The Pinhole

4/29/2004

Photography can be quite technical and very intimidating because of this. It is possible to be VERY technical with the pinhole and there are some valid scientific reasons why an engineer may want to be.

BUT, the art of pinhole is entirely different.

The pinhole can be as simple as a hole in a dark curtain to as complex as a laser produced platinum aperture for an x-ray telescope. We can easily, with little technical ability, make use of both ends of the spectrum.

ability
easy
takes practice
easy
cost
low
low
high
"sharpness"
low
medium - highest
highest

BUILDING CAMERAS

FOAMCORE 4x5

TABLES:

Focal Length to Pinhole

Pinhole to Focal Length

F# Progression

If you want to go crazy/anal over the exactness, see the MATH page or use one of these calculators:

simple pinhole calculator - quick and dirty, but works

Pinhole Calculator 3 - anal, for those more interested in making cameras that using them