live Ondu III PInhole camera

[Gadgetman!]

ww.kickstarter.com/projects/ondu-/ondu-iii-pinhole-cameras-perfect-shutter-snap-on-f

 

About

Imagine a camera with no lens, no focus, no mirror and definitely no batteries that can create images like this.

No need to imagine anymore, it is here. This will change the way you think about light, time and memories. We have created the ONDU pinhole camera series MK III to reignite your spark in photography, and most of all to enable you to create captivating images with light in the simplest way possible.  

 

 

There's a lot of nice pictures on the project page. Enjoy them, then back the project. 

I own the very limited edition 'Box' from the first KS(less than 20 were made), and the 6x17 OnduRama from the second KS, and both are very nice cameras. They did have issues that caused delays back then(with getting the machinery delivered and so on), but they were pretty good at keeping backers updated. But now they have all the machines in the workshop, so I expect there won't be any big delays this time

 

Necessary disclaimer; they considered me so helpful in the comments section that they gave me a 135 pocket camera as a bonus. so yeah, I may not necessarily be completely impartial. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WhiteWulfe]

I've contemplated such, they're gorgeous... 

 

Don't forget there's the 135 sprocket adapter too ^_^;;;;

 

Downside is cost... But it's tempting either way. 

[Gadgetman!]

135 is for wimps. 

Also, it takes more than a couple of spool adapters to fit 135 film into the 6x17.

(the back plane is curved, and the rails are too far apart for the 135 film to rest on. you'd need to fit additional rails for narrow film. And yeah, counting sprockets would be a pain... 120 film has paper backing with frame numbers written in, visible through a small, red window.)

[WhiteWulfe]

For wimps.. I dunno, it has its practicality some would say.

 

Didn't realize it was only $129-149 for a 6x6, or a bit more for multiformat.... Hmm, we shall see.  Besides, for 35mm panos I'd rather just get a Horizon Pro.  Not pinhole fun, but at the same time it's a different tool. 

 

...but aww, no 645 capability... 

[Gadgetman!]

Trust me, the Ondu is much more fun than the Horizon...  (Assuming you mean the Zenit Horizon) 

I know because I also have a Horizon, the 'perfect' edition.    

With those there's a good 10% chance the camera is broken before you even get it(Light seals around the drum is the weak point), and the story is that they shipped a whole year's production without the coating on the lenses...  

You wouldn't believe how sturdy tripod you need for that camera. 

(I have an Induro AKB2 with a heavy cast metal ball-head. No Aluminium or carbon fiber was used in the construction of that tripod... )

 

645?

As in Polaroid 645, the instant film?

That requires a lot of very precise machinery around the cassette to spread the gel-like chemicals evenly.   

 

They did make some instant 135 slide film, though. 

It came with the chemicals in a separate cassette. After exposing the film, you placed the film and the chemical cassette in a processing machine and started cranking.  

One day I'll try a roll of the B/W film and se how it works. (probably not very well... the film had an expiry date back in the 70s... Yes, I have both films and the processor... )

[WhiteWulfe]

2 hours ago, Gadgetman! said:

Trust me, the Ondu is much more fun than the Horizon...  (Assuming you mean the Zenit Horizon) 

I know because I also have a Horizon, the 'perfect' edition.    

With those there's a good 10% chance the camera is broken before you even get it(Light seals around the drum is the weak point), and the story is that they shipped a whole year's production without the coating on the lenses...  

You wouldn't believe how sturdy tripod you need for that camera. 

(I have an Induro AKB2 with a heavy cast metal ball-head. No Aluminium or carbon fiber was used in the construction of that tripod... )

 

Yup, I've heard the stories about the Zenit cameras, and how they don't have anywhere near the best of quality control....  Still kind of want one, but we shall see.

 

2 hours ago, Gadgetman! said:

 

645?

As in Polaroid 645, the instant film?

That requires a lot of very precise machinery around the cassette to spread the gel-like chemicals evenly.   

 

Nope, not referring to instant film.  The 645 I'm referring to uses rolls of 120....  Just exposes them at 6x4.5 versus square (6x6).  You can get 15 exposures on a single roll of 120.  It isn't as popular as 6x7, or 6x9 though.

