What is your favorite commercially available pinhole camera, and why?

[Ces1um]

I have a few commercially made pinhole cameras. Here's what I think about each of them....

Mike Walker's Ilford/Harmon titan 4x5:
This camera is brilliantly designed, wonderfully light weight, sturdy and makes fantastic photos. I really, really like it. It is well worth the price. However, as good as it is, there are a few little things I think could be improved upon. First, the shutter...there is only the lens cap and sometimes it sticks a little going on or off. It doesn't seem like a big deal until you use this thing in bright sun. It is a "lack of confidence" kinda thing for me...and it keeps me from using it as much as I would otherwise...second, the back. I love that it holds a 4x5 film holder perfectly. I wish it also held a roll film holder. I shove little wedge shaped sticks of wood between the roll film holder and the camera rails to make it work but, it is very much non-optimal. Finally, I would like very much if there were some way to attach a filter.
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re: lens cap- cradle the lens cap in your hand and pop it off while keeping your palm against the front of the camera. Then use your hand as the shutter. Once the exposure is over keep your hand on the front of the shutter and put the dark slide back in place using your "shutter hand" to sturdy the camera. Then you can put the cap on at your leisure.

re: filter- I haven't done this but I hear people have taken plastic filters and taped them onto the inside of the cone rather than in front of the pinhole. I also wonder if you could just bluetack a normal circular filter again on the inside of the cone.

 

[mooseontheloose]

The Dead Link Removed has a filter ring - I just got one myself and hope to try it this weekend with some infrared film if the weather cooperates.

 

[Lanline]

Can anyone tell me what happened to the 6x18 Clipper? I see it listed online, but it's never available. Does anyone know what they are not being sold as a finished camera?

I just bought just recently the plans and hired a 3D printer to make one for me.

 

[narsuitus]

I use two 120 roll-film pinhole cameras: the Holga 120WPC and the Zero Image 6x9.

The Holga comes with a 6x9cm mask and a 6x12cm mask. However, since I do not have the 6x12cm mask, I only use my Holga to shoot 6x9cm images.

The Zero Image 6x9 comes with two dividers that allow me to shoot 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, or 6x9cm images. However, since I have no desire to shoot any of the smaller aspect ratios, I only use it to shoot 6x9cm images.

When I shoot 6x9 images, I am able to capture 8 images per roll of 120 film.

The Holga is made of plastic. The Zero is made of wood.

The Holga has a .3mm pinhole size and a 51mm pinhole to film plane distance.

The Zero has a .18mm pinhole size and a 40mm pinhole to film plane distance.

Both have tripod sockets.

The Zero cost twice as much as the Holga.

Of the two, the Zero is my personal favorite.


120 Pinhole Cameras by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Lanline]

I have both cameras, of the two I tend to favor the Holga.

I use two 120 roll-film pinhole cameras: the Holga 120WPC and the Zero Image 6x9.

The Holga comes with a 6x9cm mask and a 6x12cm mask. However, since I do not have the 6x12cm mask, I only use my Holga to shoot 6x9cm images.

The Zero Image 6x9 comes with two dividers that allow me to shoot 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, or 6x9cm images. However, since I have no desire to shoot any of the smaller aspect ratios, I only use it to shoot 6x9cm images.

When I shoot 6x9 images, I am able to capture 8 images per roll of 120 film.

The Holga is made of plastic. The Zero is made of wood.

The Holga has a .3mm pinhole size and a 51mm pinhole to film plane distance.

The Zero has a .18mm pinhole size and a 40mm pinhole to film plane distance.

Both have tripod sockets.

The Zero cost twice as much as the Holga.

Of the two, the Zero is my personal favorite.


120 Pinhole Cameras by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Arthurwg]

I use a Zero Image 6x9 and love it. I have only shot 6x9 but plan to try 6x6 on my next outing.I often crop from the 6x9 to a square anyway. The 40mm FL should be perfect for 6x6, which is the format I prefer with lens cameras. I did buy a Reality So Subtile 6x12 camera. It's beautifully made and I like the choice of two pinholes (high and low horizons) but it is very difficult to load and I have not had much success with it as yet. I also bought a 6x12 Holga pinhole that I have yet to try.

 

[jrhilton]

Holga 120wpc - assume they are still made. Best for me as it is very enjoyable to use and takes great images. Suspect I have been lucky - my original plan was to replace the pinhole with a laser cut one but after using it never felt the need.

FP4 at 50iso with stand development and then scanned works for me.

Also when I bought it (around 2008 I think) it was very cheap, much less than other ones on the market at the time.