wiz.php

To find out how much to wind film between shots, use some spent film and measure how much is spooled for every revolution of the winder and extrapolate.

BTW, welcome to the clan.

Kinetic · Sep 8, 2011

Oh thanks for the site.I think I will redo the camera.I have to get one focal length and one pinhole diam. right.After that I guess is much easier.I admit, I like to make something with my own hands and put together something new, with my own system of winding the right.
Too bad that film do not wind a fix number of full 360 rotations.It would be so much easier.I have to make some marks on the top of the cam, under the nob , to get the right wind revolution.Yes, I did a small test with an old used film and it has something like ~130 degrees.
) I want to make this camera for me, for my problems with forgeting to wind, or how much did I wind, to stop the winding process when I do not use the camera , so on and so on.
Another little problem is that I can't get simple b&w films, all are for manual process.I do not have the place for a obscure camera or the knowledge(yet).Still I bought 2 Agfa APX ISO-100 professional.Hope I can get the negatives somewhere.

I am glad to be in the clan and I hope I will have some photos to share with you...sooooon!

Best wishes Rick,

Alex C.

Jim Jones · Sep 8, 2011

The site with much pinhole information is http://www.f295.org/site/

Kinetic · Sep 8, 2011

Thank you, thank you.Wish me luck!
And I think I will try to use polaroid film too(when I can afford it).

M.A.Longmore · Sep 8, 2011

.
Welcome To APUG Alex !
Please keep us updated with your progress.

Ron
.

Kinetic · Sep 8, 2011

One more question: can a Polaroid 300 1.8"x2.4" - be used for a pinhole camera? did some one try this? and maybe some tips about how to make the film appear? the film will be used in a box and not an old polaroid.I want to make this pinhole camera for both negativ film and instant film.
Good luck my pinhole-ing!

John Koehrer · Sep 8, 2011

You can make a camera smaller than a matchbox and as large as an airplane hanger.
There are no limits but it is easier if you can develop film or paper because you can also make paper negatives cheaply.

Kinetic · Sep 9, 2011

I agree john.I just have to know wich f stop goes for my focal length, then what exposure times I have to use for different type of lights(wich still bugs me, they are not really simple to get wich is for wich..I have a lightmeter on my android phone, still need to get to know to use it.I love the challenge!

bvy · Sep 9, 2011

If you're new to pinhole photography, or photography in general, I would start with a simple and proven design. Both of these are well documented:

Oatmeal box camera:
http://users.rcn.com/stewoody

This camera makes negative exposures on to 5x7 black and white paper. I would suggest Ilford Grade 2 RC paper, pearl or matte finish, developing in Ilford PQ developer and fixing with Ilford Rapid Fixer. You'll need a simple darkroom set up to load/unload the camera and develop the negatives. You can scan and invert the negatives or make contact prints. Anyway, the camera is a dead simple design and was my introduction to analog photography. For example...

Populist 35mm pinhole camera:
http://idea.uwosh.edu/nick/pinholephoto.htm

If you'd rather not mess around with a darkroom and chemicals right away, the Populist is a 35mm pinhole camera and can also be made from stuff around the house. I think it's a little harder to build and the final product isn't very rigid, which presents some challenges, but it's a good place to learn about camera design for this type of thing, and it is capable of good results. Again...

Romary · Sep 9, 2011

For the film for 135 film, I use the clicker system like : http://www.matchboxpinhole.com/clicker.html

Very convenient, even if people think you are stupid when you listen in a strange box you use like a camera.

1 mm for the diameter of you hole is really to big. I am not a big fan of formula (you can easaly find 10 different formula with different results, see here*). But clearly, 1 mm for a 28 mm focal will oblige you to very short exposures. You should try with a 0.2 or 0.3 mm hole.

ISO 200 can be OK. I use FP4+ and devellop at ISO 50. But 200 is still manageable.

Like bvy, I recommand the Populist, very fun and very good to start with.

*In French, but you will understand formulas and curves

Kinetic · Sep 9, 2011

Uff, I will use a bigger box, with which my phone came in.The focal length will be ~50 mm.The pinhole I think will be 1mm in diam.Still, I have to get wich settings are good for my film.

Kinetic · Sep 21, 2011

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This is iiiiiiiiiiiiiit! I've done it!!! Obscura , my pinhole camera .
)
I have my 1st film in it, a 35mm b&w.Hope I did this right.
F120
focal length ~52mm
f diam. ~0.42mm

Kinetic · Sep 26, 2011

Still waiting for the film to be developed :/

Kinetic · Sep 28, 2011

These are the photos

The photos are all fuzzy.I guess my hand moved the camera.I did stick it to solid things, but I do not think it made the trick work.The hole it is not really round maybe.Or it's the focal length? I should redo the hole?maybe smaller?Can you guys give me an advice?
The camera is ok, I've done it so I could use it for years, I hope )

Cheers and thank you for your help.

Romary · Sep 28, 2011

I do not have the impression you moved. It seems to me that more link to size of the hole of its shape. Aloso it is a 135 film. This is clear with pinhole very rapidly when you enlarge such format you got blur photo.

But this is pinhole and hand made pinhole, so, do not expect to have sharp pictures.

An example of what I do with matcbox pinhole, your photo are very sharp compare to this one

An other example with a Populist

Kinetic · Sep 29, 2011

I love your photos.They look great.Romary maybe you are right about the size and shape of the pinhole.That is why I will try today to change it, make it better.I found an old watch , it has small pieces put small holes too.Maybe I have a chance of getting that perfect pinhole.
And Romary, can you post some more pictures done with your pinhole camera?I would really enjoy them.

Best wishes.

Steve Smith · Sep 29, 2011

John Koehrer said:
There are no limits but it is easier if you can develop film or paper because you can also make paper negatives cheaply.

And with Ilford's direct positive paper, you can make positives,... directly!

Steve.

Kinetic · Sep 29, 2011

I want to know how to use them properly.Are these ilford's expensive?

Steve Smith · Sep 29, 2011

I haven't used it myself but here is some information direct from the manufacturer: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/download.asp?n=794&f=20108271643311748.pdf

Steve.

Romary · Sep 29, 2011

Kinetic said:
I love your photos.They look great.Romary maybe you are right about the size and shape of the pinhole.That is why I will try today to change it, make it better.I found an old watch , it has small pieces put small holes too.Maybe I have a chance of getting that perfect pinhole.
And Romary, can you post some more pictures done with your pinhole camera?I would really enjoy them.

Best wishes.

Thank you, that always pleasing when somebody tells you he likes you photos

How can I resist to that question

Pinhole on my blog (texts are in French, but photos are intenational ), comments welcome in whatever language

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

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Kinetic · Sep 29, 2011

Wow , these are great.Congrats Romary!

Hi there

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