For me, pinhole photography is not about gear.  Even more so than digital imaging-making, a vision (or indeed previsualisation) for the final image is often key to achieving the best results; the unpredictability of longer exposures makes pinholing a fun experience where experimentation can throw up both pleasing and sometime surprising results.  Most pinhole cameras on the market (or make your own!) are capable of similar point-and-shoot results but the decisions to be made by the image-maker, such as composition, exposure time, technical know-how (e.g. reciprocity failure calculations) is what, in my opinion, will determine an image’s success.  I make images for me; if others like them and can relate or have an emotional response to them, that is also very pleasing but this is not a key objective. The simplicity of film pinhole cameras – at their most basic, it is no more than a camera obscura or lightbox – means that there are fewer optional extras and no detailed menu screens to sift through.  My preference at the moment is for medium format 120 film cameras – these cameras are often lightweight and have a wide field of view.  The pinholer’s mantra of “get closer” is very true when making images with these cameras. I prefer cameras with a cable release and also a filter thread.  If you wish to add colour contrast filters or ND filters (to extend the exposure time), then a filter thread is a must in my view.  For coastal work, I will often add ND filters to lengthen exposure time in order to meet – I hope – the pre-visualised final image.

Film Pinhole Equipment

Cameras:

Zero 2000 (6x6) deluxe edition (2012) - f138 - field of view 130 degrees diagonally

Nopo 120 (6x6F) - f128 - field of view 90 degrees diagonally

Zero 69 (multi-format) deluxe edition - f235 - varying filed of view depending on format (6 x 4.5, 6 x 6, 6 x 7 and 6 x 9)

Realitysosubtle 6x6F - f160 - field of view 99 degrees horizontally and vertically

Realitysosubtle 6x17 - f233 - field of view 141 degrees horizontally and 44 degrees vertically

Harman Titan 4x5 - f206 - field of view 97 degrees (with 72mm cone)

Karlos 6x6 (with viewfinder) - f140 - 35mm equivalent

Accessories:

  • Pentax spotmeter (for accurate exposure metering)

  • Hoya ProND32 filter (3 stops)

  • GOBE ND64 filter (6 stops)

  • Hoya IR72 filter (infrared)

  • Various cable releases

Film:

Usually, black and white negative film - Ilford Pan F+, FP4 or Ilford Delta 100.

Occasionally, colour film - Kodak Ektar 100 or Kodak Portra 160.