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

[b00giebear]

What is your favorite commercially available pinhole camera, and why? What makes it worth the money? What makes it better than the competition?

 

[DWThomas]

I've never bought a commercially made pinhole camera, but from many years of participating in Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day and perusing the galleries from that, I am very impressed with the consistent results from Zero Image cameras. I can't recall names at the moment, but there are some others out there that just evaluated as objects of craftsmanship are amazing works of art, some of exotic woods, brass fittings, etc. What makes one better than the competition and/or worth the money depends much on one's personal goals for pinhole work.

My personal goal is to see what I can accomplish by my own handiwork, thus I make my own, but I certainly understand buying one too.

 

[TheToadMen]

I agree with Dave: make your own pinhole camera (or two or three) before you buy one.

But then you should try the RealitySoSubtle 6x17 once. Also a beautiful camera!, best to be used vertical.



(RealitySoSubtle 6x17, Fuji NPC 160 expired, exposed for 40 seconds)

 

[b00giebear]

Just to clarify, I don’t actually plan on buying a pinhole camera. I also prefer to make my own. I was wondering what makes them appealing to some.

 

[ransel]

I own one commercially made pinhole camera, a Holga. I have converted several old 120 film cameras into pinhole cameras. The craftsmanship of the wooden manufactured pinhole cameras are attractive to me, but the price...

 

[Andrew K]

I own about a dozen or so (plus maybe a 1/2 dozen cardboard pinhole camera kits I haven't assembled).

To explain I'm a camera collector as well as a photographer, so these have been acquired over the years for the collection (with a couple of exceptions).

A few cameras do "stand out"

35mm ONDU pinhole - the magnetic rear door and knob attachment is very clever, and it is beautifully made.

Wooden NOON 6x17 cm pinhole camera. I bought it because it was at a great price (I got 3 pinhole cameras for $150 delivered) - I couldn't make one for the price

Holga wide pinhole - 6x12 camera with a nice shutter function and convenient to use (once you re-glue the tripod socket back in - they all seem to fall out!)

Diana pinhole - why? Because the 3 lens pinhole is interesting - especially with the multi colored filter

Pinhole Blender - a metal tin fitted with a pinhole - you use a 35mm film run from cassette to cassette. It has a curved film plane, and depending on how far you wind you can either take individual photos or "blend" the pictures together.

Lensless Camera Co 5x4 Camera. The one I have had been converted to use a lens, and I had intended to convert it back to pinhole. But when it arrived form overseas I saw how awkward the film holder design was to use, and thought "there had to be a better way to do it", so made my own 5X4 pinhole..

Watkins Pinhole Lens - not a camera, but a wooden spring loaded pinhole lens with a swinging metal lens cap that could be mounted into the hole of any camera's lens board. Made around 1900/1910. Very clever design.

However I do have 2 favorites:

PIN ZIP - a cardboard pinhole camera taking 126 cassettes. I saw a picture of one when I was in high school around 1980, and was fascinated by it. I got one by mail order a few years later (my first international mail order purchase - and I mean mail order. A international money order was mailed in an envelope as payment, and as if by magic the camera turned up a couple of months later). Fun to use and the results are very "pinhole"

ZERO 2000. This was bought around 21 years ago, not long after they were first manufactured. It is an amazingly sharp, well made wooden camera from Hong Kong. I've taken my best pinhole photos with it.

And a honorable mention - around 20 years ago I met a photographer named Peter Bowes. He had designed and was building commercially a pinhole camera with an interchangeable front panel. When you bought a camera you got 2 lens panels with it - both with pinholes fitted. The flat panel gave 1 focal length, and the recessed panel could be reversed giving a wide angle or telephoto "lens". Mine was unique because it came with a 3rd panel for stereo pinholes..

Most of the cameras took 5X4 film holders. I used to own one that took 8X10 holders (sold a few years ago to Chris Reid in Sydney - the best commercial b&W printer in the country), and also one that was a fixed focal length that took RB 67 film backs. I recall Peter made one for himself that had a 20 inch focal length...that produced interesting results..

And I wish I had a Mottweiler P 90 panoramic camera - it is a true work of art. If only they were cheaper

Cheers, Andrew

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I have only one: a Zero Image 2000. It's the simple varnished wood version (not the Back To Earth series), no filter adaptor, no bubble levels, no cable release socket. Even so, it's pretty nice: I can put a spool of 120-format film in it and get 12 6x6cm photos. It's very convenient to use and I think it looks pretty nice. I love its very basic operation. The film scrolling past the little red window takes me back to childhood Brownie cameras.

I've used this camera far more than I thought I would. It's probably the only pinhole camera I'll ever have.

For amazing workmanship in metal, I did see this last year:

 

[locutus]

I have been thinking of getting one of these: Dead Link Removed

Seems to be the cheapest 8x10 pinhole i could find.

 

[TheToadMen]

I have two pinhole cameras from this guy and they are very nice! And he designed a very smart shutter mechanism.

https://www.facebook.com/NatashaPinholeCamera/

 

[jeffreyg]

I have an Ilford Titan 4x5 with both cones and have been very pleased. Simple, durable construction and fun to use. I usually scan the negatives to make proofs and then make platinum/palladium prints of the ones I like.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[KC2PED]

I have three commercial pinhole cameras
the one I use is the Reality So Subtle 4x5
I like it because it is solidly built and takes 4x5 film holders which means I can make twide as manc images as I film holders without going into a changing bag ad don't have to wait until I have finished exposing a roll of film to get it developed.
I also have an Ondu 6x12 Multi Format which has been giving me problems because my eyes are not seeing the contrast between the paper backing and the frame nubers in the little red window, and a PinholePrinted Clipper 6x18 which I haven't used yet but want to compare the results of the flat filmplane with those of the curved filmplane when I make the time
I have also built around a half dozen cameras using cigar boxes, lunch boxes and project boxes

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I have one and only one pinhole - a Travelwide. It was an ordeal obtaining it, but I love how lightweight and simple it is, and the images from it are very sharp for a pinhole, without the extreme falloff you get with some pinholes (you probably do lose a stop, stop and a half from the center to the corners, but you're not getting vignetting or 2+ stops of falloff). I need to load up some more 4x5 film and shoot that camera some more.

