Pixiq

PART 3

As I stated in my earlier related posts,…

120 Matchbox Pinhole Project

…one of my to-do projects for WPPD - 2012 is to build a working 120-pinhole camera from a large kitchen matchbox.

PLEASE READ! - As this is a learn as I go project, I will not post this as a tutorial yet. I am only showing you my progress in the hopes of getting you interested in the building process.

So far I had put together a light baffle, plugged the holes in the inner box, and punched a few holes to accommodate a winding mechanism. Oh, and I fashioned a light-trap for the winding system as well!

So at this point in time, I've added what should be a pretty nice and lightproof advance knob.

Image 1 - Here is the end of a 120 film spool that shows the slot used for winding the film through a camera. It so happens that it is slightly smaller than a 1/4 20 screw thread. It is also made of rather soft plastic.

Note: I hope to have an alternative solution for a take-up spool by the time I am ready to post the complete instructions.

Image 2 - As revealed in the previous post, I have punched two holes in the top right side of both the inside box and the outside liner of the matchbox. These holes should be made roughly 1/2" from the inside of the right edge and the same distance from the back. In mine, I made the outside hole a bit larger to allow for some wiggle room.

Image 3 - The hole should accommodate a 1/4" thumbscrew. Here, I have glued a small piece of felt material to the inside of the inner box at the punched hole location. Once the advance film spool is in place, this should block any light from entering through the opening. 

 Image 4- I have decided to use a 1/4 20 thumbscrew with a same size hex nut, a wide 1/4" washer and a piece of felt material cut to approximately the same diameter as the washer.

Image 5 - There are many options for creating an advance winding mechanism. I found a thumbscrew and a wing screw as well as a washer and a hex nut as well as a small wooden toy wheel. They all had similar 1/4" openings or threads. I also cut a few felt washers that will act as lighttraps.

Image 6 - Before adding it to the camera, I force the screw threads into the soft plastic to engage the end of the empty spool. I only need to force it enough so as to grab the spool sufficiently to create the tension required to pull the film through the film path. My guess is that it would be about one full turn.

I still need to produce a light baffle for the outside sleeve, create a simple shutter mechanism, add a pinhole, load the film, find a few subjects and shoot!

Note: Although I stated I would have a downloadable template for creating the inner baffle with further instructions, I could not find the time to do so this week. However, it is in the making and I should have it ready soon.

I am still having fun with this project! Can't wait to see how this camera performs!

You might want to go back to the last two posts to read more about this project.

120 Matchbox Pinhole Project

120 Matchbox Pinhole Project - Part 2

Find out more about Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day:

WPPD - 2012

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