Finally I have some free time to write this tutor – ‘How to make Pin-Hole camera’.


Here, I am going to go through the process step by step with some visual guide. No worry, it is easy to make one for yourself. Enjoy!

1. You need some basic tools to go along the process. You may need more/others.
 

2. Some basic material to make one pin-hole camera.
1- black card (I got it from Polaroid pack)
2- 120 film’s paper
3- some empty 135 film canisters (with film thread)
4- some empty 135 film canisters (opened)
5- camera ( I am using candy box)
not in pix- different kind of tapes, film canister box, small piece of foil, and etc.
 

3. Prepare one of your desire film that you going to use, and one film canister with thread.

4. Cut off the extra thread head to get a straight line. So that it can join with the other thread head.

5. Align two thread heads together.

6. And then, join them and secure with masking tape. And we have done the film part.

7. Use a 135 film to measure and mark the cutting point. Remember to give some extra space for cutting. Otherwise it will be too tight to wind the film.

8. Cut the part with cutter. Bend the ending side to prevent sharp edge (or you can sand it off).

9. For finer detailing, you can stick some velvet/velcro cloth at the open plate. Just to prevent light leaking and scratching. I got it from the used film canister. Remember to use double side tape but not super glue because it will turn hard and may cause to scratch you film.
 

10. Cut a black card according to the size and stick it at the back. This will prevent the light bounce back from the reflective metal surface. Make sure is not too thick or you will have trouble with winding film later. You can use sugar paper but make sure you flatten it well. (I used Polaroid protector card).

11. The film cassette cap part is nearly done. Now, pull enough of film and place it on.

12. Carefully slot it the metal plate into the film canister.

13. It should sit in nicely just like that.

14. Secure both canisters with tape to prevent them falling off. Should look like what in this pix.

15. This is the inner side. Film should sit on the black card and go across the cassette in straight line. Try to wind the film a bit to check the smoothness. Should have nothing to hole or scratch from the side of film.

16. Almost there. Now for more detailing. This DIY camera has no counter so we have to do something with it. Here, we can use the extra bit of film thread that we cut in the earlier. Cut off a small stripe from it. Cut a sharp triangle at one side and bend/curve it.

17. Stick two stripes at the back of film canister with black tape. These not only can help us to count the film winding also prevent the film to go back into canister by accident. And we done the film and back part!

18. Try to cap on the candy box to see whether it sit nicely or not. If not, just do some adjustment.

19. On the other half of can/box. We poke a hole at the center point. You can use any sharp object (example: nail). Make sure you do not use too much of strength or the box will bend. No worry about the size of the hole, just do it and make sure it is round and without sharp edge ( or you can sand it off later).

20. Something like that. Around 5-10mm.

21. Get a piece of foil paper and poke a tiny hole with a pin. Make sure is very small… otherwise it will not call pin hole

22. Tape the foil at the inner side with black tape. You can mask all the reflective part if you want to.

23. At the front side, the hole should sit at the center point. Something look like in the pix.

24. Cut more velvet/velcro from the used film canister. Stick it to the both side of can. Same thing, to prevent light leaking can film scratching. And we done the box!

25. Now the shutter gate part. I used the paper box from the film. Cut a desire size and make a hole at the center part. Secure the paper at the top and bottom with black tape. Make sure you have space at the center so the shutter can runs through it.

26. You can use any paper (has some thickness). I am using 120 film’s back paper here. It smooth enough can has a black surface at the other side which will limit the light to leak in. cut a same size of hole at the center part. Put the paper through the card we made earlier.

27. Try move it from side to side just to make sure it smooth enough to slide. I do some marking lines so I know where and when the hole is open or close.

28. Here, I have a reminder for myself. Remember the clicker we did it in step#17? I have counted my sprocket’s counter earlier, it is 21 clicks for a full frame winding. After each shot, I just have to wind the film with 21 clicks. Check around the camera, tape up those hole or line space you may think can cause light leak. Especially the film canister joining area.





There we go, we have done it!!! A Pin-Hole Camera!!! Enjoy the fun!

SEAN ENG