 

[winger]

I only have two commercially made pinhole cameras - the rest of mine are home-builds (usually with soda can pinholes). I agree that the film holder of the Lensless Camera Co. one is kinda odd, but I've used it in the field and had no problems with it. I really like the results I've gotten with it, too. The other I have is the Travelwide, but I had a lens for mine and put that on without ever trying the pinhole on it.

 

[rubbernglue]

Between my Ondu 6x6 and my Holga WPC 6x12 it is hard to set a favorite!

 

[mooseontheloose]

I have a Reality So Subtle 6x17 which I like very much, but haven't shot enough with yet. I also have a 6x6 Pinhole Blender (my first pinhole I think) and a HolgaWPC 6x12. Even though I don't shoot pinhole a lot, I've been thinking of getting a 4x5 pinhole since it would provide a larger contact print that what I can get with my current set up (can't enlarge any of them!).

 

[OptiKen]

No mentions of the Ilford Camera Obscura.
I don't have one but was hoping to get some opinions on them

 

[Ces1um]

Just bought a harman titan 4x5 and I've only run 6 sheets of film through it so far. I have little experience with these but I can say this pinhole is very robust and lightweight. Very pleased with my purchase.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Putting a pinhole lens on my Nikon N75 and F100. Very little extra to carry around.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Two, Zero Image 6x9 multiformat [6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9) pinhole cameras, the first bought in 2008 and the second, updated version in 2013. (f235 / 40mm). Fun, stimulating, ultra reliable, fitted with levels and cable release adaptor. Both cameras recorded more of my around Australia travels in 2011 than all the others thrown in just for the ride.

 

[rpavich]

I have made a few that actually did a good job! I've bought two so far: the Ilford Obscura which is a simple slide together box that takes 4x5 film/paper, and the Reality So Subtle 4x5 which is much nicer, with bubble levels on two sides, tripod socket on two sides and is pretty nice overall. It's not perfect, but I like it. I like it more than the Ilford because it takes 4x5 film backs. It's not better or worse, just different in that respect.

I also have a Holga 120 WPC wide which I bought from a member here but haven't finished the roll supplied with it yet.

 

[MattKing]

Noons 6x12 (adjustable format) pinhole camera.

 

[BradS]

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.

Lensless camera company 4x5:
I have an ongoing love-hate relationship with this camera. I've made my best pinhole photos with this plain brown box....I love the photos, I like the "plain wood box" design. It can be used without a tripod. I really like the shutter mechanism. I am not so keen on the back... I've often thought about cutting the back off and making a more conventional spring back kinda frame with little sliding clips to hold the film holder.

ZeroImage 2000:
I have the model with all of the extras, bubble levels, shutter cable release mechanism, the works...it is a beautiful camera and works well - although the back panel on mine doesn't fit quite right. Its not bad enough to let the dark out of the box but for the price, I expected much better quality. I really like the shutter cable release mechanism and the level. I would like this one better if it had a little longer focal length.

ZeroImage 6x9 multiformat:
I have the plain jane version without all the of the extras. It is beautiful and makes fine photos if you keep your film tight. I bought this one first and I use it the least. I like the 40mm focal length. The multi format part kinda irritates me though...120 roll film does not have markings for 6x7 so, that size is kinda pointless (and this is the size I wanted to use). The 6x9 is nice but...meh you really have to pay attention to what you're doing to keep the film tight. I almost never use this one...it still has an unfinished roll of film in it. I'm not even sure whether it is set up for 6x9 or 6x6...meh. Shelf queen. I guess I should sell it.

 

[Pioneer]

I have made several cameras over the years from oatmeal boxes and the like. I also have pinhole lens boards for a couple of my 4x5 cameras. The Wanderlust Travelwide and Intrepid 4x5 come to mind but I have honestly never used them.

But, the one I use the most is my Ilford Obscura. It is simple, easy to load, and has held up very well. It is very easy to throw it in a cardboard box and have it in the back of my Jeep with a box of film and inexpensive Arista changing bag. I'm sure there are several others that are equally as nice but I have never been tempted to buy another since this one showed up.

The only other pinhole that I have used is a pinhole camera cap for my Pentax Q. This one gets used just because it seems it is always on the camera when I take the camera out for a walk. I'm not sure it counts though.

 

[cliveh]

The Zen pinhole camera, because it is so simple.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I have one and only one pinhole - a Travelwide. It was an ordeal obtaining it, but I love how lightweight and simple it is, and the images from it are very sharp for a pinhole, without the extreme falloff you get with some pinholes (you probably do lose a stop, stop and a half from the center to the corners, but you're not getting vignetting or 2+ stops of falloff). I need to load up some more 4x5 film and shoot that camera some more.

Actually, now I also have a Vermeer 6x18 hemispheric pinhole - it's "hemispheric" because the film plane is curved, not flat, so the aperture is equidistant from all corners of the negative, so no fall-off or vignetting. It produces some interesting linear distortion if it is not framed level, plumb and square to your subject, but less than you would expect, because it's a pinhole.