DIY 8x10 Pinhole Camera

[hazardsg]

I've been wanting to get an 8x10 pinhole camera for some time. I recently stopped in Goodwill and found an old filebox that looked like it would be the right size.

152661

I drilled out and removed the lock. I cut the top off and removed the hinge.

152662
152663

I painted the inside flat black.

152664

[hazardsg]

I attached the top to the body using rivets.

152665
152666

I used aluminum to make the film holder.

152667

[hazardsg]

I added tripod sockets.

152668
152669

I made mounts for the handle that originally was on the top of the box.

152670

[hazardsg]

I cut the hole for the film and drilled holes for the bolts that hold the rubber bands to keep the film holder in place.

152671
152672

[hazardsg]

I used bondo to make the camera light tight and smooth out the body.

152673
152674
152675
152676

[hazardsg]

Next was a coat of primer.

152677
152678
152679
152680

[hazardsg]

Here are the final pictures. I used a combination of a textured paint followed by a coat of blue enamel. I'm going to use a small magnet for the shutter.

152681
152682
152683
152684

[hazardsg]

The camera ended up having a focal length 184mm with an aperture of 322. I haven't had a chance to shoot with it yet but I'm looking forward to taking it out soon. The total cost was around $45.

152685

[Tin Can]

Great design, very simple.

I was thinking all night about a large box camera.

Box is the easiest to make.

Thanks for posting all the pics!

[pdh]

OK but did the cat come free or did you have to pay extra?

[hazardsg]

OK but did the cat come free or did you have to pay extra?
We already had the cat. She had to inspect the box since most boxes in the house belong to her... :)

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[John Kasaian]

Cool!:cool:

[Roger Thoms]

Nice job, just spent a couple hundred on a used Harmon Titan 8x10 pinhole, bet your will take just as nice of photographs. :)

Roger

[Drew Bedo]

Concept, design and execution are impressive . . .but Royal BLUE?

I know, I know—its eye-of-the-beholder . . . but I'd have gone for something like a Linhoff grey.

Enjoy, and post some of what you shoot!

[LabRat]

Great job!!!

The only other thing I would consider (if I built one of these) would be to try to take a handful of cabinet hinges and find a way to hinge the box panels, so there might be a way to fold the box flat (like a briefcase) for easy carry & storage... (Think Ikea...)

You can also put a speaker in it, or paint it up so it looked like a boombox for urban use camoflage... Or sell tintypes at the seashore... Or put a phony lens on it so it looked like a camera... (I'll shut up,now...) :-)

Have fun!!!!

Steve K

[Tin Can]

Concept, design and execution are impressive . . .but Royal BLUE?

I know, I know—its eye-of-the-beholder . . . but I'd have gone for something like a Linhoff grey.

Enjoy, and post some of what you shoot!

Well each to their own, but it seems old men hiding under black cloth and peeping into dead grey boxes may used up. Too many references...

I think we need more flash. I want a red 'dark' cloth just to stand out. Red bellows are hard to come by and isn't white the best color for a camera box? Less heat absorption and Karsh was never wrong with his custom white C1.

I dream of a HOT PINK Florescent 8X10 Elwood...which would become rather phallic now that I think about it...

Great Monday plan!

[hazardsg]

153234
Here is a print from the first test shot I made in my back yard. The exposure was about 3 minutes.