View Full Version : Um...I made a pinhole...
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 11:27
I have a problem with shake, though, on the tripod, due to it not being a body that I can use a cable release with. The wind didn't help either. I'm debating whether or not to put this rig on the front of the Canon P using something...it may be fun to actually take with certain places. The pinhole is made with a screwdriver (strange, I know) in a piece of electrical tape (even stranger). Whatever works I say.
http://mentalexperimental.org/photos/pinhole101.jpg
Pay no attention to the drying mark. I wanted to get them scanned so badly that I blowdried them and didn't bother with my usual wash in distilled water.
ClaremontPhoto
03-24-2006, 11:31
It's about as bad as my pinhole shots.
a screwdriver - are you sure the hole isn't too big? that could cause unsharpness as well. I used the thinnest needle I could find and I got pretty sharp results using a shoebox and some photo paper.
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 11:36
I figured I'd try again with a needle. I have plenty of the tape.
Why are you making the pinhole in tape? An easy alternative with a bit more sturdiness is a chunk of an aluminum can.
A screwdriver hole will be WAY too big.
allan
ClaremontPhoto
03-24-2006, 11:40
My pinhole is 0.25mm. f138.
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 11:40
The little metal tip of one side of a flathead screwdriver. Not the entire screwdriver. ;)
I've read that aluminum foil is a good medium to accept a pinhole.
The simplest way of making a pinhole camera is just to drill a hole in the center of a camera body cap, tape aluminum foil over the hole, and prick it with a pin. If the metering of the camera is sensitive enough, it will time the exposure for you.
dazedgonebye
03-24-2006, 11:43
Cool. I still think this is amazing.
Why does the hole have to be so small?
I should just go read....
The smaller the hole, the finer the detail it is capable of rendering.
Too small though and something called diffraction degrades the image.
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 11:46
I kinda like the blurry feel to these. It's kind of interesting, really. I would, however, like to try and get a bit more sharpness...but not TOO much.
Brian Sweeney
03-24-2006, 11:47
I like it!
Anyway, thick aluminum foil is better. And a needle is better to make the hole with. Now where is my pinhole photography book.... saw it clearing out the basement. Found a cool 4x5 oscilloscope camera, put it in "The Box"...
dazedgonebye
03-24-2006, 11:51
The smaller the hole, the finer the detail it is capable of rendering.
Too small though and something called diffraction degrades the image.
Just like glass lenses...I see.
cp_ste.croix
03-24-2006, 11:51
my first pinhole camera wa made with a Nestle Quick can...I wish I still had it...I like it Steph, though only if you say it's a pinhole, otherwise it's just a fuzzy neg :P
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 11:53
I'm going to try again with a pin to see if I can get anything better. Then I'll take a photo with it inside...somewhere. It'll take a longer exposure, though. Blah.
If you use extension tubes (slr gear) between the bodycap/pinhole and the camera, you will increase the focal length of the "lens". The distance between the film and the "lens" is the focal length.
Hey, how about pin hole self portrait nudes?
dazedgonebye
03-24-2006, 11:56
Hey, how about pin hole self portrait nudes?
Sorry Frank, I don't do that sort of thing anymore.
Wait...you probably meant Stephanie! :confused:
Hey, how about pin hole self portrait nudes?
You're a little too hairy Frank. It would degrade the image!
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 11:57
Oh, and I call it the Falcargus Pinhole. I'll take photos of what I did later on. ;)
Todd.Hanz
03-24-2006, 12:09
a screwdriver - are you sure the hole isn't too big? that could cause unsharpness as well.
Unsharpness? From a pinhole? :)
The pinhole is made with a screwdriver (strange, I know) in a piece of electrical tape (even stranger).
Not a bad start. Replace the tape with heavy cooking foil and the screwdriver with a small needle (make sure you don't leave any raged edges on the hole) and you'll have good little camera.
Tape the box you're using to a weight of some kind to eliminate the shake.
Peter
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 12:26
I'm not using a box. I'll explain what I did.
I got an Argus C4 in the box-o-cameras that I bought last year that had a bad shutter. I took that body and took apart the Falcon Miniature that I bought from a seller on Ebay for the shutter assembly. It has a shutter that you can hold open for as long as you want. It will also hold itself open, but I didn't kow that at when I took this photo...I just found that out right now. ;)
It's an interesting rig, to be sure. I promise to take photos.
ClaremontPhoto
03-24-2006, 12:38
Use the point of the pin, not the whole pin. It has to be really small.
dazedgonebye
03-24-2006, 12:39
I'm going to a camera show tomorrow. Maybe I'll see if I can pick up an old box camera for a similar toy.
