How to Build a Shoebox Camera
Interested in building a camera out of simple materials? Need an exciting science lesson for your elementary school class? This article explains how to build a pin-hole camera out of a shoebox.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Cut a hole in one end of a shoebox. Line the shoebox with tinfoil covering the hole. Be sure to line the lid of the box as well. Tape the tinfoil down using black electrical tape.
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2
Paint the tinfoil inside the box and the lid with black spray paint. Wait for it to dry, then paint again. The entire inside of the box must be solid black.
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3
Prick a tiny needle-sized hole in the tinfoil that covers the hole in the shoebox. Then, cover the outside of the hole in the shoebox with electrical tape. (This tape on the outside of the box acts as the shutter covering the small pin-hole aperture.)
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4
In a dark room, lift the lid of the box and use tape to affix photographic paper to the end of the box opposite the hole. Replace the lid. The camera is now loaded and ready to use.
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5
Take the camera outside or somewhere with plenty of light. Place it ten to sixty feet in front of some stationary object. Without moving the box, peel back the electrical tape acting as the shutter. Count to twenty then replace the tape.
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6
In a dark room, remove the photographic paper and develop it. If the paper develops too dark, the exposure time was too long. Try again in the same setting but count to a smaller number. If the paper develops too light, the exposure time was too short. Try again in the same setting but count to a larger number.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Instead of a shoebox, try using a coffee can. Drill a hole in the can and paint the inside black. Paint the lid black as well. Instead of having to line the entire can with tinfoil, just tape a tinfoil cover over the hole (from the inside) using electrical tape to affix the tinfoil (be sure to paint the tinfoil black after it is affixed). Then, follow the same steps above.
