pinhole camera

["S. Kearney" <neff123@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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http://www.scotborders.co.uk/photon/pinhole2.html

Notice below that a stereo pinhole camera is in the works!

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<TITLE>pinhole test</TITLE>
<H1>The Robert Rigby Pinhole Camera</H1>

<H3>A brief field test by Andy Aitken using Polaroid instant black and wh=
ite=20
material</H3>


That's not a camera! If I had a pound for every time I've heard that I=20
could probably retire immediately. No, my friends, this is the minimalist=
=20
camera - no shutter, no viewfinder, no meter and (causing the most=20
confusion) no lens. <P>
        The device that has caused most interest recently amongst creative photo=
graphers in=20
        Britain is the <B>Robert Rigby=20
Pinhole Camera</B>, which has just been released. At=20
=A3100 (not including film-back) most people seem to regard it as a rathe=
r=20
expensive wooden box. I prefer to think of it as the world's most=20
inexpensive 4 x 5" camera. So how does it work? Simple; light passing=20
through a hole of a given (small) diameter will give a sharp, inverted=20
image at a given distance.<P>
<IMG SRC=3D"pinhole1.jpg"><P>
        The modern day reinvention of this old concept uses a pinhole of=20
about f/166 - even less at the edges, but don=CDt worry about it - and ta=
kes=20
three types of camera back. A simple adjustment converts the pinhole=20
camera to take standard 4 x 5" double darkslides and film holders,=20
Polaroid 545, or Polaroid 405 instant film backs. I used the 405 back, wh=
ich gives a=20
3.25 x 4.25 inch image with Polapan 100. I expect that superior results=20
could be obtained with 4 x 5 sheet film, Technical Pan or Pan F giving=20
useful exposure times in most conditions.<P>=20
        Two triangles of studs on the top and side of the camera give a rough=20
idea of the angle of view to be expected, but I found it useful to=20
take along an SLR with a 24mm lens and press its base against the side of=
=20
the camera to get a more accurate impression. The pinhole gives a wider=20
angle than the 24mm lens, probably about 18 - 20mm with the 405 back, but=
=20
it makes a useful guide. A lens or rangefinder viewer of this type would=20
be ideal.<P>
        Exposure is achieved by removing the safety slide and opening the=20
circular shutter/lens cap for the appropriate time. On a bright day with=20
ISO 100 film this can be as little as 1 - 2 seconds, which can cause=20
problems with vibration shake, as well as making precise timing tricky. T=
he=20
best policy is to use as slow a film as possible and a solid tripod. <P>
        Pointing the camera into the sun or area of strong reflection resulted i=
n=20
a rather surprising effect. A halo of varying size - wide in <A HREF=3D"p=
inhole3.jpg">this=20
example</A>
 but smaller in other situations - appears on the image, and is=20
presumably caused by a diffraction of light around the edge of the pinhol=
e.=20
The pinhole equivalent of lens flare!<P>=20
        The other 'special effect' is the vignetting that is due to an effective=
=20
variation in the aperture between centre and edge. This should be a=20
problem, but somehow seems to enhance the results by focusing attention i=
n=20
the centre of the image, which is in any case, less distorted. Take a=20
look at my view of <A HREF=3D"pinhole2.jpg">Murder Moss</A> in Selkirkshi=
re, Scotland - snow in April,=20
but that is normal for Selkirk.<P>
        As for special features, the Bob Rigby camera has twin tripod sockets fo=
r=20
horizontal or vertical shooting, infinitely variable shutter speeds (as=20
quick as you can flick your wrist), zero distortion, super bright=20
viewfinder (your eyes) and an angle of view that would=20
normally cost real money.<P>
        The quality of finish is pretty good - grained wood=20
neatly finished with a brass plaque stamped with the limited edition=20
serial number. The designers, Snowling Associates, tell me that two furth=
er=20
versions are on the way, a stereo version and a 'telephoto'.<P>
        As a painless introduction to the 4 x 5 format the Rigby camera is=20
unsurpassed. Even as a training tool for photography in general - the=20
basic principles of exposure and how a camera works - it should prove=20
invaluable to schools and colleges. It is fun to use and experiment with=20
and is relatively inexpensive. <P>
        It would be nice to imagine that the Robert Rigby Pinhole Camera might b=
e=20
responsible for a few more people developing an interest in photography o=
r=20
even taking the step from 35mm to large format. The most important thing=20
about it is that it changes the way you think about taking a picture,=20
teaching how to use long exposures to create a vast depth of field or=20
including much more foreground or sky detail. Perhaps in future I will=20
find myself taking more of my landscapes at f/22 on my 24mm lens.<P>
        It's amazing just how much fun you can get and how much you can learn fr=
om=20
a wooden box.<P>
<UL>
<LI> Return to PHOTON <A HREF=3D"maycontents.html">May Contents</A>
<LI> View original PHOTON <A HREF=3D"pinhole.html">News Story</A> on this=
 item
</UL>

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