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yeknom02
4-Apr-2011, 13:06
Hello everyone!

After starting 4x5 photography the traditional way [though I'm still looking for a good way to develop the film, as well as a suitable tripod :( ], I've started to get interested in 8x10 photography as well. Since I want to keep the costs low and I've always had an interest in it anyway, I've decided to try building an 8x10 pinhole camera. The thing is, I'd like to load my paper negatives into an 8x10 film holder. Then, if I ever feel like moving on to 8x10 film, it should be pretty easy since I would only need to load the holder with a different medium.

Of course, the camera itself and the pinhole should be relatively easy to construct. I was wondering if anyone else has fabricated their own 8x10 camera and had any advice on how to design or assemble a back for the camera (no ground glass, of course) that would accept a film holder and apply sufficient pressure to hold it in place. And also how to keep any unwanted light out. Any suggestions or descriptions of previous projects would be most appreciated!

-Dan

jon.oman
4-Apr-2011, 14:04
Here is an 8x10 next to my 4x5:

http://www.jonomanphotos.com/Photography/Pinhole/D7F1565nef/854413870_KxFEK-L.jpg

The back on the 4x5 (same on the 8x10):

http://www.jonomanphotos.com/photos/818606069_7rGrf-L.jpg

The inside of the camera:

http://www.jonomanphotos.com/photos/818606385_L8hpv-L.jpg

A sample 4x5 shot on Tri-X 320:

http://www.jonomanphotos.com/Photography/Pinhole/img270customhouse03/847326407_TiF6S-XL.jpg

yeknom02
4-Apr-2011, 14:09
Looks like a simple doorstop... ingenious! Much simpler than some leaf-spring solution I was thinking of trying to create.

I may try a similar shutter, though an adapter for a cable release may be pretty nifty.

grahamcase
5-Apr-2011, 00:20
Jon, those cameras look beautiful, and the photo is incredible!

Now I have to find time, and woodworking ability to build my own pinhole 8x10, too!

jon.oman
5-Apr-2011, 02:38
Thanks!

I should have metioned that if you are interested in pinhole, you may want to try this site:

f295 (http://www.f295.org/Pinholeforum/forum/Blah.pl?)

There are a lot of people with interesting pinhole camera designs.

SMBooth
5-Apr-2011, 04:46
Mine is much the same, except the flange around the film holder is flush and I use some plastic toggles that swing across to hold the film holder tight against the foam seal. I don't have a shutter either, just put my finger over hole then remove darkslide and pull finger away. Another way is to use 3-5mm shockcord.

Jim Jones
5-Apr-2011, 06:22
This spring back uses spring wire instead of flat springs.

A locking cable release clamped to the camera rather than screwed into the non-standard cable release thread can actuate a spring loaded shutter. Alternately, if the pinhole is mounted to iron sheetmetal, a refrigerator magnet makes a convenient shutter.

Dan -- The tripod here is an ancient Tiltall. It served me well for 35 years until I lost it. Its replacement is another $60 Tiltall from ebay. Unlike many cameras, a good tripod is a lifetime investment. Newer may be more expensive, but likely not better.

A site with good information and many links is http://home.online.no/~gjon/pinhole.htm.