How to Make Your Own 5 X7 Pinhole Camera

The story goes that back in caveman days; the first pinhole camera was created in a dark cave with a natural chink that miraculously projected an upside-down image of the outside world onto the cave wall. Amazingly, a pinhole camera can produce a sharp, clear image with no lenses, no expensive optics, and no specialty equipment. While old fashioned photography paper and developing chemicals are needed, pinhole camera photography is about as low-tech as you can get, and it's easy to make your own. These directions are for a pinhole camera that will take 5" x 7" photographs.

Pinhole Camera Supplies

Corrugated cardboard box with lid approximately 6 x 8 x10"

Matte black paint

Manila folder

Craft Glue

Craft knife

Duct tape

Black heavyweight trash bag

Heavy duty aluminum foil

16 gauge sewing needle

Finishing gauge sandpaper

Create the Photo Paper Holder

Cut a 6" x 8" rectangle from the manila folder. Cut the center of the rectangle out to create a frame shape with a rectangular opening in the center measuring 4 ½" x 6 ½". Paint both sides of the manila cutout matte black to help absorb stray light.

Create the Pinhole Camera Body

Using the craft knife carefully cut a 1" square hole in the center of one end of the box. Save the piece of cardboard. Cover the entire outside of the box and lid except for the 1" opening with pieces of the black trash bag, sealing the pieces on with duct tape. This will make your pinhole camera sturdier and more light tight. Paint the inside of the box and lid matte black. Run a bead of glue along the edges of the manila paper holder on three sides, leaving one side free, and glue it to the end opposite the 1" square cutout. Make sure the open end of the paper holder faces the open side of the box, so photographic paper can be slid in and out.

Create the Pinhole

Cut a 2" square of heavyweight aluminum foil and place it on a firm surface. Very carefully drill a hole in the center of the foil using the sewing needle. Use the sandpaper to smooth the back of the foil. Hold the foil up to a window to confirm the hole is perfectly round. The more perfectly round the pinhole is, the better the pinhole camera will work. You may go through a few pieces of foil at this stage. Once you have a good pinhole, run a bead of glue all around the 1" cutout on the end of the box and glue the foil in place, centering the pinhole.

Create the Shutter

Cover the reserved 1" square of cardboard with duct tape on both sides. Cut a 6" strip of duct tape and fold 1" down to make a pull tab. Center the cardboard square over the pinhole and tape it in place, with the tab pointing to the top of the box. Your pinhole camera is ready to be loaded. To make an exposure pull on the tab to let the cardboard square fall. This will expose the pinhole.

Beyond Pinhole Camera Basics

There are many possible variations on the above method. Any lightproof container of any size will work; a larger box can hold larger film. Old-fashioned oatmeal boxes make excellent pinhole cameras that create interesting panoramic views. They don't require a film holder as the curvature of the box holds the paper in place. Determining exposure times and creating interesting images is an art and science, and a wonderfully entertaining hobby.

"How to Make and Use a Pinhole Camera," Kodak.com

"A Simple Camera," Bizarre Stuff.com