Pinhole Camera Showdown

This past Pinhole Day I had a simple choice:  use my new Reality So Subtle Pinhole (RSSP).  I have the 6X6F model and recently ordered the 6X9F model.  The RSSP 6X6F really performed beautifully in the low light at Aztec Ruins, NM:

More from Aztec Ruins coming soon..........

My RSSP 6X9 has just arrived, so I will add it to the competition.  So what IS the competition?  I have a number of pinhole cameras, some of which I have never used.  My husband also has a few that he's not sure he wants to keep.  So over the next few weeks I will be testing these pinholes, some as I've said seemed like a good idea at the time, but have never been used:

First the Ilford 4X5 Camera Obscura (top).  For the most part I haven't used this because the direct positive print paper was unavailable for a long time (but I have some now).  And I also realized that the only practical way to use this camera was to carry a changing bag and extra box to place the exposed images in.  Otherwise it was a one shot deal.  For the Showdown, I'll probably restrict my shooting to my immediate neighborhood.

Second camera above, the 3D Printed Panorama Pinhole.  It may be a great camera, but I need to try it.  And sitting in my cabinet all these years has not helped me to decide if it's a keeper.

The Ondu and Zero Image adjustable 6X7 cameras.  Both cameras have exhibited a similar problem: film does not stay flat resulting in distorted images.  Also my husband had experienced a lot of scratches with the Ondu.

The FinalCompetition Entry is my newest Reality So Subtle 6X9F:

Pinholes that have Made the Cut and are Keepers: Reality so Subtle 6X6F, Holga Panorama Pinhole, Diana Multi Pinhole.  I'll show examples from the Keepers in my next post.

Non-Keepers may be given away...........

Saturdays Online: Experimental Cameras I Have Known........

Experimental Cameras include the expected offerings from Holga or Lomography.  But I'm also including unusual 'found cameras', any plastic camera and some odd little 35 mm cameras that have passed my way.  Click on the links to see example images from each camera type.

Okay, lets start with the obvious, Holga.  But there are many Holgas, and I have two types:  The standard Holga 120:

and the Holga Panorama Pinhole:

See last Year's Pinhole Day Photo here.

The Lomography Fisheye:

An Old School Plastic Camera, the Kodak Dualflex.  Taking a page out of the TLR family.  I had read about someone finding their grandmother's camera (with film) in a closet and developing it to find a whole new perspective on their grand mother as a young woman.  Great romantic Story, but the results of my experiments were lacking.  Seems like I never posted anything from this camera.  I'll take another look through my files.

The Kalimar Wide-X, a found camera.  Literally found in the trash.  The focussing lens had a crack, and the camera was very hard to load properly:

But it still yielded some results that were good enough to lead us to buy it's modern cousin the Lomo Horizon Swing Lens Panorama.

The Kodak Pocket Camera:

I bought this when I lived in New Orleans (Pre-Katrina).  I was afraid to walk around with a 'nice camera' and this slips neatly into the pocket.  Takes decent photos for a plastic lens camera.

And A silly little "Mini Diana" that shoot 110 ( a format I've never tried before).  It came as a bonus gift when I bought the Horizon.  So what the heck.....I'm testing it now.

The film cartridge actually forms the camera back.  

Sounds like a recipe for light leaks.

Cameras that I own as novelties but have yet to use:

Zero Image Pinhole:

This camera was part of the 3-D printing trend.  We'll try to focus on using it for Pinhole Day 2017.  And the same is true of the Ilford Camera Obscura (below).  Of course there is no reason to wait for Pinhole Day.  So we will try to use it sooner.  It is 4X5 format, probably why I haven't tried it yet.

In future weeks, We'll take a look at some Experimental Methods I have known.