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CAMela Project - Compact film pinhole camera

by spidermac on January 14, 2008

Table of Contents

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: CAMela Project - Compact film pinhole camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: "not so dark" room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 2: "now dark" room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3: Closing and cutting the frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 4: Film container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 5: backside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 6: Glueing film containers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

step 7: it's time to pin! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

step 8: Film winding spool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

step 9: Finishing the CAMela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)

Intro: CAMela Project - Compact film pinhole camera

This is my first instructables and talk about my first attempt to build a reusable compact pinhole camera.
The camera is named CAMela, the name come from the main piece, the "dark room", made out from a cigarette pack.
The depth of the cigarette pack is 23 mm, and the depth is the focal length . Thanks to the mrPinhole 's camera design calculator we can see that 23 mm of focal lenght
is almost perfect. But we have to do a hole of 0,2 mm.
On mrPinhole's website can also calculate the exposure, in a sunny day is 1/2 Sec.
You can design a pinhole camera better than mine with this calculator.

You can find all photos on: http://flickr.com/photos/spidermac/sets/72157603714419904/

All the materials used in the project are easy to find and simple to mount.
Good instructabling.

Image Notes
1. first scrap project study

step 1: "not so dark" room

In this step we take the center of the two biggest faces of the pack.
You can discover the center using a ruler to trace two lines from the opposite angles, as you can see in figures.
Once we know where center is, on one face we can draw the rectangle shape of 24 mm x 36 mm (the full frame format of 35mm film ). In the other side we later made a
little hole.
The inside of the pack is white, we have to turn in black.

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes
1. center

Image Notes
1. white :P

step 2: "now dark" room

To transform the cigarette pack in a dark room pick up a matte black spray can. And carefully but fast sprapaint it black in the inside, do not use to much paint or the
paper pack become too wet and destroy.
Wait until the paint dry, if some part remain white retouch with a black marker.

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes
1. original montana

Image Notes
1. correct it

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
step 3: Closing and cutting the frame
After all the paint dried, you have to close the pack and "secure" with some black adhesive tape or gaffer tape. So the light can't enter from nowhere. Later we use the
tape again.
To open the frame window use an xacto knife or a cutter o your teeth if you prefer, and cut long the line we've draw. After that tape the window like the figure.
Now with an open window on the inside you can see more white part of paper cover it white the black marker.

Image Notes
1. correct it with black marker

step 4: Film container

Take the black film container with your xacto knife friend cut a line in the plastic. This cut is where the film exit (figure 2), impress your smile and later re-enter in a film
container like that but at the opposite part of the cigarette pack.

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes
1. cut - - -

step 5: backside
We need to close the back of the camera, 'cause now the film is getting all the sun. To do this get a piece of hard cardboard, spraypaint it black and tape it to the back
and base of the camera. Now you've did it a hinge with black tape, so you can open and close the back.
At the base of the camera, under the frame window, I've glued a little piece of cardboard (height 1cm), this is the guide for the film, so it don't go away and remain
horizontal.
At the top back of the CAMela i've taped a film cover thing (figure 3,4) to protect from light and lock film.
At least cut the back side cardboard at the same height of the CAMela

Image Notes
1. CUT - - - -
2. hinge

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. the film cover thing 1. the film cover thing

step 6: Glueing film containers

This step, is simple.
Take the two cutted film containers and glue, i've used silicon glue, to the side of the pack.
Pay attention that the cut is parallel and at the same level of the side of the pack, so the film remain straight. After that wait until the glue drie.

Image Notes
1. film cover thing
2. film sustainer

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes
1. glue it

step 7: it's time to pin!

After the simple step the "hardest" one.
As said at the beginning the hole must be 0,2 mm, to do this we need to use a pin or a needle.
The smallest needle i've found is in the figure 1, the broad side is thicker than 0,2 mm but I've used only the point.
The hole is in the center of the pack, right on the penis of the famous camel man .
To hole it, push the needle through the paper, with calm, and with a finger from the other side of the cardboard feel if the point is passed. If yes, stop it.
If is all ok, you have a pinhole!

Image Notes
1. the camel man

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes
1. it seems bigger because the light

step 8: Film winding spool

At this point the CAMela needs a spool for the film.
I've created with the cap of the container, screw, fischer, nuts..etc The screw is screwed (sorry) in the container cap.
The fischer come with a cut on the side, perfect to lock the film, the "disc" is to sustain the film inside the container.
The CAMela needs a rewind spool, but i've don't made it. So to rewind I made by hand in completely dark room.
For the spools be creative, made it from anything you want. let me know how you made it, if you made it.

Image Notes
1. back side lock

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. fischer 1. cut to lock the film
2. disc thing

step 9: Finishing the CAMela

The shutter is made with a piece of magnet hinged to the camera with tape. And around the pinhole i've taped a piece of metal (figure 2) so once the shutter is closed,
stay close good. Tell me if you have better ideas.
The back side (figure 3) remain closed thanks to our friend gaffer tape, i've made a "lock with it".
In the next CAMela update i'll put it a piece of velcro to close.

Now the camera is finished. Close all the possible light source with tape.

Coming soon:
- A video to see how to load the film and use the CAMela
- Printed photos made with it

Good pinholing!

Image Notes Image Notes

1. magnet shutter 1. piece of metal around the pin hole

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 Image Notes
1. lock with gaffer tape
2. anti light super wing

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Comments
10 comments Add Comment

theosullis says: Jul 23, 2008. 7:31 AM REPLY

But doesent the film have to be placed in the camera in a dark room because light ruins film right?

microman171 says: Jul 14, 2008. 3:00 PM REPLY

Great first instructable dude! I will make one of these when I get home to NZ (Wow it is so warm in Aussie in winter :P:D)

joopdog says: Jan 25, 2008. 2:33 PM REPLY

This looks like a great camera. However, how does the shutter work? How do I snap the pictures? Thanks

meddler says: Jan 16, 2008. 6:54 PM REPLY

that, is cool! I am taking a photography class in collage, this will be a fun project.

minimalista says: Jan 16, 2008. 9:33 AM REPLY

si dai sanno un pò di nitro molto meglio delle molotow che puzzano troppo di catrame.. posta qualche foto fatta con la pinhole!! bella!

minimalista says: Jan 15, 2008. 10:23 AM REPLY

come vanno le 2g? puzzano un pò ma coprono o no?

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/
 spidermac says: Jan 16, 2008. 4:30 AM REPLY
vanno da paura! eheh.. secondo me non puzzano molto..anche se lo dicono tutti.. coprono benissimo uniformemente

LinuxH4x0r says: Jan 14, 2008. 7:35 PM REPLY

Cool! I never knew it was that easy.

GorillazMiko says: Jan 14, 2008. 6:52 PM REPLY

Great job! The Instructable was very good, the pictures were awesome, the steps were very detailed also. This looks a bit difficult, but amazing work for a
first Instructable, +1 rating.

spidermac says: Jan 14, 2008. 7:05 PM REPLY

Thanks so much! ..it's not difficult this project..really..try it ;) ah..sorry for my bad english all over the Instructable.

http://www.instructables.com/id/CAMela-Project---Compact-film-pinhole-camera/