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 12:50
Well, the pinhole is tiny. I think this may work. I'll let you know...I'll be developing negatives later tonight.
Brian Sweeney
03-24-2006, 13:04
Frank! Go buy some 50's and stay out of trouble!
And there are Two old Kodak Box cameras in "The Box", a Polaroid 250, another Polaroid "Countdown 90", and a really big O-Scope camera with a 4x5 Graflex back, with a Shutter, .... Good Pinhole Stuff... Still going through boxes...
BRian, as long as that pinhole is 5cm from the film, I'm good. :)
Stephanie Brim
03-24-2006, 13:26
Mmm...Graflex. Just so you know, I actually *am* getting a Graphic. Don't know which yet, but I will be. Out of curiosity, what's the shutter on that camera? :p
So now you are getting a graflex? So no @home E6 for you?
Different day, different plan, eh? :-)
allan
Thats why they call it a PIN hole camera, use a pin to make the smallest hole possible. You have invented the screwdriver hole camera.
robert blu
03-24-2006, 22:24
Good start Stephanie ! Pinhole photography always gives emotion before, during and after the shot! For your info april 30 will be the
"Worldwide Pinhole Photography
Day (WPPD), a global event celebrating the fantasy, art, fun and
experience of lensless photography, will occur on April 30, 2006.
All photographers around the world will be invited to take a picture
with a pinhole camera during the 24 hours of Sunday April 30 and
upload it to http://www.pinholeday.org . A photo by each artist
will become part of the international Web gallery on the WPPD site."
It would be great to see a picture of yours in the gallery.
Brian Sweeney
03-25-2006, 04:44
Mmm...Graflex. Just so you know, I actually *am* getting a Graphic. Don't know which yet, but I will be. Out of curiosity, what's the shutter on that camera? :p
The O-Scope 4x5 camera has a Bausch and Lomb leaflet shutter with T, B, and 1s through 1/100th second.
But I may have a spare lens in shutter for the speed-graphic.
What are you getting???
bmattock
03-25-2006, 05:00
I'd pose for a nude pinhole self-portrait, but you'd think it was raw cookie dough. Nobody wants to see that.
Rick Waldroup
03-25-2006, 05:45
Stephanie, have you thought about a zone plate camera?
Nice work, Stephanie! I like using the disposable foil cake/muffin pans for my pinhole material. It's stiffer than kitchen foil and not as hard to work as soda can aluminum. I like to get to something close to f/180 for my pinholes. Which is partly why I don't use a pin to make 'em. I use a set of very small drill bits--like THESE (http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=60362) that let me choose the size.
Rob
Stephanie Brim
03-26-2006, 05:48
I'll be taking some photos of the thing today (in black and white of course) and developing them when I get home from Ames. Gotta go get shoes for the boyfriend and cheesecake for me. ;) Prepare to be impressed by my ingenuity (or something...)! :D
Gabriel M.A.
03-26-2006, 06:08
I'd pose for a nude pinhole self-portrait, but you'd think it was raw cookie dough. Nobody wants to see that.
Nobody wants to see raw cookie dough? Are you kidding? How do you explain all the cooking shows? :angel:
Falcargus, eh? Nice ring to it...
Steph, as odd as FrankS' suggestion sounds, I think this pinhole and your planned self-nudes project could fit together pretty well. Of course, I don't know how "shy" or extrovert you are, and how exposing yourself to the world might make you feel, but the unsharpness of this pinhole, the blurriness and its soft focus might all artistically work in favour of your self-nudes.
as odd as FrankS' suggestion sounds
I didn't think it sounded odd! :)
the blurriness and its soft focus might all artistically work in favour of your self-nudes.
My thoughts exactly.
BTW, have a look at the SPINS (http://www.leicagoodies.com/spins.html) for M mounts.
Lutz, you keep amazing me. :)
Stephanie,
Here is one photo I took early this spring using the Bessa R and the body-cap +extension tube pinhole set up I made. Nothing spectacular but its a start.
Exposure was 40 seconds or so on Kodak 400 c-41 B&W.
Rob
dazedgonebye
03-31-2006, 06:37
Heads Up for some interesting pinhole "lenses" for Canon EOS cameras.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Finney-Pinhole-Lenses-150mm-75mm-Body-Cap-for-Canon_W0QQitemZ7605508740QQcategoryZ30077QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
rtphotos
03-31-2006, 09:12
Hi Stephanie,
Good start on your pinhole photography! Definitely try making a smaller hole with a pin or sewing needle. And rather than tape, I use very thin brass shims that can be gotten from many hobby/crafts stores. The idea is to make a very tiny and round hole - not jagged. Brass is easy to work with and soft.
