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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Pinhole "lenses"
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 09/29/2014 10:55:31 PM · #1
Anyone use pinhole lenses (actually body caps might be a more apt description) on their digital camera?

I just ordered one on Ebay that's coming from Israel, might take a while but looking forward to it. Would like to know if people have any tips or would like to share images taken with one.
 09/29/2014 11:00:49 PM · #2
yes on the d800

I made one with a body cap, drilled a hole about 1/8" , cover the hole with aluminum foil and punched a hole in it with a pin
amazingly it works :)

even the meter

I did not keep any of the images
 09/29/2014 11:01:06 PM · #3
Old Pinhole challenge This is the original sign up thread to see all the folks that were interested.
Meanwhile, the photos were here.

That's a start- not all of them are active, but it's a jumpoff. There are a good number of folks into it on here. ETA: There may be a newer side challenge for pinhole, but that was the first I found after a cursory glance.

At the very least, I'd expect bspurgeon and pixelpig venture into here just on the expectation that their Spidey-sense went bonkers when somebody mentioned pinholes.

Message edited by author 2014-09-29 23:01:55.
 09/29/2014 11:14:29 PM · #4
go to Equipment and look at all the stuff (challenge pics) under Pinhole/Custom Made.
 09/29/2014 11:54:16 PM · #5
Might be fun to get this side challenge going again. If you enjoy pinhole stuff keep Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day in mind.

//www.pinholeday.org

It's the last Sunday of April so won't be around for a while.
 09/30/2014 12:25:23 AM · #6


I found that you can use extension tubes to change focal length if you have them. The more distance between the hole and sensor, the longer the focal length.
A bellows attachment works even better, as a zoom lens of sorts.
 09/30/2014 01:02:28 AM · #7
I love playing with the pinhole cap and the D800. I took the shot below for World Pinhole day in 2013. I was also lucky enough to get it published on the BBC. It takes a bit of getting used to, but sometimes I think the images can be worth it. Word of warning, using the pinhole cap with your digital camera will highlight every single little bit of sensor dust known to man when you look at the images on the computer.

09/30/2014 01:31:20 AM · #8
here are 2 from a bunch in my workshop
09/30/2014 09:10:17 AM · #9
Interesting stuff. Salmiakki - that's excellent, was that a hand-punched pinhole cap?

I have some m42 screwmount extension tubes, so if I get a body cap I could probably make one for a longer focal length.
 09/30/2014 09:45:22 AM · #10
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
Interesting stuff. Salmiakki - that's excellent, was that a hand-punched pinhole cap?

Well I bought it ready done, so I didn't hand punch it. I somehow doubt it. Enjoy it's a lot of fun and very undpredictable.
 09/30/2014 10:56:06 AM · #11
The key to a "sharp" pinhole is having a small circular hole AND having the edges of that hole come to as thin an edge as possible. I made mine at work using a laser to make a 0.25mm diameter hole in brass shim stock and polishing the area around the hole, alternating sides. It's noticeably "sharper" than the store bought pinhole, but it was a PITA to make

Message edited by author 2014-09-30 11:00:18.
 09/30/2014 12:26:55 PM · #12
For my pinhole lens I drilled a hole, about a 1/4", through the center of a spare body cap. I then cut about a 3/4" square from an aluminum can. Next, using a pin I pricked a small hole in the aluminum and sanded around the hole to remove jagged edges. I used a black sharpie take the shine away from the aluminum. Then just taped it to the body cap. Finally, I put clear tape over the pinhole to keep dust out. If you try this I advise creating several, at least three, of these aluminum pieces with different size holes. You can then swap them and determine the best size for your needs.

sample:
I don't shoot with this homemade lens often but it's a nice change of pace every now and then.

Message edited by author 2014-09-30 12:31:16.
 09/30/2014 03:50:38 PM · #13
I'm using the Lensbaby Pinhole/Zone plate optic. Tried a panorama once
09/30/2014 03:54:11 PM · #14
A naive question...what exactly does the pinhole do to an image?
 09/30/2014 04:05:22 PM · #15
Originally posted by Garry:
A naive question...what exactly does the pinhole do to an image?

It produces a focused image without the use of a physical lens, using the same principles as a camera obscura (the word "camera" is Latin for "room") ...
 09/30/2014 04:07:43 PM · #16
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by Garry:
A naive question...what exactly does the pinhole do to an image?

It produces a focused image without the use of a physical lens, using the same principles as a camera obscura (the word "camera" is Latin for "room") ...


Hmmm, most pinhole images I see are blurry though.
 09/30/2014 04:14:28 PM · #17
Originally posted by Garry:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by Garry:
A naive question...what exactly does the pinhole do to an image?

It produces a focused image without the use of a physical lens, using the same principles as a camera obscura (the word "camera" is Latin for "room") ...


Hmmm, most pinhole images I see are blurry though.

Focus is a relative term in this case. The laser-drilled and polished pinholes seem to make sharper images than the hand-punched ones.

Still, fun to play around with, excited to get mine.
 09/30/2014 04:19:11 PM · #18
Originally posted by Garry:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by Garry:
A naive question...what exactly does the pinhole do to an image?

It produces a focused image without the use of a physical lens, using the same principles as a camera obscura (the word "camera" is Latin for "room") ...


Hmmm, most pinhole images I see are blurry though.

They aren't perfect, and tiny differences or flaws can create quite an effect. Maybe that's why everyone used glass today ... :-)

I think the idea is to have fun and learn something by going back to fundamentals, like drawing with charcoal instead of a Wacom tablet ... like film, paint and wood sculpture it's now a novelty or "fine art" rather than an everyday technique.

Unfortunately, it's maybe the one type of photography I can't do with my fixed-lens camera.
 09/30/2014 06:38:55 PM · #19
I know I have a pinhole around here somewhere courtesy of Yo_Spiff box pass around. Now, if only I can find it!
 10/11/2014 04:48:08 PM · #20
My pinhole lens cap arrived yesterday, so I took it out to play today.



The mall ones were handheld but I had the camera strap around my neck and stabilized the camera against my gut.

I saw a security guard standing where I was shooting for a while and looking around for something, they might have caught me on surveillance and came out to find the 'terrorist' with a camera. But I walked right past him on the way out and he didn't say anything.
 10/11/2014 05:21:35 PM · #21
All very good, now if someone could tell me the point of this I would be happy.
 10/11/2014 06:30:00 PM · #22
Originally posted by Tiny:
All very good, now if someone could tell me the point of this I would be happy.


The point is used to make the pinhole. After that, it's art. ;-)
 10/11/2014 07:28:03 PM · #23
I'm going to get a Canon pinhole lens with a red strip around it so the images are clearer. I had to look twice at MadMan2k's images. That second to the last looked like a over head shot of the restrooms and those were toilets. After a second look they look like pillows to rest a face in for a massage, but my first impression could still be correct. :D

Mike
 10/11/2014 07:33:26 PM · #24
Originally posted by Tiny:
All very good, now if someone could tell me the point of this I would be happy.

The point of what? Photography? Experimenting?
 10/11/2014 08:26:15 PM · #25
Originally posted by MikeJ:
I'm going to get a Canon pinhole lens with a red strip around it so the images are clearer. I had to look twice at MadMan2k's images. That second to the last looked like a over head shot of the restrooms and those were toilets. After a second look they look like pillows to rest a face in for a massage, but my first impression could still be correct. :D

Mike


LOL - definitely a massage place, but now that I look back at it I could see where you got your first impression.
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