I just got so excited....

[John Bartley]

....that I couldn't take it anymore. I've never built one of these before. OK, this one is built like a Sherman tank, but the next one will be a bit more refined. This one is sort of off the top of my head, NOT following the rules of "optimal" pinhole size etc. The length is about 6", the hole is about .030", and the holder is 4"x5". It's made of southern yellow pine and Ontario ash. Hey - it's what I had lying around. Next is a shutter of some sort and tomorrow - we play!!
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My first pinhole camera photos directory
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Note :
- photos are served off my home server, which goes to bed at about 2200Z and wakes up at about 1200Z, so you might not get them when you try, just try again later
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[JLMoore3]

Hey John,

Let me know if you need any extra pointers (links, where to find materials, etc)... I have a whole bunch of great info. I've done a couple of workshops on pinhole, and have built some serious "FrankenPinHoles" lately. I'd be happy to share info!

[rbarker]

I can't access your site at the moment to see it (operation times out), but congrats, John.

[noseoil]

John, very nice job of joinery. You must have a bit of woodworking somewhere in your dim, dark past, me thinks. Nice use of quarter sawn for the body. The pin hole recess may have a problem in it's view of the world and a chamfer bit may be in order, but first take a picture and see what's there. I'm still tempted to try a 450mm 8x10. tim

[John Bartley]

John, very nice job of joinery. You must have a bit of woodworking somewhere in your dim, dark past, me thinks. Nice use of quarter sawn for the body. The pin hole recess may have a problem in it's view of the world and a chamfer bit may be in order, but first take a picture and see what's there. I'm still tempted to try a 450mm 8x10. tim

[SIZE=3]dim, dark past[/SIZE].........

OK - who's been talking? I thought I took care of all those...ummm err... :o

Seriously though, I have just taken my first pin hole photo, and will shortly (this afternoon) share the results no matter how poor they may end up being. So, if you will excuuuuse me! - it's off to the bathr - err darkroom!

[John Bartley]

So, if you will excuuuuse me! - it's off to the bathr - err darkroom!

[SIZE=3]Woo-Hoo !!![/SIZE]

(throws arms into the air)

We have an image !!!

EDIT AFTER SCANNING ::

This is it :

My first pinhole negative

focal length = 6"
pinhole = 0.030" in a brass shim 0.002" thick
paper negative = Ilford MGIVRC Perle
no metering (sorry )
exposure = 5 minutes in a scene which I would have guessed to be 1 second @ f/16 for FP4+

This is waaayyy overexposed eh? I tried another at 2 minutes and it looks much better - it's drying now, but I'm guessing that 1 minute might have been sufficient.

And ::

This is the second one ::

My second pinhole negative

Better, but still not right, too bright, but while I did play with the brightness in the first one (not more than I would have in a contact print though), I didn't do anything but a minimal sharpening in the second one.

[dschneller]

Nice job on the PH camera John and congrats on the first pictures. I've run your numbers through a program called Pinhole Designer to provide you with an exposure scale. I used it for a pinhole body cap I created and the times are pretty good.

http://www.pinhole.cz/en/pinholedesigner/

Pinhole camera exposure times
f number: 200
Exposure factor for f number 22: 82.6 x
Not including reciprocity failure

Time for f 22 Resulting time
1/1000 1/15
1/500 1/8
1/250 1/4
1/125 1/2
1/60 1 s
1/30 3 s
1/15 6 s
1/8 10 s
1/4 21 s
1/2 41 s
1 s 1 m
2 s 3 m
4 s 6 m
8 s 11 m
15 s 21 m
30 s 41 m
1 m 1 h
2 m 3 h

Created by PinholeDesigner 2.0, film database v1 (9. 6. 2003)
Copyright © David Balihar, 2001-2003

[John Bartley]

Nice job on the PH camera John and congrats on the first pictures. I've run your numbers through a program called Pinhole Designer to provide you with an exposure scale. I used it for a pinhole body cap I created and the times are pretty good.

Hey !!! very cool Thank you very much for that list and for the link. I've got two more pics to scan and then I think I'm going to change the pinhole size and see if I can sharpen it up a bit. I'll use your link to generate a new exposure guide.

Next, assuming that I'm lucky enough to stay unemployed so I'll have time , is a MUCH lighter version of this with a choice of focal lengths. The plan is already bouncing around in this echo chamber that I call a brain holder (my head )

[John Bartley]

Here are the last two negative scans from this camera. I will be retiring it soon so that I can build the next one.. The next one will be 8"x10". I just can't see 4"x5" contact prints well enough so.....bigger IS better !!
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My third pinhole negative
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My fourth pinhole negative
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Thank you to all for all the kind words. Off now to the table-saw....BWAHAHAHAhaha