Bringing this back OT :) , I've made pinhole photographs using my Leica rangefinder and Crown Graphic (kalart). With the Leica, I used a spare body cap and drilled a 1/4" hole in it, and attached the brass shim (with pinhole) to the cap.
With the Crown Graphic, I removed the lens and shutter from the lens board, leaving a big hole which I then covered with the brass shim/pinhole.
The quality of the images from the Crown was much sharper over the Leica even though the pinhole was identical. I think this was mainly because of the amount I needed to enlarge the the 35mm film, as opposed to the 4x5 negative of the Crown. The Crown also allowed me the choice to use polaroid film. Most of my other pinhole photography used tri-x film.
A tripod is a MUST for these one minute+ exposures!
In either case, it was much fun! I enjoy the idea of making things from scratch and not needing to buy ready-made pinhole cameras or pinhole lenses. My best success with pinholes was a "camera" I made out of a soup can!
I wish you luck with your pinhole experiments. Perhaps you will find some success and be able to participate in the upcoming Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day!
rt :)
trittium
01-18-2007, 21:05
Today, I made a semi-screw mount semi-pinhole lens using an old enlarger lens. I used a Wollensak 90mm (3 1/2 inch) velostigmat. Theses are really easy to take apart. I removed the aperature blades and replaced them with a piece of black plastic from the bag bulk film comes in (with a pinhole in it of course). Then I reassembled the lens and put one layer of electrical tape around the outside. If you "screw the lens in" it attaches and stays in no problem.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/362274723_9cbadcdc83_o.jpg
I uses a safety pin to make the pin hole which is about f175. I was using ilford
fp4+. Proper exposure was about 7 seconds in bright sun light. Here are some results
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/362130010_282060eb07_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/362129881_41d986d503_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/362129818_23da84eec1_o.jpg
Total cost: $14 much cheeper than the ones on ebay
vicmortelmans
01-18-2007, 22:04
Today, I made a semi-screw mount semi-pinhole lens using an old enlarger lens. I used a Wollensak 90mm (3 1/2 inch) velostigmat. Theses are really easy to take apart. I removed the aperature blades and replaced them with a piece of black plastic from the bag bulk film comes in (with a pinhole in it of course).
So if I get it right, you've just modified the lens to have a tiny aperture setting? So you have a pinhole diaphragma, rather than a pinhole lens. I'm surprised that your pictures are still a bit in focus, because I would expect the characteristics of your lens stay what they were (i.e. 90mm). Did you take into account to mount it at the right film distance? If you would, you'll probably get much sharper images. The sharpness you have now is probably due to the huge DOF given the pinhole diaphragma. Also a real pinhole lens with the same pinhole size may give even sharper images; maybe you should try to remove all the optics from the lens and just keep the pinhole...
Groeten,
Vic
trittium
01-18-2007, 22:15
So if I get it right, you've just modified the lens to have a tiny aperture setting? So you have a pinhole diaphragma, rather than a pinhole lens. I'm surprised that your pictures are still a bit in focus, because I would expect the characteristics of your lens stay what they were (i.e. 90mm). Did you take into account to mount it at the right film distance? If you would, you'll probably get much sharper images. The sharpness you have now is probably due to the huge DOF given the pinhole diaphragma. Also a real pinhole lens with the same pinhole size may give even sharper images; maybe you should try to remove all the optics from the lens and just keep the pinhole...
Groeten,
Vic
Vic,
I did not correct for focal length, but i could mount it on the 90mm Leitz NY Wollensak lens I have to correct it. I cannot remove the rear optic from the lens, that probably has the greatest effect on the image. Right now the lens has a spread about 40mm. This was my first test. I am definately going to try some other techniques to improve my design. To tell you the truth, I was suprised they came out relatively in focus as well. If I have any more developments, I will be sure to post them here.
Well,the most amazing thing to me is that you have a Wii...
Nice work. I think modifying a lens would be my approach, too, at this point. I'm also thinking of doing some film canister style pinholes. I bought some at Union Square in NYC while I was there in December.
allan
Stephanie Brim
01-19-2007, 09:27
Yeah, I think the Wii thing is amazing, too. I haven't been able to get my hands on one yet for my boyfriend and I and I have Zelda sitting at home mocking me.
