Laser drilled pinhole source

Rich Ullsmith · Sep 23, 2011

Done a little searching here and elsewhere without much luck. I know sources have been mentioned, but I can't find any here.

Looking to replace all my pholes with fresh laser drilled. Can these be made with a +/- .01mm tolerance? I have all my cameras set to about f250, that is, I did the math for the hole-to-film plane distance, and I made a few dozen holes and selected the ones closest to make the math work.

Anyways, a link or ref to a laser pinhole source would be great. Thanks.

BrianShaw · Sep 23, 2011

http://www.google.com/search?q=lase...8&startIndex=&startPage=1&rlz=1I7ADRA_enUS430

cazenll · Sep 23, 2011

Laser pinhole source

Try this link. http://www.lenoxlaser.com/index.php...ategory_id=3&gclid=CKvioZPrxJ4CFRQhnAod6laUqA

I used them before without any problems.

Louis

edp · Sep 23, 2011

I've bought the occasional pinhole off ebay, item 170697364060 for example. But part of the fun of pinhole photography is seeing what you get when you make your own holes, with their various different characters depending on roundness, size, thickness of the material, etc.

Steve Smith · Sep 23, 2011

Rich Ullsmith said:
Can these be made with a +/- .01mm tolerance? I have all my cameras set to about f250

Probably not. Could you measure them that accurately to verify them?

I'm sure they're more than accurate enough though, whatever the actual tolerance is.

I would like to be able to do this myself but the laser we have at work is for cutting plastics and doesn't make a mark on even the thinnest of foils.

Steve.

eclarke · Sep 23, 2011

Lenox Laser is a high precision outfit with a good product line for photography..EC

Klainmeister · Sep 23, 2011

You can scan in the pinhole and use photoshop to measure it....That's how I determined my f/stop.

O noes! Digital talks! I

BetterSense · Sep 23, 2011

You can do the same thing with an enlarger, a short lens and a ruler or pair of calipers.

Nicholas Lindan · Sep 23, 2011

Steve Smith said:
Could you measure them that accurately to verify them?

No problem at all - one uses an optical comparator, available from all the usual guilty parties:
http://www.nikoninstruments.com/Products/Measuring-Systems/Optical-Comparators

A tolerance of 10% (1/4 stop) in hole size is more than adequate. Don't forget that the 'optimum' hole size depends on the light wavelength, and as that varies over a close to 2:1 range so does the optimum hole. If one were to be ultimately anally retentive one would need one size hole for red subjects and another size for blue subjects.

I use my enlarger to inspect pinholes for roundness and size. Put the pinhole where the negative should go, put in a short lens and crank the head up. To make sure they have a razor edge to them I look for light reflecting off the sides of the hole.

SMBooth · Sep 23, 2011

Best place is here. http://www.f295.org/Pinholeforum/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283887930/ Earl is selling EMS pinholes in most required sizes

2F/2F · Sep 23, 2011

Lenox Laser makes a great product IME. Expensive, but if you are after the best sharpness you can get from a pinhole, it's the way to go.

removed account4 · Sep 23, 2011

i bought from william christiansen back in the day he was called
minute aperture ... he's on ebay and goes by the name "pinholebilly" .
great pinholes at a great price

here's an interview with him

http://www.withoutlenses.com/articles/interview/pinhole-is-pinhole

and here is his website
http://www.pinholeedun.com/Welcome.html

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Sep 23, 2011

Most accurate pinholes made by chemicals. There was a British or American inventors who tries to collect preorders and make 35mm camera pinholes. I think someone can may be remember them. After learning their names , contact with them and learn who does the etching. Again , may be at APUG or f295 , someone knows the company does these stuff.

Umut

Rich Ullsmith · Sep 28, 2011

Thanks for the resources, everybody.

About measuring diameters, I mounted my pholes on a 35mm slide and projected it, then a little algebra. I had a chance to put them under a scope with a micrometer slide, and they are surprisingly accurate.

debanddg · Sep 28, 2011

+1 to what Shane said... was going to point you to Earl anyways..

Jim Jones · Sep 28, 2011

Rich Ullsmith said:
. . . Looking to replace all my pholes with fresh laser drilled. Can these be made with a +/- .01mm tolerance? I have all my cameras set to about f250, that is, I did the math for the hole-to-film plane distance, and I made a few dozen holes and selected the ones closest to make the math work. . . .

There is little need for pinhole diameter accuracy finer than several percent, even for critical pinhole photography. There is nearly a 2:1 ratio between the largest and smallest diameter pinholes commonly used for each focal length. Nor do the popular pinhole diameter calculators closely agree. Carefully made by hand pinholes can be as clean and accurate as laser drilled ones. More important is selecting the correct diameter for the focal length, color of the light used, angle of coverage, and magnification ratio.

Tom Miller · Sep 28, 2011

I've used EMS apertures for years and they are Excellent. No need to spend any more than Earl's price.

Laser drilled pinhole source

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency