Re: Building Pinhole Cameras
David Morrish (dmorrish@beothuk.swgc.mun.ca)
Mon, 5 Aug 1996 09:32:48 -0230 (NDT)
1. Try to get brass shim stock (I have used soft-drink can alunimum with
success, though)
2. Get a VERY fine sewing needle (#12?)
3. Insert the rear end of the needle into some kind of wooden support.
4. Drill the needle lightly into the metal without going through.
5. Turn over and sand the resulting bump smooth with 400 or 600 grit
wet/dry paper.
6. Rotate the needle to make another bump from the other side and sand it
off again.
7. Repeat until a small hole is formed. Continue to push the needle
through and sand on each side.
8. You should end up with a **round* hole, the diameter of the needle's
shaft, without burrs and with its edges tapering to a knife edge (ideally).
9. Schull's book, "The Hole Thing" lists the apertures and ideal focal
length for different sizes of sewing needles.
One should note that this method is to get the best possible resolution.
If you want the softer, cruder effect, then pushing a big pin through
aluminum foil should be all you need to do.
A Spanish pin hole photographer has even made the holes of a soda cracker
into a multiple apertured pinhole lensboard..... (amongst many other
food-related photo projects...)
Have fun
David Morrish
Newfoundland, Canada