New metal pinhole camera

[StephenS]

The new EightBanners metal pinhole cameras are out. I got mine in the mail today and its a multiformat 120 camera capable of 6x12 images. Haven't played with it yet, but it's a monster - black and heavy. Kind of like the monolith from 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Probably the last pinhole camera I'll be buying for a while. I mean, how can anything top this one? It has a compass built into the top. What's cooler and more useless than that? It's the Red Ryder BB gun of cameras.

I'll end up sticking a zone plate in it and hope to have some fun. It's neat looking and has some clever design work that, to be honest, surprised me. I think they have photos up on the EightBanners website.

With awesome translations like this, buying one is a must:
"This series of very compact, the thickness of only 3cm. Provides a span devices, the elimination of approximately beside axis regulation more reasonable. To advocate metal camera users can best option panels use soft quality hides, access excellent feel."

Cool!

 

[Jeremy]

Stephen,

did you buy this direct or throught the unofficial eBay reseller?

any pictures from it to share yet?

 

[StephenS]

No, direct from a source in Hong Kong who runs the website. He knew I wanted a metal one and sent it to me as soon as it came out.

I saw a crazy thing on eBay - someone was selling an EightBanners wood camera for over $250!!!!! You can get the same thing new with shipping for $150 or less. Yikes.

I did quickly shoot a roll today on 6x12 mode just to see how bad illumination would be at the far edges. I'll process it tonight but it was simply a photo in the lawn so it wont be interesting! I've got some nasty old developer I'll use.

The camera does need a few tweaks. I need to sand down the slats that allow the format to be changed. No big deal and will take 5 minutes. Nothing to mod on the camera itself that I can see.

But thank God for the compass so I could navigate my way out of the front lawn.

 

[Greg_E]

Does it put the EXIF data from the compass on the film?

 

[StephenS]

Wow. Film looks great. Left film in overnight and had it sitting in bright sun for a while - no light leaks. Illumination at the edges looked very good from what I can tell.

I'm very impressed with this thing and I'll see what happens when I put in one of my homemade zone plates. I've never been a lover of wide formats, but I'm thinking I'll use this on the 6x9 setting quite a bit.

Oh, that wood one on eBay is $240 not including shipping - crazy.

 

[tormod]

Hi StephenS

Thank you for namedropping EightBanners

I have for a long time now been looking for the perfect pinhole to buy.. One that's not to expensive, but still good quality..

I surely think I have found the one now!

Or what do you think? ..I'm kind a new to pinhole..

 

[Greg_E]

I think I figured out what the compass is for. It's so that you can determine the direction of the sun for when you are out scouting for a shoot.

But I still wat to know if it's in the EXIF data on the film.

 

[StephenS]

I plan on using my 8 Banners quite a bit this fall. I've been so busy lately I haven't had time to use them.

The metal series are great cameras for the price. But I do like my original 6x6 wood version as its so compact. Not a huge fan of the panoramic formats so I'd be happier with a metal version in 6x6. They do have one, but its the ultra wide angle version.

 

[Greg_E]

Not a huge fan of the panoramic formats so I'd be happier with a metal version in 6x6. They do have one, but its the ultra wide angle version.

Yeah, me too. That's why I decided to make a more narrow angle of view:
http://www.f295.org/Pinholeforum/forum/Blah.pl?b-cm/m-1150676255/

It will let me shoot 35mm or 120 (at 6x4.5) with the backs that I have. Hopefully I can tame the light leaks. Probably try it out this weekend.