Wooden Pinhole Camera Plans?

Lucasgf · Jul 25, 2014

Hi all,

Would anyone have any plans or instructions on how to make a wooden pinhole camera? I don't mind what format, but preferably something I can find quite easily. I'll keep you all updated on how it's going if I manage to make it this week!

Thanks,

Lucas

DWThomas · Jul 25, 2014

Well, what I have is more of a concept than a do-it-yourself document, but there's a PDF file on my website and pictures of possibly more than you wanted to know in my PBase galleries. The camera uses a standard 4x5 filmholder. All of my lens-less efforts except for some stuff that just happened this week are accessible at the next level up.

A year or so back I expanded the concept to an 8x10 version, but filmholders are a bit brutal price-wise.

(I must have done a good job documenting the 8x10 -- a few months back a guy left a comment wanting to know "... where can i buy this kit camera.")

Hope that helps a little.

Jim Jones · Jul 25, 2014

Jon Grepstad has a site with pinhole photography, including links to information on several homemade view and pinhole cameras: Dead Link Removed

ciniframe · Jul 26, 2014

Look on Youtube. Search for 'build 4X5 pinhole camera' and there are a few that show up. Most presume moderately well equipped wood shop tools.

There is one titled "how to make a wooden pinhole camera", about 10 min. long that shows a fairly basic design that, if accurately made, can work well.

yellowcatt · Aug 10, 2014

Try this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Wooden-Pinhole-Camera-by-Scott-Yu-Jan/

grahamp · Aug 10, 2014

Basically it is just a box with a pinhole on one side and a way to clamp a film holder on the other. Mine is made from a wooden cigar box.
http://grahampatterson.home.comcast.net/~grahampatterson/grahamp/pinhole/index.html

DWThomas · Aug 10, 2014

grahamp said:
Basically it is just a box with a pinhole on one side and a way to clamp a film holder on the other. ...

This nails it! I admit, as someone who has "made stuff" since early childhood, I can easily get a bit carried away with building stuff, but I sometimes suspect we over think these projects. As of a year or so back, the WPPD site allows pictures of the cameras used, as well as the results. You will see that there are near-infinite ways to get there, and most produce some sort of result.

It's also a question of what you want -- I posted this link once before: Saltine Thirteen. Yes I admit it used a bit zapper, but the technology is somewhat irrelevant.

nsurit · Aug 11, 2014

I started with a known pinhole size and a filmholder and worked from there. It was relatively easy math and didn't require any real difficult carpentry skills. I did have access to a table saw and a drill press which made it easier. My joints were reinforced and once I had it together, I used some DIY "Light Be Gone" to coat all the joints before paining the inside flat black. The DIY "Light Be Gone" was PVA glue and India ink.

cliveh · Aug 11, 2014

If you buy a Zen pinhole camera (available from my web site) you will have the basis of an idea for a perfect wooden pinhole camera design.

jon_G · Oct 16, 2015

Jim Jones said:
Jon Grepstad has a site with pinhole photography, including links to information on several homemade view and pinhole cameras: Dead Link Removed

Please note that in October 2015 my website is moving to: jongrepstad.com

Jon Grepstad

Wooden Pinhole Camera Plans?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency