Pinhole Lens Club

Sandy Hancock · 02-15-2015, 05:20 PM - **4 Likes**

I have been using the 07 Mount Shield as my lens of the month for the Single In February 2015 challenge. It doesn't have a club yet. Any takers?

A couple of images for starters: all taken on the Q7.

Haya and Otoya

Red

Aquatherapy

Dartmoor Dave · 08-23-2017, 05:30 AM - **5 Likes**

I couldn't find anywhere else for pinhole photos, so I decided to exhume this thread from the Lens Clubs crypt.

It occurred to me that hand-held pinhole photography should be possible with the high ISO levels available from a modern CMOS sensor, so I played around with the idea yesterday using a home-made pinhole on the K-S1. It made for an amusing afternoon's walk, if nothing else.

The first one is at 1/125th at ISO 16000, and the second one is 1/125th at ISO20000. I should have probably tried some of a more static subject at ISO 100 as well, but I really hate lugging a tripod around.

szs · 12-04-2018, 02:25 PM

I am walking around with my noname "fell-out-of-ebay" pinhole as I type this.

I can't believe that there is only (now) three people in this club!!1!

Will post pictures later

szs · 12-05-2018, 01:02 AM - **2 Likes**

And here we go.... The first one is made with the pinhole, the second one (for reference) with the Auto Revuenon 50mm.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

View Picture EXIF

**Perfessor5646** · 02-06-2019, 11:00 AM

Does anyone have any experience with the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens in K mount available from B&H?

It’s f180.

Rico · 02-07-2019, 04:46 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Perfessor5646

Does anyone have any experience with the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens in K mount available from B&H?

It’s f180.

The only thing the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens is really good for is making a better pinhole lens out of it. The pinhole in the Rising is to large by at least a factor of 2 or 3. The other problem with the Rising is the the aluminum the hole is drilled through is way to thick. I don't think the Rising ƒ stop really equals ƒ180. You will only achieve the same fuzzy images shown already.

For best Pinhole results this set of laser drilled pinholes on really thin stainless steel sheets at Pinhole Resources is money better spent to get started. It's just a matter of fitting them to some sort of K-mount. For 35mm format a pinhole of around 0.0087 or smaller in size will give better detailed images. Pinhole Resources also sell pinhole lens caps.

Racer X 69 · 02-27-2019, 04:59 PM - **3 Likes**

My front porch, shot with a K-1, and a 0.3mm lens cap pinhole.

Racer X 69 · 02-27-2019, 05:04 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Perfessor5646

Does anyone have any experience with the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens in K mount available from B&H?

It’s f180.

I passed over it as the price was excessive.

Picked up a cheap "dustless" cap type from eBay, laser drilled to 0.3mm, with a layer of glass to "keep the dust out" of the camera.

I somehow wonder if the glass is causing some of the softness I get in the images I have made thus far.

Dartmoor Dave · 02-28-2019, 02:06 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by Racer X 69

Picked up a cheap "dustless" cap type from eBay, laser drilled to 0.3mm, with a layer of glass to "keep the dust out" of the camera. I somehow wonder if the glass is causing some of the softness I get in the images I have made thus far.

For pinhole shots those are amazingly sharp. I'm wondering if the layer of glass might actually be having a slight focusing effect? Could you let us know the specific brand? I'd love to get one for myself.

Some more homemade pinhole tests from a couple of years ago:

Racer X 69 · 02-28-2019, 03:06 AM

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

Could you let us know the specific brand? I'd love to get one for myself.

It isn’t a brand, Dave, just a guy selling them on eBay, for about $12 or so. Having seen prices approaching $100 for a lens cap with a hole in it I thought it wouldn’t be a big loss trying the low cost one out. I think his eBay name is fireseller, and he bills them as “dustless”, because of the layer of glass.

As I mentioned, I think the glass does more harm than good, actually refracting the light and causing the soft glow in the images.

How much dust can get past a 0.3mm hole anyway?

I want to try one out that doesn’t have a layer of glass, and has a smaller hole, maybe 0.2mm, or even smaller. It looks like a smaller hole, on the thinnest possible material should give a better, sharper result.

