Further Experiments with Pinholes

Colne Water - Praktica MTL3, 50mm
lens, Kentmere 100 film

It’s official.

I’m a worrier.

Well, that’s not strictly true.  I’m actually a good boy scout; I like to be prepared.

The experiments with the 4” x 5” have been extremely enjoyable.  In fact, I’ve relished the challenge of trying something new and a little more complex than I am used to but (and it is a big but) I began to (not) worry (but have it in the back of my mind) about what do I do if I can’t get a decent image out of the 4” x 5” pinhole.

Let’s make this clear.  This isn’t the camera’s fault; it’s not the films fault; it’s mine.

I am quite a technical person but my downfall is maths and physics.  What does photography rely on?  Maths, physics and chemistry.  I suppose one out of three is a start.  I can at least cope and do quite well with the chemistry stuff!

The camera is fine.  I’m getting sharp enough images out of it for what I want.  The exposure is the problem and this is compounded by the fact that there is no data sheet for reciprocity failure leaving me guessing to what the exposure should be.

The other worry is what if I want to take more than two shots?  The obvious answer is to buy more dark slides and carry them with me.  Which, I have resolved to do.  The other option is to have a changing bag and change on the fly (I’ve ruled this one out due to me likely to have some sort of light accident).

So, as a good boy scout, I have come up with a back up plan.

I have a spare camera.  A Praktica MTL3 which is in good condition.  It’s also a 35mm.  What if I make this in to a pinhole as well?  I can carry endless rolls of Ilford FP4+, Kentmere 100 or even Rollei ATO 2.1 (in 135 roll form).  They are lighter than dark slides, and I can have 36 images per roll.  In addition to this if I use FP4+ or Kentmere I have reciprocity data readily available (learning a lesson yet Rollei?).  With the amount I am able to carry I am also able to bracket shots to ensure perfect exposure.  What’s one more shot off a roll of 36?  It’s a bit different when you only have one or two shots to pull off the perfect photograph.

Woodland Path - Praktica MTL3, Pinhole Lens,
Kentmere 100 film.

And so, I made a pinhole lens for my MTL3.  This was very easily done.  I got a body cap and drilled a 15mm hole in it.  On the back of the cap I attached a small piece of aluminium with a hole of around 0.5mm through the centre et voila a pin hole lens.

First in the camera was a roll of Kentmere 100.  This I had data for and the exposure is more or less perfect.  However, the image is really blurred.  This can only be down to the pinhole size.  The answer?  Make a new shim with a smaller pinhole.  Which is exactly what I have done.

I have to admit, I really do like the blurred image.  It’s kind of abstract in its nature but still has definition.  You can tell what the subject is without know the subject location.  It’s almost impressionist.  I think I would have liked it even more if it had been in colour.

So, the new lens has been constructed.  Lessons in handling the camera and working out the exposure have been learnt and a workflow is in place (which will be the subject of the next post).  I had a roll of FP4+ lolling around my camera bag so that has been slapped in the camera and is in the process of being shot.  Will post some images after the roll is finished and been developed.

Incidentally; shooting with a pinhole lens means you can’t see anything through the viewfinder and so I take a shot with a 50mm lens (which is pretty close to the focal length of the pinhole).  This also helps with exposure.  The shot at the top of this post is one of the images that came out.  It is the same location as one of the 4” x 5” test shots.