Homemade Camera Podcast

E20 The Hammer

Graham has a hammer and everything is looking like a nail and he tells us why (14:00). Nick tries to talk him down from his issue with materials by suggesting a variety of solutions for different usages.

Sometimes it’s better to think of a design as a series of elements that gets built up into a whole instead of a single element that is constructed for the single purpose (25:45).

Ethan Moses has come out with a new 4X5 hand camera, the Cameradactyl OG (cameradactyl.com) and Graham and Nick each have one from the first batch and they talk about its structure and materials (28:15) as well as how to extend its usefulness and functionality.

Graham comes up with the absolute worst idea for making an optical lens (31:15) while Nick talks about more difficult methods that might actually work. 

One of the battles we have to fight as designers of cameras is keeping the film flat against the film gate. To help with that, Graham proposes reducing the area of the image size (49:00).

Nick brings up the concept of making mini bellows focusing mechanisms (58:00) as a method of saving weight through the elimination of the helical.

The Cameradactyl OG is discussed in length again (1:00:00). Please excuse the rustling in the background as both of the hosts have their cameras in-hand during this time. Graham harkens back to the Starship Enterprise for inspiration for a light-shading device for viewing the ground glass even though Nick doesn’t want to think about it.

Just like a cuckoo bird laying an egg in another bird’s nest, Nick and Graham discuss an interview conducted on the Classic Lenses Podcast (https://classiclensespodcast.podbean.com/) with Raffaello Pondri of the PONF camera (ponfcamera.com) project (1:24:30). The PONF camera is a design that features swappable film and digital backs on a 35mm camera. It is well worth a direct listen instead of relying on the shaky memories of Nick and Graham. The manufacturing process would use a metal 3D printing system like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igq8gQuXfR4.

One of the most interesting of the concepts that came up in the discussion of the PONF camera is the use of an LCD shutter (1:42:15). They are plentiful and cheap but that doesn’t mean they are right for film photography.

They move on to what they’ve been working on lately (1:51:00), including the adapting of lenses, more about lumen boxes and issues with Graham’s 3D printer. Graham incorrectly identifies the supplier of lenses as Surplus Shack while it is Surplus Shed (surplussed.com).

Shout out to Matt Melcher of the Box of Cameras podcast and poster on Flickr (mattmelcher) and Instagram (@mattmelcher and @box_of_cameras).

Graham has some cameras for sale on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/FrozenPhotonCameraCo) and thinks everyone should own one of them.

E19 Aesthetics

Nick and Graham tackle aesthetics in this episode, including a discussion at the start about the reactions of the subjects when using non-standard camera designs for portraiture.

They discuss Steampunk design styles, retro, futuristic, craftsman and others along the way.

Graham mentions 3hands_studio (https://www.instagram.com/3hands_studio/), the Instagram feed of a Korean watchmaker, camera maker and tool maker (28:00).

Nick hurts Graham’s brain stem by introducing the concept of “haptics” whereby an electronic device creates a vibration or motion based on user interaction. A bit like Sensurround for your pocket (42:45).

We get a lesson on the meaning of Mary Shelly’s classic book Frankenstein (53:45) and how it is a metaphor for the great potential for good and evil of technology. What that means for Graham’s Frankencameras and whether they will eat his young is not concluded, sadly.

The discussion shifts to methods of creating different aesthetics with homemade cameras and modified cameras (1:01:45).

Graham quizzes Nick about leather, vegan leather and hotboxing (1:06:45). Nick talks about wood and wood veneer.

There’s a bit of a lesson about Darwin and evolution in the middle of the discussion of cameras (1:23:45). Seriously, it makes total sense if you listen to it. It shouldn’t, but it does. 

How does a pink BB gun work into our conversation? It’s at the core (1:29:30).

Color Photography a Working Manual by Henry Horenstein is the Book of the Ep (https://www.amazon.com/Color-Photography-Working-Henry-Horenstein/dp/0316373168).

After about a dozen episodes of forgetting, Graham finally remembered that the person who was wrapping pinhole cameras in Fabric was Martin Scarland (@mscarland on Instagram). Of course, he didn’t remember while recording the show.

Matt Loves Cameras, a podcast from Sunny Brisbane, Australia, is mentioned a couple of times. To find a link to that and other podcasts, go to http://www.filmpodcastnetwork.com and click on the listings.

E18 3D Printing

The show starts off by explaining why downloading the Homemade Camera Podcast will help your love life (9:15) but then move almost directly into 3D Printing and the technologies available to the camera builder.

The Korean watchmaker 3 Hands Studio (https://www.instagram.com/3hands_studio/) is mentioned (42:00) and while it is not mentioned on the podcast, his exposed clockwork cameras are very worthy of appreciation (https://www.instagram.com/p/BqeKNXdBvMT/).

