Re: Big Cameras - construction techniques

Gordon:

I have made large cameras out of foamcore using essentially the same instructions as outlined in my article in the current Without Lenses on making a 4x5 camera. http://www.withoutlenses.com/ If you cut carefully and change your Xacto blade often, you can make light-tight butt joints with foamcore. If you have a leak, it is easy to run a strip of black felt down the inside of the corner. The black on black foamcore (with the black insides, not the white) is opaque. I bought an Xacto brand hole cutter at Dick Blick that can cut circular openings up to about 6" in diameter.

The biggest problem is that the cameras do not weigh very much. I have not had much luck with a tripod and a big foamcore camera. Be prepared to weigh it down or make the bottom side out of plywood for a more rigid mount.

Earl Johnson

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Gordon J. Holtslander" <gordon.holtslander@usask.ca>
> I want to try making some large pinhole camers - "12 x 18" and larger. I
> usually use cameras made by an engineer friend with every tool under the sun.
> He makes really nice cameras, but he want to do more than build cameras for
> me :)
>
> I want to make them myself - with simpler tools - straight edge, knife, hot
> glue ...
>
> I've used card board in the past and found objects. Cardboard by itself
> doesn't seem to lend itself to light tight container. Found objects work
> too, but I want to be able to design and build very specific shapes.
>
> What experiences have other had with building techniques. I've read that many
> use foam core. I have a matting knife that should be able to cut 90 degree
> edges to foam core, even have a trammel set and knife for circular shapes.
>
> Haven't had any ideas on how to properly make strong joints etc etc.
>
> Any other options? ideas?
>
> Gord
> --
> Gordon J. Holtslander Dept. of Biology
> gordon.holtslander@usask.ca University of Saskatchewan
> Tel 306 966-4433 112 Science Place
> Fax 306 966-4461 Saskatoon SK., CANADA
> homepage.usask.ca/~gjh289 S7N 5E2
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Received on Mon Aug 27 15:02:26 2007