Ground Glass and pinhole

[toniox]

Hi all, I have a question about ground glass and pinhole. I want to build a big pinhole, so my question: is it possible to view an image in a groundglass throught a pinhole ?

[retroshooter]

I find it hard to view an image at f8 on a ground glass f32 is almost impossible for me even in daylight. I cant image what f295 would look like, thought in theorey I suppose there is a faint image there.

[toniox]

Ok retroshooter, but if I use a big hole to compose on the ground glass and replace with the "real" one to take the picture ?

[timeruinsbelief]

i dont know if a hole big enough to create a visable immage would without a lens

[murrayatuptowngallery]

Find Nick Dvoracek (spelling?) on this site & find his website. He has a library of online historical pinhole documents dating to Lord Rayleigh.

At least one of those old papers discussed exactly what you seek. I don't remember the exact details of one of the camera examples, but I am assuming the large format the author worked with was something on the order of 8"x10" or 'full plate', perhaps 12"/ 30 cm f.l., and the author used a 1/8" (approx 3 mm) hole with dark cloth for composing. Because the oversized hole is far from 'correct' for diffractive imaging, the image will be quite blurry. I havent tried it yet. It may give you a rough idea, better than nothing.

Murray

[stereo]

Renner's book (Pinhole photography) has a series of pinhole photos that goes all the way up to f/22, or was it even f/16. I was surprised to see how much you can still see at these large appertures. You wil definitely still need a hood of some kind, but I think it will be perfectly doable to use a large hole for aiming.


Btw.,- I have the 2nd ed. of Renners book. Does anyone know if there are significant changes in the third edition (i.e. enough to justify buying the new one)?

[moot]

As I recall Tom Persinger (owner/moderator of f/295) did what you are talking about (ground glass, large "pinhole") with a 4x5, and said that it worked.

[toniox]

Thank you all I'am thinking of building a pinhole camera with a ground glass, don't decide the format yet, I'll certainly post my work soon

[retroshooter]

what I dont understand is the advantage of the groundglass viewing. if you are going to use a pinhole lens or actually lack of lens. I suppose you can move the lens in and out on a bellows and change the image crop that way. get a significantly wider angle maybe but why not just make a wide angel viewfinder and a normal viewfinder and a tele viewfinger... It would seem to be a lot more simple than a dark cloth and squenting at the ground glass.

Just my opinion not worth much for sure...

[toniox]

The main reason that I want a groundglass is just because I find it fun Other advantage are "precise" composing and perspective viewing etc...