The Pinsta is a pinhole camera where you typically shoot directly onto photographic paper in the camera — Harman Direct Positive paper, if you want a positive image — then develop the image in the camera.
The process can be a little tricky to master as photographic paper has a far narrower latitude than photographic film. Meaning that if you don’t get the exposure right, either the light areas are overexposed, or the darker areas turn to black.
This gallery is a few images I shot in St Ives, Cornwall, May 2025. Most of these are just phone pictures of the prints in the camera.
If you’ve used the Pinsta camera or have wise words regarding using Harman Direct Positive paper, I’d love to hear from you.
I came across Lucas Birk and Sean Foley’s Afghan Box Camera project a few years ago when a friend, Maurício, took an interest. As a result, he made two cameras of his own and even featured in a book about the subject. I’ve always liked the idea of making a street box camera, but I have never found the time. Maurício now lives in São Paulo, Brazil, so it’s not like I could easily pop round to have a look!
Last year, another good friend sent me a link to Lucas Birk’s latest project, selling box camera kits. The kits look great, but I couldn’t shake off the urge to make my own camera. Since then, I haven’t been in the best of health, and so the build was postponed again.
The one good thing about being unwell is that it has prompted my early retirement – although, being honest, it didn’t take much prompting. So, two weeks from writing this (eek), even if I only work on it a few hours a week, I won’t have a lack of time as an excuse.
(Not my photo, from the eBay seller)
I want to reflect the spirit in which many of these cameras were originally built. So, I aim to build it as economically as I can and, where possible, use materials that I already have cluttering up my workshop.
Although a lovely Fujinon large-format lens would be a delight, I’ve settled on this slightly beaten-up Rodenstock Ysaron 150mm f4.5 enlarger lens that I managed to pick up for £19 on eBay. It’s not that different from the Soviet Industar enlarger lenses that were popular with Afghan photographers.
I’ve spent a few weeks researching, sketching in my notebook and reacquainting myself with SketchUp. I’m ready to start building the box itself; I think I have all the wood I’ll need. My aim is to be able to shoot up to 6×4 inch paper-negatives in portrait and landscape format.
I’ll list the materials I use as I go along; it may be useful to someone. Although I’m using most of them because I already have them on hand, not because they’re necessarily perfect for the job.
Apart from gathering these few bits and sorting out the wood, I haven’t done much. Hopefully, next time there’ll be some physical progress to show.
What I’ve Spent So Far
what
cost
where
Rodenstock Ysaron 150mm f4.5 enlarger lens
£19.00
eBay
3mm clear Perspex (ground ‘glass’)
£2.65
Perspexsheet.uk
3mm red Perspex ( red ‘safelight’ window)
£3.51
Perspexsheet.uk
Hinges for the lid
£4.90
Local hardware shop
If you’ve built your own box camera, I’d love to hear from you.