Ethan talks about his new camera design that is a follow up to the Cameradactyl that was so hugely popular on Kickstarter (45:45).

They next discuss metal cutting methods in the goal of developing a 6X12 roll film back for a 4X5 camera (1:04:40) and why laser or water jet cutting might be too expensive for a small batch camera.  In the process, Nick tells us about a Flatter or Top Tool and why you need a big hammer in the tool bag if you want to make a camera.

Nick asks Ethan about where the Butter camera that goes with the Buttergrips is (1:19:00) and Ethan tells us about how the Cameradactyl got its colors. Then they talk about why three cars are better than one, or maybe not.

Nick’s friend Philip Greene (https://www.flickr.com/photos/philipgreene) has been getting some good results from Harmon Direct Positive (1:34:05).

Graham starts rambling on about Lumenography and the Lumenboxes he’s been making (1:42:00). He gives credit to Joterman (https://www.instagram.com/joterman/) and to Nicole Small (https://www.instagram.com/joterman/) for providing inspiration and technical information.

The mystery of how Graham and Nick met and how the two of them met Ethan is solved (1:51:00)!

The books for this time around: A Lesser Photographer (https://www.amazon.com/Lesser-Photographer-Escape-Focus-Matters-ebook/dp/B07HXNFB1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547430667&sr=8-1&keywords=a+lesser+photographer). And Camera Technology: the Dark Side of the Lens (https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Technology-Dark-Side-Lens/dp/0122875702/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547430742&sr=8-1&keywords=the+dark+side+of+the+lens).

Nick shouts out to Brian Cuyler (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bbcuyler) on Flickr.

E17 '18

Nick and Graham talk about stuff.

E16 500 Cameras

 

Graham opens the episode up with a question about a specific picture on

Marina Amaral’s website: https://marinamaral.com/. The picture discussed in the opening question is at https://marinamaral.com/portfolio/lewis-powell/

The source of this week’s episode is a book called 500 cameras (https://www.amazon.com/500-Cameras-Years-Photographic-Innovation/dp/1402780869)

Globuscope 4X5 (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1539547/0)

Linhof Technorama 617 (https://kenrockwell.com/tech/617.htm)

Kodak Instamatic (http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Kodak_Instamatic_104)

Fujifilm GS645 (http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Fuji_GS645_Professional_series)

Graham buys something off eBay (45:30) though it is unclear as to what he bought.

The Mamiya Universal Press camera (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamiya_Press) is discussed (50:15) though it is not one of the ones chosen from the book. It is one of the truly hideous designs (at least Graham thinks so and since he is writing the notes for this episode, it is declared to be Homemade Camera Podcast canon).

Panon 120 (http://historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium2/pm.cgi?action=app_display&app=datasheet&app_id=3187)

Lomography Spinner 360 (https://microsites.lomography.com/spinner-360/)

Nikon 28Ti/35Ti (https://www.35mmc.com/21/09/2015/nikon-35ti-guest-review-marc-olivier-gilbert/)

The Sunshine Camera from Societa Anonima Ottico Meccanica Italina (http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Ottico_Meccanica_Italiana)

Tri-Color Camera JosPe Farben-Photo GmbH (http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Jos-Pe)

Kodak Panoram (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cdi1On_XkM)

Graflex 70mm Combat Graphic (http://www.novacon.com.br/odditycameras/combgra.htm)

Royal Mail Stamp Camera (http://www.antiquewoodcameras.com/roy-mail.html)

Kodak Medalist II (https://filmphotographyproject.com/content/reviews/2017/06/mighty-medalist-620-camera/)

Challenge Dayspool No. 1 Tropical (http://ignomini.com/photographica/2dcameras/Lizars_Dayspool/Lizars_Challenge_Dayspool.html)

David Avison’s Handmade Panoramic Camera example of results though not the camera itself (http://www.mocp.org/detail.php?type=related&kv=6853&t=people)

Globuscope 360 spinning camera (http://www.360atlas.com/globe.html)

Mick-A-Matic (http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Mick-A-Matic)

Graham talks about a lumenography camera that shoots directly to paper with long exposures and can produce an image on the paper without any development (1:59:00). Some of the pictures from this camera can be seen on his Instagram page @grahamhomemadecamera.

Nick shouts out to @Surgeon24hrs on Instagram for a camera he posted on the Flickr group’s page.

E15 Pinholes and Hammers

E15 Pinholes and Hammers

Graham talks about sliding down the fidelity curve (11:30) and why he likes film that has been boiling in a Bulgarian warehouse for 20 years than good fresh film for taking pictures with pinhole cameras. He also talks about the commonalities between early computer-generated animation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN1A2mVnrOM) and the pinhole camera (27:30).

They start talking about the physical principles and qualities that go into a pinhole for a pinhole camera (31:15). Pinhole size is very important and they talk about that pinhole size and how to calculate the right size for the focal length and film size using the calculator on MrPinhole.com website (33:30).