Dartmoor Dave · 02-28-2019, 04:29 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Racer X 69

I want to try one out that doesn’t have a layer of glass, and has a smaller hole, maybe 0.2mm, or even smaller. It looks like a smaller hole, on the thinnest possible material should give a better, sharper result.

Thinner material and the cleanest possible hole will make things sharper, but according to the Rayleigh formula 0.3mm is the right size for the focal length of a K Mount body cap pinhole. A smaller pinhole will make things blurrier because of diffraction. I've just been reading this very informative article that has a handy ready-reckoner at the end: Pinhole Design ? what Lord Rayleigh really said « Pinholes « Formulas And How-To « AlternativePhotography.com

**Perfessor5646** · 02-28-2019, 05:35 AM - **1 Like**

I was asking because years ago I bought a yellow cardboard pinhole camera that used 126 film cartridges. IIRC, one would strap it to a brick or something for stability. The pinhole was covered with a piece of cardboard in some kind of guide that would allow one to open it and count the seconds for the exposure. The film advance was a simple knob on top.
DoF extended from a few inches to inifinity. I’d photograph my sons GI Joes and their vehicles in the grass and was amazed at the DoF and the soft “realism” of that POV.

35 years later that same son plays a table top wargame call Bolt Action that uses highly detailed 25mm miniatures and scale scenery and I’m looking to get the same kind of POV even using my 15mm and 12mm miniatures for forced perspective shots. I figured I have all the modern technology to do it, I just need the primitive tech.

I have Q7s and the Lens Shield and 03 fisheye but haven’t tested to see if that delivers.

Racer X 69 · 02-28-2019, 06:24 AM

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

Thinner material and the cleanest possible hole will make things sharper, but according to the Rayleigh formula 0.3mm is the right size for the focal length of a K Mount body cap pinhole. A smaller pinhole will make things blurrier because of diffraction. I've just been reading this very informative article that has a handy ready-reckoner at the end: Pinhole Design ? what Lord Rayleigh really said « Pinholes « Formulas And How-To « AlternativePhotography.com

Thanks for the info Dave, very informative stuff there.

Gives me more to think about.

Vasyl · 09-14-2019, 07:24 AM - **2 Likes**

A couple of pictures by K1 and the lens I made

Dartmoor Dave · 09-14-2019, 09:19 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Vasyl

A couple of pictures by K1 and the lens I made

Those are wonderful. Please tell us how you made the lens, because I for one definitely want to know so that I can copy it shamelessly.

02-15-2015, 05:20 PM - 4 Likes	#1
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Pinhole Lens Club I have been using the 07 Mount Shield as my lens of the month for the Single In February 2015 challenge. It doesn't have a club yet. Any takers? A couple of images for starters: all taken on the Q7. Haya and Otoya Red Aquatherapy

02-28-2019, 02:06 AM - 3 Likes	#9
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,890	Originally posted by Racer X 69 Picked up a cheap "dustless" cap type from eBay, laser drilled to 0.3mm, with a layer of glass to "keep the dust out" of the camera. I somehow wonder if the glass is causing some of the softness I get in the images I have made thus far. For pinhole shots those are amazingly sharp. I'm wondering if the layer of glass might actually be having a slight focusing effect? Could you let us know the specific brand? I'd love to get one for myself. Some more homemade pinhole tests from a couple of years ago: Last edited by Dartmoor Dave; 02-28-2019 at 02:19 AM.

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12-04-2018, 02:25 PM	#3
szs Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Morelia, Michoacán Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 126	I am walking around with my noname "fell-out-of-ebay" pinhole as I type this. I can't believe that there is only (now) three people in this club!!1! Will post pictures later

02-06-2019, 11:00 AM	#5
Perfessor5646 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Louisville, KY Photos: Albums Posts: 605	Does anyone have any experience with the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens in K mount available from B&H? It’s f180.

02-07-2019, 04:46 PM - 1 Like	#6
Rico Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,205	Originally posted by Perfessor5646 Does anyone have any experience with the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens in K mount available from B&H? It’s f180. The only thing the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens is really good for is making a better pinhole lens out of it. The pinhole in the Rising is to large by at least a factor of 2 or 3. The other problem with the Rising is the the aluminum the hole is drilled through is way to thick. I don't think the Rising ƒ stop really equals ƒ180. You will only achieve the same fuzzy images shown already. For best Pinhole results this set of laser drilled pinholes on really thin stainless steel sheets at Pinhole Resources is money better spent to get started. It's just a matter of fitting them to some sort of K-mount. For 35mm format a pinhole of around 0.0087 or smaller in size will give better detailed images. Pinhole Resources also sell pinhole lens caps.

