Pinhole Photgraphy question

[bigw00dy]

I recently came across some pinhole pictures people took using a dslr. I see alot of people use lens caps with a hole drilled in the middle. Has anyone attempted this with their alpha? If so, I would like to cut through the process of "making" my own 'lens' by seeing how others have done it.

Maybe sharing some pictures if you have them as well.

Thanks
Jeff

[sparkie1263]

You can see some images on this flickr site.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/normy/sets/1484713/
Frank

[laydros]

I think you would want to do it the way that person did, with a hole in the body cap. Putting a hole in a lens cap would just result in black around all but the middle of your image.

The pinhole kinda serves the same purpose as your aperture, so you need it closer in the focal plane to where the lens' aperture is.

Unfortunately, I think the alphas won't fire the shutter without detecting the electronic contacts of a lens. I expect there would be a workaround though.

You could probably get something like an A-mount to minolta manual focus adapter and then drill a hole in a manual focus body cap.

[DonSchap]

A "laser bore" is almost mandatory for a good pin-hole solution in a lens cap. There are a couple of people who do this and I considered it, a while back, until I realized it was a great way to suck dust into your camera, by operating the shutter with a wide open hole in the lens compartment. I decided on using real lenses, instead. The results seemed more consistent.

With film, though ... while I was attending college, I was going to fashion one out of a brick! Using a Polaroid film back (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/88696-REG/NPC_MF32_Polaroid_Film_Back_for.html). How barbaric, eh? I figured the brick would be the perfect way to say ... "simplicity."

4592545924

A pin-hole camera offers incredible DOF ... @ f/295 (http://www.f295.org/site/) (<- click here)

[laydros]

Yes, dust is certainly going to be an issue.

[Elisha]

you can fire the a700 and a900 without a lens mounted.

[dr4gon]

And an A200/A300 and presumably an A350 and A100. Just set it to M mode.

[DonSchap]

Using any of the TAMRON Adaptall II lenses, you get a "no lens" reaction out of the camera, also, because of the lack of electrical contact connections between the lens and camera. Believe me, I still have pictures out of the α100.

I have to admit, it takes a bit of thinking not having any aperture reading and the camera defaulting to f/1. You had better know you f/stops for your settings.

[Elisha]

And an A200/A300 and presumably an A350 and A100. Just set it to M mode.

not sure. but with the a700, it is a menu option that has to be selected.

[DonSchap]

On the A100 ... it is a menu item, also:

Shutter Lock - Off: no lens

On the A700 ... it is a menu item:

Release w/oLens - Enable

[bigw00dy]

Laydros, you're correct. I think I meant to say body cap. But what I never thought of was the dust issue. That alone now is turning me off of the idea of using my a100.

Are there certain kind of film camera's that I may be able to pick up relatively inexpensive that are, I guess, pinhole friendly?

And thanks for all the good advice from everyone.
Jeff