Pin hole on AF100?

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Video on the Road

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Going by a thread I cannot find right now about the best lenses for a newbie AF100 user. There was a response suggesting, amongst other things, to use a pin hole lens made out of a body cap.

So I found this http://www.pixiq.com/article/diy-pinhole-for-dslr

And am now thinking, would this work? Has anybody done it?

I mean there is no reason why not and it could produce something unexpected?

Let me know if you have done it or show us some results.

I would do it by my camera is as yet still to arrive.

I might try on the weekend with my dodgy el cheapo Canon 1100D.

Cheers.
 
used one on my GH2 called a pinwide. There are lots of others out there but apparently the smaller the hole the sharper the picture.

NOTE the pinwide will not work on a af100 the lens will hit the filters on a AF100

To give you an idea of the look:
 
The only thing I think I did was to make things brighter, I did not really touch it that much or at all. I did this before I knew how to grade.
 
Thanks Bitcrusher.

I think if I get a mo I will give it a go.

Anyone else got a shot?

Bitcrusher, did you buy that lens or make it? I think I'll give it a go making one.

Thanks again.
 
Yes, it's absolutely do-able... because I've done it.

The Pinwide doesn't work on the AF100 because of the ND filter wheel. Something about two objects trying to occupy the same space.

What WILL work is making a pinhole from a body cap (or using an empty c-mount adapter). Drill a hole dead-center in the body cap (far larger than the pinhole), put a swatch of aluminum foil (or preferrably blackwrap) over the hole and tape or glue into place, and poke a very, very tiny pinhole dead-center. It may take a few tries to get the hole exactly in the center, and just the right size... if the hole is too small, focus will be crisper (well, as crisp as pinholes get) but light levels will be too small and you'll get vignetting. If the hole is too large, everything will be mushy.

The AF100's sensor isn't exposed, so it's very very easy to clean in the event you get it schmutzed... but the risk with pinholes is fairly minimal (the aforementioned schmutz has to fit through that tiny tiny tiny hole). It WILL help you see any dirt on your sensor, though (note my sample footage below).

Here's a sample from last summer with my GH2 using the cap pinhole... I have AF100 work with it as well, just haven't edited it together yet... maybe I'll get some time today.

Here's the GH2 bit... not a still timelapse, just 1080p24 @ 3200ISO sped up in post.

http://vimeo.com/27050385
 
Pinholes are terrific fun to play with, but I hope you're not suggesting one as an alternative to buying a conventional lens. Pinhole images are never sharp (the smallest detail that can be resolved on the sensor is, by definition, the same size as the diameter of the hole itself), and of course, there's no control over the aperture or focus.

I have made (not for the AF100, but the principle is the same) whole sets of matched pinholes using brass shim stock (hardware or hobby shop item; the thinner, the easier to work with) and industrial carbide drill bits ranging from #60 (0.04") down to #80 (0.014") diameter. Polishing both sides of the brass sheet with "crocus cloth" after drilling removes any burrs and helps make the holes as round and precise as possible. It's also a good idea to paint the metal flat black to cut down on flare and reflections (but don't fill up the hole with paint ... been there, done that). Using an actual "pin" to make the hole is mighty hard work in brass stock, and tends to leave very nasty burrs around the edges that have to be cleaned up; the drills are a lot easier and more precise. If you make several different diameters that you can interchange, you'll have some control over the exposure and sharpness of the shot.

Good luck -- could be a fun application on the AF.

- Greg
 
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