Re: Big Cameras - construction techniques

2007/8/27, Gordon J. Holtslander <gordon.holtslander@usask.ca>:
>
> I want to try making some large pinhole camers - "12 x 18" and larger.
>

Hi Gordon,

I've built a couple of 20"x24", one with black foamcore (BFC), the other
with 1/8" plywood. The best is to make it out of BFC, because it is easy to
cut with a good Exacto knife. But plywood makes a sturdier camera.

BTW, I'm not a craftman, so if I can build a 20x24 pinhole camera, most
people on the list should be able to do the same. The thing is to make a
drawing of the camera and parts and to remember that foamcore has a non-zero
thickness that must be taken into account when cutting and fitting parts for
the sides and the back.

1. I start all my cameras with the front panel: it has to be the exact size
of the emulsion you plan to use (say 20"X24" photo paper).
2. The side panels are dimensionned to be flush mounted on the outside of
the front panel, the width being the desired focal length. So one set of
side panels will fit the narrow side of the front (eg 20") while the other
set of side panels will be 24" plus twice the thickness of the BFC.
3. Glue the side panels to the front panel and to themselves with the
assistance of additional bands of BFC glued on inside corners the box such
that they provide a "staircase"-shape light trap all around. This will also
strengthen the box and will give you some really ligth-tight joints all
over.
4. Close the box with a back lid, the sides being about 1.5" and
dimensionned the size of your front panel plus the thickness of the side
panels all over. The lid should fit precisely the outside dimensions of
your box. Inside the lid, glue a panel of BDC the size of the front panel
(which, remeber, was the size of your emulsion). This will provide you with
a U-shaped light-trap.
5. Install your pinhole and shutter on the front panel and you're ready to
shoot.

If this sounds to complicated, turn use a hotel room or similar into a
super-giant pinhole camera...!
For more details on the how to, check my article titled "Beyond LF:
Room-size pinhole photography" in the upcoming issue ( Vol.1 - Issue 6) of
MAGNAchrom -- *The Alternative Journal of Medium and Large Format
Photography
*www.magnachrom.com

Good luck.

Guy
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Received on Mon Sep 10 04:15:35 2007