Pinhole with instax mini?

andreandrea · Aug 18, 2015

Hi all, my name is Andrea and I'm new on this forum.

I want to try to "build" my first pinhole camera and I would like to ask you a couple of tips.

I'm not sure how easy it will be to get the unexposed film out of the pack, but I will try! Can I use a red light in a dark room to make it easier?

I will also try to roll something over the exposed film what do you guys recommend? I was thinking a rolling pin or something like that.

Thank you all for your help!

AgX · Aug 18, 2015

Welcome to Apug!

You need to overrun the exposure automation, or even get rit of the shutter for good.

Instead of taking out the film pack in the dark (not in red light!), it would be more comfortable to use the built-in roller assembly. That means get access to the voltage cables to the eject/roller mechanism and control it still on the camera batteries, but on manual switch.
Best would be to to uinclude the end-of -ejection mechanism. I do not know the camera from ist inside, thusd it could become fiddly.

In case you want to take out the film pack and the film you could use a spare roller mechanism from another instant camera to be salvaged.

darkosaric · Aug 18, 2015

Welcome to APUG .
Pihole camera that uses instax mini film already exist: it is Diana F+ with instax back.

AgX · Aug 18, 2015

Well, I just made a fool of myself. (I'm not much interested in that Mini format, too small.)
Let's assume Andrea already got a Mini and does not want to spend more money...

darkosaric · Aug 18, 2015

Diana F+ with instax back is very expensive - I think around 150-200€ or so. Once I have seen a video that was promoting that every kid should make one photograph in life. Idea was that you get in a letter paper camera that has instax mini film inside, with pinhole, and you use a pen as a roller to get the chemicals distributed after exposure. It was a great video - and I can not find it now! Grrrhrhh!

4season · Aug 18, 2015

Hi Andrea,

Red light: Nope! You need to handle Instax film in complete darkness. You could get away with that if you were using orthochromatic (blue-light sensitive) film, but no such thing available in the instant-film world.

Rolling pin: Hmm, that might be possible but it'd require some precision. Need to be able to exert some pressure, but evenly, and you need to move smoothly too lest you cause visible banding due to the chemicals being spread unevenly. Thinking you may want to pursue a readymade solution else use the roller mechanism from a dead Polaroid or Instax camera? Have used a hand-cranked Instax rig (Lomography Belair X612 w/instant film back) which worked pretty good, but even then you had to remember to crank smoothly, not too fast and not too slow.

Fixcinater · Aug 18, 2015

I use a small changing bag for pulling Instax and Polaroid film out of the packs (and putting it back after exposing it to light in the camera!) and that works fine. Practice helps!

I've not seen great results with manual pencil or rolling pin processing so I just carry the Instax wide cam with me and use that for both the wide and Mini films.

darkosaric · Aug 18, 2015

I found it!

http://gadgetsin.com/flutter-in-pinhole-paper-disposable-camera-design-concept.htm

It this awesome or what ?

andreandrea · Aug 18, 2015

Thank you all guys! I can't wait to get the film! It will be funny to take the film out of the pack in total darkness I don't want to spend much, so I will try to use home made utensils!
You all have had awesome ideas!

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AgX · Aug 18, 2015

"home made utensils" = kitchen roller?

andreandrea · Aug 18, 2015

Yes! I was also thinking of using a pasta machine..maybe the film is too thin so I will need some "spacers".

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AgX · Aug 18, 2015

Fixcinater said:
I've not seen great results with manual pencil or rolling pin processing so I just carry the Instax wide cam with me and use that for both the wide and Mini films.

How do get the Mini films automatically through the Wide rollers? Or do you that manually?

Fixcinater · Aug 18, 2015

If you place the Mini film into the pack up against the side where the picking arm grabs the film, it pulls it through smoothly.

andreandrea · Aug 18, 2015

Fixcinater said:
If you place the Mini film into the pack up against the side where the picking arm grabs the film, it pulls it through smoothly.

Is there a gap between the two rollers? Or are they one against the other?

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Fixcinater · Aug 18, 2015

There's a small gap.

See this previous thread for some more ideas, seems even junker Polaroid rollers can do an acceptable (better than trying to squeeze a pencil down evenly) job:

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

andreandrea · Aug 18, 2015

Fixcinater said:
There's a small gap.

See this previous thread for some more ideas, seems even junker Polaroid rollers can do an acceptable (better than trying to squeeze a pencil down evenly) job:

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

Thank you

andreandrea · Aug 19, 2015

Ponhole people what do you think if I roll on top of the film a dumbell weitht (10-15kg?) So the pressure is even.

analoguey · Aug 19, 2015

darkosaric said:
I found it!

http://gadgetsin.com/flutter-in-pinhole-paper-disposable-camera-design-concept.htm

It this awesome or what ?

Beautiful concept!

andreandrea · Oct 10, 2015

Hello everyone! Finally I found some time to build my first pinhole camera! Here is my first photo

Fixcinater · Oct 10, 2015

Congrats! Did you use a pencil or other device?

andreandrea · Oct 10, 2015

Thank you! I used a pasta maker

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Pinhole with instax mini?

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