HELP! A friend just gave me his old 4x5 pinhole. No idea what the Aperture is!

[tonyowen]

As I recall, Pinhole Designer can be downloaded from several sites. I've used it for a long time with never a problem with the download, but don't remember which site I downloaded from.

Before I posted this reply I googled pinhole designer and was offered version 2.0. [for both windows and mac]
My program - running on win7 - is version 2 and it's hyper-link is http://www.pinhole.cz

As Jim Jones says there are many variables, but the KISS principle applies for testing.

regards
Tony

[Tin Can]

I found this explanation.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...pt/Raylei.html

My takeaway is sufficient light as controlled by aperture, apparent aperture and bellows extension.

A concept that may be tested with a set diameter pinhole by varying distance to capture sensor.

Mr Pinhole helps define image circle.

I will not install Pinhole Designer.

[tonyowen]

Mr Pinhole helps define image circle. I will not install Pinhole Designer.

Its personal choice.
I found Mr Pinhole too complex and required too many variables to be entered before an answer is displayed.
By contrast, Pinhole Designer can be setup with just the chosen/assumed/estimated pinhole diameter and the chosen/assumed/estimated focal length/bellows extension, and the scene exposure reading at f22.
For the OPs setup Pinhole Designer gives f287 and a exposure index of 159.7 at f22

However, neither program is more right or wrong - just different

Regards
Tony

[Jim Jones]

We should keep in mind that Lord Rayleigh was perhaps more of a scientist and mathematician than a photographer, and therefore inclined to create formulae that would communicate concrete data rather than nebular diffraction limited pinhole photographs to his fellow scientists and mathematicians. Even experts on optics sometimes rely on theory rather than on experimenting when it comes to talking about pinhole imagery. For example, C. B. Neblette in Photography: its principles and practices (3 ed., 1938) stated that it was impossible for a pinhole to resolve line pairs in a chart like the popular Air Force chart if the pinhole diameter is smaller than the line pair spacing. Obviously he hadn't tested this. Diffraction usually degrades camera images at small apertures, However, a pinhole that has a diameter close to the size usually recommended for sharp pinhole photography can actually increase resolution above what basic theory claims. So, in addition to the term, "diffraction limited" we now have a term, "diffraction enhanced." Some LFPF member who is also a student of optics or photography is welcome to take this idea and write a dissertation on it. Beware, the phenomena may be masked when image forming is cluttered up by adding lenses.

[tonyowen]

For completeness I've attached three screen dumps of Pinhole Designer program with the OPs info.
On the second one I've chosen a film from a dropdown list
Attachment 190955 Attachment 190956 Attachment 190957

regards
Tony

[Jim Jones]

Wow, Tony. although I've used Pinhole Designer for decades, I'd never thought to look at some of those features. Some of the information they contain is intuitive, some already familiar through experience. The program is still my favorite because some of the others assume the user lacks the experience or the inquisitive nature to explore the potential of pinhole photography on his own.

[Tin Can]

Both programs posted here do very similar things.

I simply prefer an online version.

More accessible and my computer is less at risk.

Google also says the the CZ site is 'Not Secure'.

So both Win 10 and Google are saying don't download...

[Jim Jones]

I just now downloaded Pinhole Designer, and Kaspersky didn't flag it then or in a quick scan afterwards. However, two out of three is more convincing.

[pepeguitarra]

As a reference, this is the 8x10 pinhole camera I built:

20180416_200336 by Palenquero Photography, on Flickr

[Pinholethrowaway]

Hey everyone! I just wanted to give y'all a big THANK YOU for all the awesome help and wonderful insights back in May! It was really helpful.

And now I'm back with another question!

I'm wondering, given the insight you all helped me with in finding out that my 4x5 pinhole's Aperture is in the f/276 - f/287 range with a diameter of .018inches (.46mm) and "focal length" of 5 inches (distance from lens board to negative holder) ...... What diameter pinhole lens in inches/mm would I need to get to f/2000?

Crazy, I know. I have an artificial lighting situation on a project that will be very very bright.

Much love to you all!
Thank you again,
Paul