Let's talk about 4x5 pinhole cameras...

[BradS]

A while back, my son and I made a 4x5 pinole camera out of black foam core and duct tape...It was a lot of work and the darned thing is fragile. We've just about worn it out.

I'm thinking of making or buying a more sturdy one made of wood. There are many commercially available...leonardo, santa barbara camera co, zero image...etc.

I'm interested in hearing peoples' opinions about these and others...

What's good? What's not so good? Why?

[Walter Calahan]

I own 4x5 and 8x10 pinhole cameras from all three pinhole camera providers you mentioned.

They are great.

The Zeroimage design is a little unique, but very functional. The Leonardo and Lensless Camera are both excellent. You won't go wrong with one or another.

I love Zeroimage's medium format cameras. Nothing finer on the market. All their cameras are works of art in their beauty.

Lensless in Santa Barbara gives you more choice in styling and focal length.

The Leonardo design is elegant, with less removable parts.

It's cool that you and your son learned so much making your pinhole camera.

[davidb]

Have you seen http://www.8banners.com/

They look pretty good.

[rwyoung]

You can make a very sturdy one from a quart or gallon paint can. Not sure what is in your area but Ace Hardware sells "clean" unused cans for cheap money. The inside is already a dull gray but will take a coat of paint (Krylon matte black works great).

There is a company that makes these too so if you aren't interested in cutting tin and poking holes you can buy one.

Otherwise there are lots of plans for making cameras and it isn't really that hard to make a reasonably sturdy one yourself. You can do the cut-and-fit (and recut) method or work from plans. Lots of pinhole calculators out there, Google is your friend. Bop over to www.f295.org and browse for a while. There you will find plans and opinions to satisfy your every pinhole desire.

[Glenn Thoreson]

I make my own wood pinhole cameras. If you have access to basic wood working tools, it's not hard. I think building them is as much fun as using them.
Making your own pinhole isn't hard, either. There are lots of instructive sites on the web about all this. Have fun.

[vinny]

I made a 4x5 from 1/2" gator foam along with a spring back out of print tongs and clothespins. I never messed with it much though.
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum62/2...re-camera.html

[David Vickery]

I'm using baltic birch plywood to make mine. I am trying not to spend any money and just use what I have on hand, so I'll probably use a bear can aluminum to make the pinhole plates.

[Vaughn]

How about an old Crown Graphic? Adjustable "focal length", built in 4x5 back, sturdy, tripod hole. Get a Speed Graphic and you also get a built-in shutter.

Vaughn

[tpersin]

good plans to build a wooden one:
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/pr.../?planid=11093

the crown/speed graphic idea is a good one, here's one i made with quick change pinholes ( to accomodate the easily changeable focal distance) I wrote this up in View Camera a little over a year ago....
http://www.f295.org/Pinholeforum/for...ghlight-/#num0

[eddie]

i have a zero image 4x5 with a total of 3 extensions. a great camera! i love it. the super ultra wide 25mm is fun. i use the 90mm most often. beautiful workmanship.

eddie