02-27-2019, 04:59 PM - 3 Likes	#7
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073	My front porch, shot with a K-1, and a 0.3mm lens cap pinhole.

02-27-2019, 05:04 PM - 1 Like	#8
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073	Originally posted by Perfessor5646 Does anyone have any experience with the Rising Wide angle pinhole lens in K mount available from B&H? It’s f180. I passed over it as the price was excessive. Picked up a cheap "dustless" cap type from eBay, laser drilled to 0.3mm, with a layer of glass to "keep the dust out" of the camera. I somehow wonder if the glass is causing some of the softness I get in the images I have made thus far.

02-28-2019, 03:06 AM	#10
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave Could you let us know the specific brand? I'd love to get one for myself. It isn’t a brand, Dave, just a guy selling them on eBay, for about $12 or so. Having seen prices approaching $100 for a lens cap with a hole in it I thought it wouldn’t be a big loss trying the low cost one out. I think his eBay name is fireseller, and he bills them as “dustless”, because of the layer of glass. As I mentioned, I think the glass does more harm than good, actually refracting the light and causing the soft glow in the images. How much dust can get past a 0.3mm hole anyway? I want to try one out that doesn’t have a layer of glass, and has a smaller hole, maybe 0.2mm, or even smaller. It looks like a smaller hole, on the thinnest possible material should give a better, sharper result.

02-28-2019, 04:29 AM - 1 Like	#11
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,890	Originally posted by Racer X 69 I want to try one out that doesn’t have a layer of glass, and has a smaller hole, maybe 0.2mm, or even smaller. It looks like a smaller hole, on the thinnest possible material should give a better, sharper result. Thinner material and the cleanest possible hole will make things sharper, but according to the Rayleigh formula 0.3mm is the right size for the focal length of a K Mount body cap pinhole. A smaller pinhole will make things blurrier because of diffraction. I've just been reading this very informative article that has a handy ready-reckoner at the end: Pinhole Design ? what Lord Rayleigh really said « Pinholes « Formulas And How-To « AlternativePhotography.com

02-28-2019, 05:35 AM - 1 Like	#12
Perfessor5646 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Louisville, KY Photos: Albums Posts: 605	I was asking because years ago I bought a yellow cardboard pinhole camera that used 126 film cartridges. IIRC, one would strap it to a brick or something for stability. The pinhole was covered with a piece of cardboard in some kind of guide that would allow one to open it and count the seconds for the exposure. The film advance was a simple knob on top. DoF extended from a few inches to inifinity. I’d photograph my sons GI Joes and their vehicles in the grass and was amazed at the DoF and the soft “realism” of that POV. 35 years later that same son plays a table top wargame call Bolt Action that uses highly detailed 25mm miniatures and scale scenery and I’m looking to get the same kind of POV even using my 15mm and 12mm miniatures for forced perspective shots. I figured I have all the modern technology to do it, I just need the primitive tech. I have Q7s and the Lens Shield and 03 fisheye but haven’t tested to see if that delivers.

02-28-2019, 06:24 AM	#13
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave Thinner material and the cleanest possible hole will make things sharper, but according to the Rayleigh formula 0.3mm is the right size for the focal length of a K Mount body cap pinhole. A smaller pinhole will make things blurrier because of diffraction. I've just been reading this very informative article that has a handy ready-reckoner at the end: Pinhole Design ? what Lord Rayleigh really said « Pinholes « Formulas And How-To « AlternativePhotography.com Thanks for the info Dave, very informative stuff there. Gives me more to think about.

09-14-2019, 07:24 AM - 2 Likes	#14
Vasyl Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 648	A couple of pictures by K1 and the lens I made

09-14-2019, 09:19 AM - 1 Like	#15
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,890	Originally posted by Vasyl A couple of pictures by K1 and the lens I made Those are wonderful. Please tell us how you made the lens, because I for one definitely want to know so that I can copy it shamelessly.