But anyway, I plan to keep working on this. It would be an excellent project when I'm 8.5 months pregnant and don't really want to do much else. ;)
Leicagoodies, no longer in operation, sold pinholes from 28mm - 50mm that were made from Leica body caps. Unfortunately, Leicagoodies.com is temporarily out of service.
/Ira
trittium
01-23-2007, 19:07
I have improved my design. This time I made the hole smaller, and faced the cone created by the pin up like so (___/ \___). I am going to try using metal next. My plan is to create a dent in a sheet of metal, and then slowly sand away the metal to create a small hole.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/367595989_10169b4f02_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/112/367596024_3767312bc8_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/367596101_29d1249c03_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/119/367596048_155c9cceaa_o.jpg
Stephanie Brim
01-23-2007, 19:14
Yeah, good results. The sanding idea is a good one and I may try it.
trittium
01-23-2007, 19:31
Thanks Stephanie, the only problem I foresee with the metal is sanding it unevenly. This would lead to a poor quality hole.
Any further progress?
When I was an electron microscopist, we often discarded old pin-hole apertures. Find a local EM lab and buy a nice new one.... They are even platinum!
When we had to have a custom diameter, we partially punched 0.010" bras shim stock, left the needle in the dent and polished until we got the desired diameter. Polishing paper was 0.03 micron grit. Takes about 5 minutes to make a VERY round
pinhole.
You may want to improve the coating on those holes, there seem to be some flare :D
Leicagoodies, no longer in operation, sold pinholes from 28mm - 50mm that were made from Leica body caps. Unfortunately, Leicagoodies.com is temporarily out of service.
/Ira
They're working fine for me. Site is up and running..
Getting on the pinhole bandwagon a bit late here at RFF. I post lots of pinhole images over at F295; great bunch of folks.
I shot these images yesterday in the Ojito Wilderness in New Mexico. F280 brass pinhole in homemade 4x5 box view camera. 45 second exposure on preflashed grade 2 paper negative.
Good prints can be had from contact printing paper negatives. I've also had success enlarging paper negatives!
For my in-camera negatives, I used graded paper, contrast grade 2, in order to control the contrast of the negative in daylight conditions. The blue/UV daylight will activate the high-contrast portion of the emulsion in VC/MG papers, which is why I use graded paper negatives.
If you're doing close-up/still-life/diorama types of compositions, then you can get by with a pinhole smaller than the so-called 'optimal' size as defined by the Rayleigh criteria. Such calculations tend to find the optimal size between diffraction effects and geometric effects, but are optimized for objects at infinity; closer in, the geometric effects outweigh diffraction, so a smaller pinhole size is better.
Pre-flashing paper negatives in the darkroom, prior to loading the camera or film holders, brings up shadow detail that would otherwise not register. This helps to control excess contrast. I give enough exposure so that the paper would show a very faint light gray tone.
Tom Harrell
07-03-2007, 04:56
Joe,
What do you use to "preflash" the paper? What settings do you use?
Thanks,
Tom
Tom, I apologize for not getting back to this thread for so long. I use a 7.5 watt, round frosted night light bulb, that is mounted inside a custom made (metal soup can) housing. The housing is suspended 30 inches above the work surface of my darkroom, and is stopped down with a black paper diaphragm to a 1/8" hole.
To calibrate this light source for preflashing paper negatives, I did a test strip series, in increments of 2 seconds each, using my darkroom's enlarger timer connected to the light source. For my process (Arista brand grade 2 glossy RC paper) I preflash to 8 seconds. I also rate this paper negative media at a 'speed' (exposure index) of around 2.
The preflashing is done such that if no additional exposure were given, the paper would acquire a faint, light gray tint.
I also develop the paper negatives using a diluted paper developer. For instance, using Agfa Neutol WA, I'll use a 1:20 dilution, and develop by inspection.
These paper negatives scan well for quick internet postings, but they also contact print nicely. I've also enlarged them from 4x5 to 11x14; I had to open up the enlarger lens all the way, and still use an exposure time of over a minute. In my condensor enlarger, the paper backing of the paper negative makes it kind of work like a diffusion enlarger would.
Not only for pinhole purposes, but I've experimented with alternative lenses on my Speed Graphic, with paper negative media. For instance, I use the front objective element from a 7x50 binocular, which just unscrews from the barrel of the binocular, and mounts to a simple plywood lens board to the Speed. I run this lens wide open at F3, for images with narrow DOF and 'swirly bokeh'. As an example, see my avatar image, shot with the binocular lens onto paper negative media. See the 'Alternative Photography' section of F295 for more great ideas around adapted optics for photographic purposes.
~Joe
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