Digital Pinhole

S

Steve

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30 years ago I was interested in Pinhole photography, not really sure what the appeal was/is - probably the fascination that you can get an image with just a tiny hole and bit of film or in my case it was a piece of 12x16 Ilford multigrade paper - I found a couple of test shots I did back then and remembered how tight I was using the fixer!

Anyway I have been playing with Pinholes again but this time on my digital camera. It's a lot harder to get a sharp image than it was using a giant paper negative as then there was no enlargement, now there is quite a big enlargement - especially from a APC size sensor. The much easier thing with the digital camera I can actually see what I am photographing and processing is a lot easier.

Getting the perfect shape and size hole for your focal length is quite interesting. I will probably play around with this for a few months and hopefully get better results as I experiment. Anyway enough waffle here is fallen orchid which I took recently, yes it is soft but it is a multiple enlargement and not a contact print, on the screen of my camera it looks quite sharp... :)



Fallen by Steve, on Flickr
 
Interesting. I keep meaning to make a pinhole to mount in front of my Kodak Box camera lens to make a simple hybrid system dominated by the pinhole. Already has a film carrier and bulb-mode shutter so it seems straightforward. Watch this space.

What are you using for a pinhole? A home-brew solution I surmise.
 
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I have never tried the hybrid option sounds interesting. I like playing around with stuff. I am using my PSU to create a pinhole into thin brass shim. 30 years ago I used a 9v battery into aluminium foil. Currently designing a 3d printing lens set-up for my Nex3 works quite well - but not perfect......
The above was with 50mm focal length, looking at 28mm at the moment....times the crop factor!
 
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I saw Joe Van Cleave using brass foil for the same purpose, although he uses a mechanical method to make the hole. Gotta try it this summer I think. Trouble is, I have another project half finished so I should really do that first.
 
I don't know him, there are so many people doing things - there is just too much stuff to be interested in....aluminium is easier just not as robust. A needle works well and is simpler you only need a hole about 0.2mm - although this is focal length dependant.
 
That's how I do it with a needle, but if you want smaller holes I think the method I am testing "might" be better, changing the voltage and amperage will change the size of the hole and should in theory be repeatable.
 
I'd be interested in a pic of your set-up to make the pinhole with a PSU if you wouldn't mind sharing.
 
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Yes I think it is the same with the advantages and disadvantages that both mediums offer.

I did a very similar thing as your video about 30 years ago by converting an old briefcase into a 12x16 pinhole camera. The briefcase was actually an old silver camera case that was once popular - it had a lip along the closed edges that helped it keep light tight. I matt blacked it inside and taped the paper to the back. I created a hole in a bit of aluminium food container (as it was thicker than tin foil) and exposed it on a cloudy winters day I think I exposed it for about an hour - it had a very wide angle.

The paper was not fixed very well but has survived OK -ish
The resulting picture is rubbish but I was pleased with the sharpness - work and family then took most of my time and my experiments were put on hold.....

I did upload a photo but it looked below par I will have another go when I get home....
 
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