Pin Hole Camera

[rahuldg11]

I am making my own pin hole camera. I have the box, i made the pin hole but i could only see the image of a lighted candle. What do I have to do to see other things? I used a tracing paper as a screen.

I will buy a photo paper for my pin hole camera. I also want some tips on how to handle the photo paper and how to expose and develop it.

[dcclark]

Are you saying that your field of view is too small? Or that only a bright object showed up?

For the bright object -- pinhole cameras tend to require fairly long exposures (because they have a teeeeny tiny aperture, so very little light comes through). You CAN see everything, even relatively dim objects, with a long enough exposure.

[rahuldg11]

ok...i will try a longer exposure...

[teaking]

Try this link to a DIY pin hole camera it has guidlines for exposure times as well you can stick to the back.

The Best Paper Fold Pinhole Ever | DIYPhotography.net

It looks pretty sweet if you ask me but I have never used one yet. It may help its at least worth a look.

[LeeR]

I used to rig up a piece of black paper I could slide periodically to expose a new section of paper/film. Start at, say, 10 secs., 30 secs., 1 min, 2 min, up to 5 min. This should get you close enough to do a second test to narrow the exposure further.
Pinhole cameras are interesting on several fronts. You learn something about exposure when you are totally in control of it. You learn something about depth of field because the timy apertures mean nearly extreme DOF. You'll also learn to appreciate TTL viewfinders when you aim your little box in the general direction and hope!
I had a friend in school who used different size needles and boxes to create a normal, wide angle and telephoto pinhole camera. It sounds more exciting than it was but it really did work.

[rahuldg11]

I think I will try with a photo paper rather than a screen with a tracing paper. I am getting really excited by all the posts. If i am successful, i will post my pictures at dps.

Tell me one more thing...the length of my camera is around 3.5 inches...i.e the distance from the hole to the screen...is it okay? I ask this because i had read somewhere that the length had to be about 4.5 inches

[LeeR]

You're fine. Consider your camera to be in the slight wide angle range. And keep in mind that the size of the camera will effect the size of the image. With a shorter box you may end up with a circualr image on your paper rather than a full frame shot. That is likely to be the worst that would happen.

[rahuldg11]

How do i handle the photo paper? I understand that i have to put it in the camera in total darkness. But what do i do with it after the image is taken??? Do i have to buy some developer chemicals? What are they?