Mark a dimple in the center of the body cap with the center punch tool. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/2f/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/2f/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Using a nail or similar tool is also effective. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/e/ee/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/e/ee/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-1Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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Use something under the body cap to protect your working surface if needed. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/b9/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-2Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/b9/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-2Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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Using a soda can with the top and bottom cut off, cut a 3/4" (1. 9 cm) square to 1" (2. 5cm) square piece. The size does not need to be exact nor exactly square, however the size must be small enough to fit flush inside the body cap yet large enough to hold while sanding. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/0/0d/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/0/0d/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet1. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Round the corners of the square piece for safety. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/4/40/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/4/40/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet2. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-3Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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Go slowly and steadily so as not to create a hole that is too large. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/87/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/87/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet1. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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<br />\n</p></div>"} The dimple should be just visible on the underside of the aluminum piece. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/18/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/18/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet2. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-4Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Do not push the needle all the way through; there shouldn’t be a visible hole at this point, only a dimple.
The optimum diameter of the pinhole depends on the distance from the pinhole to the film surface (digital sensor). For most (D)SLR cameras that is somewhere around 50mm. Using a pinhole calculator, the optimum pinhole size is apx . 3mm. A #13 sewing needle should pass through a . 3mm hole but a #12 needle should not. The size does not have to be exact at any rate, any hole close to . 3mm will work just fine. If the hole is too small, gently use the needle again to enlarge the hole and sand both sides smooth. If the hole is too large, try the lens to see how well it works, or discard the piece and cut a new one. What is important is to make the hole as round as possible and to keep the edges smooth and flush with the surface. Jagged edges will cause diffraction effects and show up on the final image. [1] X Research source
Use silicone adhesive as you can easily remove the pinhole from the body cap and remove the adhesive from the body cap if you ever need or want to.
Try to be exact when positioning the first time, in order to keep the adhesive from getting all over the body cap and possibly into the pinhole.
Be careful not to dot over the pinhole. This area does not have to be perfect as it will not reflect as much light as the entire aluminum surface would. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/67/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-16Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-16Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/67/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-16Bullet1. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-16Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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Attach the body cap to the camera body. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/6c/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-17Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-17Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/6c/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-17Bullet1. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-17Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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<br />\n</p></div>"}
Once the exposure is set you can use this exposure while shooting in similar light conditions. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/3/3a/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/3/3a/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet1. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:307,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:486,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Depending on how bright the scene is your exposure time may vary from several seconds to just under a second. The yellow flower photo shown here was exposed for 1/2 a second at ISO 400 in full sun. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/a/af/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/a/af/Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet2. jpg/aid1076217-v4-728px-Make-a-Pinhole-Lens-for-Your-SLR-Camera-Step-18Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:307,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:486,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.
0/">Creative Commons</a>
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<br />\n</p></div>"} The sun through the leaves photo was exposed for 1/15 of a second at ISO 400. If your scene lighting changes, recheck the histogram and adjust shutter speed to compensate.
