What is a Pinhole Camera?

Pinhole cameras are simple cameras that have been around since the fourth-century BCE. They have evolved over time, with a lens being added in 1600. The first picture was not taken with a pinhole camera until 1850. These are great because a photographer can make it by hand for a certain purpose, but they are also sold commercially.

What is it?

A  simple camera that does not have a lens and has a small aperture, which is a small hole that the light travels through. Basically, it is a box free from light with a small hole in one side.

How does it work?

Light from the object passes through this tiny hole projecting the image on the opposite of the box inverted. They require a long exposure time, so most have a manually operated shutter. The shutter may just be a light-proof material that can cover and uncover the pinhole.

How to determine the size of the pinhole?

The size of the pinhole should be 1/100 or less of the distance between the camera and the object being projected.

The ideal pinhole would be one that is perfectly round and in a super thin piece of material.

What is it used for?

The pinhole camera is perfect for Solargraphy, a photography that captures the sun's movement over time.

For real-time viewing, the images can be projected onto a translucent screen, which can expose a charge coupled device or film.

These are ideal for use during surveillance when containing a charge coupled device due to their difficulty to detect.