Research: pinhole photography - logistics
Here I am, still researching for this crazy pinhole camera thing. In previous episodes, our hero decided on doing 4x5 pinhole photography to record sitting through a night.
Conclusions from this episode of research:
1) I’ll get the 4x5 developed by mail (unless there’s a local shop) rather than do it myself, at least for now.
2) Meanwhile, I’d like to shoot some 35mm b&w with a pinhole camera, since I can get the film processed locally.
3) After looking into a few kits, I think I might build my own, and buy the aperture.
4) I need to confirm that I can buy BW film locally and get it processed locally
5) My goal for this week: build a 35mm pinhole camera so I can shoot next weekend. Blowing film just to mess around will be completely acceptable. If BW developing is not locally available, color film is acceptable.
6) Update: Pinholes ordered from calumetphoto.com. 12 pinholes of varying sizes. That’ll keep me out of trouble. :)
On to the messy research:
——-DIY DEVELOPING——-
Sure, I did film in high school… in roll holders. But no, this is 4x5. Different beast.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/alternative-developing/
HP Combi-Plan - about $75
http://www.amazon.com/HP-Combi-Plan-Sheet-Developing-System/dp/B0000ALKEH
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/23845-REG/HP_Combi_Plan_459809_HP_Combi_4_x.html
A little on tray developing: http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/003q8Q
——-DEVELOPING BY MAIL——-
http://citizensphoto.com/ - $1.90 a sheet for bw.
http://www.gammasf.com/ - 4x5 is 5.50, with $15 min
http://www.aandi.com/fp.html - $3 a sheet for 4x5 …comes well recommended
http://www.reedphoto.com/film/color-film-developing.html - $2.90 for 4x5
HOW TO PACKAGE:
You get an empty film box, the kind with three “halves”, for lack of a better word; tape it up so it doesn’t open accidentally.
On the box top, write your name, phone number, address, what kind of film it is, what process it requires (C-41, E-6, etc), and how many sheets are in the box.
Put that in a heavy black film plastic, and put that in a bubble envelope or shipping box.
Ask that the film box and plastic be returned to you.
Also write on your film box EXPOSED FILM! OPEN IN COMPLETE DARKNESS.
——-BUYING FILM BACKS——-
Riteway is good.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-RITEWAY-4-X-5-FILM-HOLDERS-/310377816831?pt=US_Film_Backs_Holders&hash=item4843f5a2ff
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FILM-HOLDER-4X5-RITEWAY-GRAPHIC-LARGE-FORMAT-VINTAGE-/200704737231?pt=US_Film_Backs_Holders&hash=item2ebaef3fcf
——-THOUGHTS ON HOW VARIOUS PROCESSES EXPRESS VALUES——-
4X5 pinhole - practical, for what I’m doing, which is why I went there. But there’s also a romanticism to it.
Buying a camera instead of making one - my love of beautiful gadgets.
Sending away to have film developed - it’s really not about the romanticism of doing it all yourself, or about the romanticism of material and process. It becomes about whatever is convenient, for doing a sensible sort of recording.
——-HARMAN TITAN 4X5 CAMERA——-
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/826648-REG/Ilford_1172566_Harman_Titan_Pinhole_Camera.html
Paper substitution detailed on Ilford website.
The 72mm cone’s pinhole size is 0.35mm which equates to an aperture of f206.
Some photos made w/ the camera:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90927863@N00/sets/72157628034987823/with/6357360397/
——-4X5 PINHOLE CAMERA FOR ALL BACKS——-
Another one worth looking into.
http://contact.ebay.com/ws1/eBayISAPI.dll?ShowEmailAuctionToFriend&rt=nc&item=180813490169
0.20mm pinhole - f/250
focal length 50mm (super wide!)
——-TEST WITH 35MM KIT?——-
http://www.allmodern.com/Kikkerland-Pinhole-Camera-Solargraphy-Kit-CAM01-A-KKL1085.html?refid=GPA81-KKL1085&gclid=CIPMjsG5lq4CFYvRKgodtg9zLg
35mm
1.16mm aperture
focal length 20mm —- this is about equal to 72mm for 4x5
F/130
——-TEST WITH 35MM SLR CAP?——-
I mean, since I have a camera already…
http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/slr-pinhole-body-cap/
.25mm aperture, f/181, 50mm focal length
——-SIGH: MAKE MY OWN PINHOLE CAMERA——-
http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/the-ultimate-guide-to-create-your-own-35mm-pinhole-camera/
http://www.diyphotography.net/23-pinhole-cameras-that-you-can-build-at-home
Probably the best way to go. The question is, what stop? what focal length? What size pinhole? (This is the equivalent of my coveted pinhole camera kit.)
From pinhole.stanford.edu/pinholmath.htm:
35mm format - 22mm focal length - 0.171mm pinhole - 43mm neg diagonal - f/128
From: http://www.zeroimage.com/tools/fstopcal4.php
22mm focal length - 0.19mm pinhole - f/117.26
——-FOCAL LENGTH, F-STOP, APERTURE, AND EXPOSURE TIMES——-
focallength/fstop = aperture
20mm/206 = 0.0971mm
Details on f/stops: http://www.uscoles.com/fstop.htm
So the next question is, how do I get exposure times for f/206?
Oh, yes, I can just use the Ilford one. But note: f/206 is darn close to f/256: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2011106152612113.pdf
——-BUYING PINHOLES——-
sources for pinhole sheets: http://photo.net/learn/pinhole/pinplate.htm
http://www.pinholeresource.com/shop/shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=89&category_id=16
http://www.nationalaperture.com/pinhole.htm .35mm pinhole is 350µm
——-MAKING PINHOLES——-
http://www.withoutlenses.com/articles/how-to/drill-your-own-precision-pinhole-apertures
http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/minute_aperture_imaging_pinhole_aperture_set/py3005 - a dozen for $42, ships free