lf-photo.org.uk

Hi guys,
Has anyone out there tried out the various 5x4 pinhole cameras available..I'm looking for one that can take film in normal 5x4 sheet film holders.

Thanks,

Marc

I have the Zero 45 with the additional 25mm extension http://www.zeroimage.com/web2003/EntryP ... ameset.htm

I use ordinary darkslides loaded with FP4. I don't use it as often as I would like but the images that I've had so far have been amazing!

Paul

Thanks Paul,

I've been looking at that exact one and the bob rigby one also...fairly similar i think...presumably your model can also take a polaroid back?

Cheers,

Marc

marc wilson wrote:presumably your model can also take a polaroid back?

Yep, the 545 and the 405. I have a 405 on at the moment loaded with some 665.



Paul

Hello from France !
I do not use pinhole cameras myself , however some LF friends in France are very satisfied by the superb wooden pinhole cameras crafted by Thierry Gonidec in Brittany.

http://s192257538.onlinehome.fr/stenoca ... 0Open.html

You can also buy the pinhole itself (several independant sources exits on the Internet) and experiment with any camera behind, including a 4x5 view camera !
http://s192257538.onlinehome.fr/stenoca ... eriel.html

Merci Emmanuel,

They look very nice and I like the made in Europe aspect...seems a bit greener these days with less transport involved.
Slightly wider focal length though and a touch more expensive due to the pound / euro exchange..but three great options already...

Actually looking further into the website more comes to light...I was looking at also putting together a 10x8 fixed focus camera..no movements, infinity focus only, viewfinder compsition, etc...and I see these cameras can have lens plates attached also...more research is needed into this side of it comparing something like this set up to say an old wista 10x8 with lens etc., in terms of size, weight...very interesting

Marc

Hi,

I've decided to have a go at pinhole but decided that my MPP would do the job as well as a deicated box (albeit a very desirable box!), so for £10 plus postage I bought the pinhole and made a lensboard (4 layers of black mount board stuck together). It lacks a shutter but not much of a problem there with extended exposure times, and I'll get around to adding a flap at some point, probably held down with velcro.

Take a look here...

http://www.pinholesolutions.co.uk/

Very helpful site and people; pinhole comes with exposure info etc. Think mine is f256!

Steve

It lacks a shutter but..

It is time now that the European elections are behind us for unveiling to the UK LF group a best-kept continental secret of pinhole photography !
French aficionados of f/256 pinhole cameras recommend this kind of multi-purpose shutter, probably invented by Nicéphore Niépce himself :
http://www.chapellerie-traclet.com/hat/ ... -black.jpg

A couple of years ago now I went on a silly presentation course at work and we were told before hand to make a small model that "represented" us and to introduce ourselves at the course. With only a weeks notice I made a pinhole camera out of a childs lego set box I happened to have lying around;



I painted the inside matt black and made a 1cm diameter hole in the base;



I then bought a piece of aluminium from a model shop and cut it to a 35mm slide size. I used a punch on the aluminium and then sanded down the bump made until I had my hole. Then by putting this in my slide projector I was able to determine the size of the hole and there fore the aperture when fixed to the camera. A small piece of black plastic and tape made a simple "shutter";



I then loaded a piece of Ilford multigrade, guessed what my exposure should be (90 secs) and went into my works car park with the "camera" propped on the dashboard of my car.

I processed the paper at home to get the negative and then contact printed it to another piece of paper to get the positive;



Been interested in making something a bit more user-friendly but it hasn't materialised as yet. What it show though is that very basic pinhole photography can be very easy and cost very little indeed.

Hope this was of interest.

French aficionados of f/256 pinhole cameras recommend this kind of multi-purpose shutter, probably invented by Nicéphore Niépce himself :

Very good Emannuel, an entirely practical suggestion using something to hand. I come from a background in engineering and therefore necessarily think that any solution should have that certain engineering 'feel'. I am not happy unless it will last 1 million operations in severe conditions (in this case it won't get blown away).

The beret solution obviously points out the more artistic leanings of our French cousins.


Steve