Photo paper Vs. Film for pinhole photography

[beachboyslover769]

I don't go here but for my engineering class, we're working on making a pinhole camera. Which is cool! But I don't know too much about the difference between using photo paper vs film. (For extra context, my team doesn't want a supa sharp image. Not that we want an extremely blurry one either but somewhere in the middle would be cool!) In y'all guys experience, which one is perfect for this sorta pinhole camera?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I don't go here but for my engineering class, we're working on making a pinhole camera. Which is cool! But I don't know too much about the difference between using photo paper vs film. (For extra context, my team doesn't want a supa sharp image. Not that we want an extremely blurry one either but somewhere in the middle would be cool!) In y'all guys experience, which one is perfect for this sorta pinhole camera?

go for the optimal pinhole size and too sharp won't be your problem.

 

[cliveh]

If you mean black & white and not colour, then as a retired photography lecturer, I can tell you my students used Ilford multigrade paper, as it's quicker and easier than using film. Once dry you can contact print it onto another piece of paper to make the positive, or scan and introduce colour.

 

[beachboyslover769]

Thank you for helping me.... This will be of use.

have a wonderful January 16th

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to Photrio.
I tweaked your thread title a bit for those who might have missed the sub-forum you were posting in.
Have fun with your explorations!

 

[Donald Qualls]

The tradeoff on film vs. paper is cost (paper is cheaper per frame, MUCH cheaper than large format film) vs. exposure time (film will need much less exposure than enlarging paper) vs. processing convenience (paper develops in open trays under safelight, film develops -- usually -- in tanks and must be handled in total darkness unless in a light-tight container or developing tank).

Most beginners in photography and pinhole are well advised to start with paper. Exposure time in daylight will still be minutes rather than hours (vs. seconds for film in most cases), but the ease of handling and cost difference more than make up for taking a little longer.

That said, I've never done pinhole in paper -- mostly because almost all of my pinhole experience has been either with converted film cameras or with homemade pinhole cameras too small to work well with paper (Altoids or Altoids Gum tins, for instance), or Polaroid/Instax cameras that had their proprietary films.