[Gadgetman!]

Ah...

I've only seen that as 6x4.5.  No, they don't support that(yet?)

It should only require a set of baffles to install, and a replacement back panel, though.

(Because the red window needs to be in a different position)

 

[WhiteWulfe]

20 minutes ago, Gadgetman! said:

Ah...

I've only seen that as 6x4.5.  No, they don't support that(yet?)

It should only require a set of baffles to install, and a replacement back panel, though.

(Because the red window needs to be in a different position)

 

I think the reason I call it that is sooooo many cameras that were for that format were just "645", like say, Mamiya 645 as an example, or that Bronica that does a similar size.  I kind of like the 4:3 aspect ratios - maybe it's just me and my use of micro four thirds cameras, or that I grew up with a 110 camera in my paws for most of my childhood. ^_^;;;  (I mainly chose the micro four thirds camera for it's features, it's cost, aaand it's value at the time - effectively backpacking everywhere one goes forces one to pay attention to the weight and size of things)

 

6x9 and 6x12 are tempting though.  I'll have to see if there's room in the budget, since I know you're quite happy with the cameras you've acquired from them.  That and pinhole cameras are...  Something I've never dabbled with - I've not even tried picking up the Olympus body cap lenses!  (mainly because their availability fluctuates heavily, but I digress - I still want the 15mm f8 for... Fun silly shenanigans)

[TheAuldGrump]

Gods, I made a pinhole camera in Boy Scouts... 1973? '74?

 

Weird, thinking about buying one....

 

The Auld Grump - literally a cardboard box with a pinhole and friction tape around the top to keep the light out.

[WhiteWulfe]

1 hour ago, TheAuldGrump said:

Gods, I made a pinhole camera in Boy Scouts... 1973? '74?

 

Weird, thinking about buying one....

 

The Auld Grump - literally a cardboard box with a pinhole and friction tape around the top to keep the light out.

Wooden ones don't have the longevity issue that cardboard does.  A cardboard one isn't going to last more than a few rolls at best, while a wooden one, designed properly, will last ages

[cmorse]

45 minutes ago, WhiteWulfe said:

Wooden ones don't have the longevity issue that cardboard does.  A cardboard one isn't going to last more than a few rolls at best, while a wooden one, designed properly, will last ages

 

Though the longevity of a cardboard one does tend to match up pretty well with the amount of time most people are interested in using them.

[Gadgetman!]

The cardboard versions often requires you to cut the film into squares or rectangles, then fasten them in the box under blackout conditions.  

That's cumbersome at best, and completely impractical at most times. 

These wooden versions loads like a regular analog camera. 

(The only exception is the 'Box' camera from the first KS and possibly the really large models using sheet film)

 

Here's a little tip for those who wants to do something really, really cool with a pinhole camera.

Get a box or can, poke a pinhole andcover with tape. Stick a piece of B/W photography paper inside instead of a piece of film. 

Place it in a south-facing window and weigh down so it doesn't accidentally move, then remove the tape from the pinhole.

No, don't put the tape back on...     

 

 

Forget all about it for a few weeks...  

 

Now, open the box and take a look at the paper...   

 

Yes, there's a picture on the paper.

Google for 'solargraph' and look at the pictures. 

 

[WhiteWulfe]

I think for me I like this design for two reasons... 

 

- panoramic! 

- it's different, which means Cinestill and infrared can be used for different things. 

 

I totally didn't see what size filters it would work with though.  Any word on such?  Because at some point I'll be making an order at Kolari Vision (my G85 will be going in for two spectrum, I suspect), and my main lens sizes are 46mm and 58mm threads (although it'll be 46mm and 67mm if I do get those Olympus Pro f1.2 lenses instead of the Lumix, and eventually Nocticron 42.5mm lenses)... Assuming I'm remembering correctly anyways. 

 

Edit: I was wrong, it's 46mm (most things, but especially my main set of primes) and 62mm (Olympus 17mm Pro) that would be my main ones, with a 67mm astro (aka OIII / H-Alpha + regular stuff) lens... 

Edited November 14, 2018 by WhiteWulfe