pinhole redux!

[maxn]

Hi All,
I just got back into pinhole after almost a 4 year "break" from it. This
is the best image from my new cardboard camera in the past few days:

Also, in case people are interested, I have plans for an 8x10 multi shot
pinhole design which works pretty well. The only thing that isnt ideal is a
change in the "focal length" depending on the shot number. This can
be mitigated by a smarted choice of material than Lexan, though. Anyway,
its a cheaper solution than an 8x10 field cam + holders and is fun to build
(like all ponhole cams!). Tell me what you think:

http://perutz.salk.edu/~mnanao/pinhole/plans.html

max

 

[John Bartley]

What do I think ?

Hi All,
I just got back into pinhole after almost a 4 year "break" from it.

I think it's an absolutely COOL idea I think your woodworking skills are also to be commended, not just the design and the resulting photograph.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Also, in case people are interested, I have plans for an 8x10 multi shot
pinhole design which works pretty well. The only thing that isnt ideal is a
change in the "focal length" depending on the shot number. This can
be mitigated by a smarted choice of material than Lexan, though. Anyway,
its a cheaper solution than an 8x10 field cam + holders and is fun to build
(like all ponhole cams!). Tell me what you think:

http://perutz.salk.edu/~mnanao/pinhole/plans.html

This is similar (but reverse operation) to a design I've seen on f/295, the pinhole photography group -- which, itself, was a reinvention of the falling (glass) plate cameras that were sold in 4x5 size from around 1890 until about 1920 or so. The original falling plate cameras had a mechanism that move the plate stack forward to maintain the same film plane through all exposures, and I think the one on f/295 also does so -- one advantage of falling plates.

Bad news is, for a pinhole camera, you have to have a "focal" length longer than the vertical dimension of your film. Good news is, you don't have to have expensive 8x10 holders or reload in a changing bag to take more than one shot.

I'm working on a design that may solve both problems -- a rotary multi-holder design that will produce a wide-angle camera capable of three or four shots. Made in a three pound coffee can or gallon paint can, it might be possible to accomodate 8x10 in one.

 

[maxn]

thanks for the comments! Donald, I'd love to see your design. I'm getting back into it, but I'm
living abroad (France) and dont have the tools etc to re-make my multi shot, so I'd love to
see alternative methods.

I forgot to mention that it has a tripod mount too. This inspired even stranger looks and more
questions, if that is possible, than when I was shooting with my Toyo 45AII. As an added
note, if you guys are sick of questions about your LF/pinhole rigs, try understanding them and
answering them in a language that you barely speak!

 

[Donald Qualls]

Max, most of my pinhole stuff is going on f/295 now -- if you're interested in pinholing, that's probably the place for it (the whole place is pinhole, like this whole place is film). There aren't a huge number of active members, but that also means it's easier to keep up with the traffic on the forums there, and everyone there is a pinholer or wants to be a pinholer.

That's where I'll post the construction photos of my rotary. Basic synopsis, however: a rotating unit inside a round cookie tin will hold three (or in a larger tin, four) 9x12 or 4x5 (depending on the tin) films, with an indexed operating knob on the bottom of the camera. Top loading, of course, and yes, it'll have a tripod mount.

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

Donald, there are some gargantuan (ok, semi-gargantuan) industrial size Danish butter cookie tins out there. I have bummed a couple empties so I didn't have to patronize the politically-incorrect store than sells them :O)

Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I'll guess it's a 2-2.5 gallon cookie cavern, uh, can. I guess that's no big deal, considering there are 55 gallon drums, garbage cans, etc. Nice typical cookie tin id.

M

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

Cookie tin LID, not ID.

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

Oh, BTW, MAXN, I like the original image. The contrasting curves are interesting and the wall at right gives a huge depth perspective.

Theh plans are always interesting and helpful to see also.