How to make a pinhole camera out of an old point n' shoot

A pinhole camera is kind of a romantic throwback of the most basic cameras ever made. You can make a camera out of anything light tight, but if you don't have access to a darkroom or chemicals, you will need to use a camera that takes some standard film (35mm or 120). These instructions will lead you into making photos that look like some of the soft romantic shots that you may have seen from the early 20th century. They take time and patience, but they will be very unique and invite an element of chance into your photos.

Step 1 Finding the right camera to alter

You are a hunter. The first thing you want to find is an eyeglass fixing kit, they have these teensy screwdrivers in them. When you have said teensy screwdriver in hand, head to your local thrift store and find the section with discarded, disregarded, disrespected, and dashingly simple viewfinder cameras.

Rule of thumb: the simpler, the better. If you can't figure out how it comes apart don't buy it- take your screwdriver and make sure it fits into the teensy camera screws- not all teensy screws are alike!

Comments

[Darwinfish]

The last two shots are really, really cool. Good work. :-)

[saellys]

No comments yet? Crazy! I followed these directions and tried my camera out today, and it worked brilliantly. Posted the results here. Thanks for a great Instructable!

[92033]

saellys... Just visited your page...great photos...especially the one of the bridge. You can make an easy tripod base for use on the camera. Use a piece of 1/4" thick plywood or plastic. Drill a 1/4 inch hole in the center. Use double-face carpet tape or layer of rubber cement on face of the wood/plastic base and layer on bottom of camera. Stick together for a permanent bond. Screw your tripos screw into the hole and you're all set. Want 'simpler'? Lightly duct-tape it to tripod. Removes easily. Idea is to hold the camera still and level..this'll do the trick. Great Instructable mind-refresher for me...have been in photography all my lifetime...'1200 Year Old Highlander Immortal', y'know. :-) Which reminds me...Do you know what Jesus said to the Apostles at The Last Supper? "All you guys who want your picture taken, sit on this side of the table with Me". Moses was The First Photographer. He used a Pinhole Camera and Bolt Of Lightning for the FLASH. Came out pretty good, eh?

[frostingfish]

Those photo's are great!

[Ceiling cat]

Couldn't you just use the lens cover as a shutter?

[ablisspirate]

You can use whatever you want as long as it doesn't let any light in and it's easy to remove and replace when you want to take a picture. If it doesn't get out of the way smoothly, then you will jiggle the camera and will get a blurry image or no image at all.

[frostingfish]

Just removed my shutter!...Then I read cristianokunst post now I wonder if I need to remove the little glass lenses/optics that are inside the point and shoot? Anyone?Anyone?

[ck0050]

 but pinhole has NO lenses...
Im trying to make one without the optics, or else I dont know if we can get focus using the pinhole + the lenses.