Sources of laser-drilled pinholes:

Fireseller66 on eBay: https://www.ebay.com.sg/sch/fireseller66/m.html

James Guerin (Reality So Subtle): https://aupremierplan.fr/

Now that the pinhole has been taken care of, they begin a discussion of the body that will transport the film and keep the dark in (53:50) including oatmeal containers, matchboxes, Harry’s Razors boxes, and paperboard. Plus, they discuss what paperboard is!

Graham moves his Scamera project off of the back burner and into the sink (1:25:30) and Nick talks about his Big Build. He also talked about selling a camera design through an Etsy shop (1:32:50) with details to be released via Instagram (@grahamhomemadecamera) and Flickr (FreezerOfPhotons).

 

Shoutouts this week to Lucus Landers (@cropped_camera on Instagram and http://lucuslanders.com/) who is using cast and machined metals to build homemade rangefinder cameras. Also noted is a new podcast called WTF What the Film !? (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/anchor-podcasts/wtf-what-the-film) hosted by a mysterious unnamed voice.

 

The makers of the Pin-Blad are Light Leaks Lab (look them up on Facebook).

 

 

E14 Rubber Bands and Scrunchies

Nick and Graham start off the show talking about what general types of photography they each are attracted to.

They then launch into a discussion of shutters and what kinds of shutter speeds are really needed and do we need very fast and very slow shutter speeds (19:08).

They talk a bit about what techniques could be used for very fast shutter speeds (34:00) and then why Graham doesn’t necessarily want a perfectly round aperture for a pinhole camera (38:05).

They talk a bit about Amos Dudley’s blog about shutters and other things related to building a camera from scratch: http://amosdudley.com/weblog/SLO-Camera (48:45).

Nick talks about why he wants to get a bunch of broken and worthless SLR cadavers and other cameras in his pursuit of learning their anatomy, just like a medical student does with feet (1:04:45).

E13 The Ramble

There were a few audio issues with this episode. Please bear with us through the pops, scratches, and bangs.

The boys start off with a discussion of the ins and outs of leaving cameras in your car during hot weather (00:00) and Nick explains why he wants a camera like a bar of soap (13:00).

They continue the discussion of the travel camera they started in the last episode (14:40).

Graham can’t remember the name of the Olympus Trip 35 and felt like a fool for forgetting (23:50). He then redeems himself with a reconfiguring of the body of a travel 35mm camera on the model of the film cartridge backs of medium format cameras (28:20).

Graham talks about Graham (another one, better known as Chickenthumbs on Instagram) 41:45.

Graham blathers on and on about his Flex-O-Pan at 58:00 so you’ll probably want to skip ahead to the good stuff, like the next episode of Photography Matters with Ted Viera.

The talk turns to a Kickstarter campaign to create a digital sensor that drops into a standard 35mm camera and how that could be the source of sensors for digital camera builds (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1374923168/film-35-innovative-photography-experience) (1:29:00).

Nick sends a shout out to Ralph Lundval (1:53:20) and the images he posted using an enlarger lens and a Speed Graphic.

E12 Travel

After covering the subject of whether a person should dress in layers while hiking in the Pacific Northwest, Nick and Graham talk about what kind of features they want in a camera for travel (8:00). Nick describes his Duffer Suit and how it allows him to be ignored when he takes pictures (21:20). Graham describes the psychological reason why Leicas kept the bottom-loading system for as long as they did (24:00).

We get a bit of a non-update on the Scamera project and what the guys worked on the past two weeks (30:45).

E11 Features

E11, Features and the Brainstorm

Graham starts us off with a discussion of the role features play in the design of cameras. Features here are defined as non-essential elements that make the process of making a photograph easier (6:15).  As an example, he and Nick run through the features associated with focusing. 

In the spirit of the thing, Nick talks about features that he would like to see developed that either has not already been implemented or have not been widely implemented (26:05).

The hosts discuss the concept of a 35mm camera that could accommodate image sizes from 24mm by 24mm to 24mm by 65mm with several sizes in between (33:50). This camera would have a drop-in mask or a mask that is adjustable from the outside and would advance the proper distance no matter what format it is shooting at the time.   

Nick does his best to make the system much more complicated than the original vision but while providing a good argument on the merits of the additional complexity (46.30). Graham counters with the engineering and design process that takes many iterations to find the proper solution.

They then start to talk about what features are desirable for this type of project (55:30).

Nick tells the tale of taking apart his Nikanon scamera, shooting pinhole cameras and playing with putty (1:07:00).

Zeb Andrews’ recent appearance on The Lensless Podcast sparked a discussion about slow shooting experiences and value of a photograph of an experience vs. the experience itself (1:31:00). They also discuss the IM Back digital back for film cameras as a core component of a camera build.