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Pinhole camera from iPhone box

David Pescovitz at 10:20 am Wed, Feb 13, 2008

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Scot Hampton converted the sturdy iPhone box into a handsome and effective pinhole camera, the iHole. From his build notes:
IholecammmI tried to keep it simple and the only external items I used were tape, tinfoil (for the lens), a piece of foam, and a leftover screw and tightener from an old ikea desk. Oh, I also used a black washer for the cover of the lens but that was purely cosmetic. I used the cardboard lining that was on the inside of the original box to construct the film holders on the back. I even left the serial numbers intact, so if my roommate ever needed to return it he could ...I’m not switching until they work on other networks...

I suppose it might have been symbolic to take the first pictures of an actual iPhone, but that’s so cliche.
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David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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  • scothampton

    FYI the pix overlap cuz I underestimated the focal plane, and didn’t wind the film far enough. thanks for the props :)

  • Anonymous

    I love it! I also found this other pinhole camera made from an iPhone box, but they turned the plastic insert upside down, it’s pretty cool! http://www.etsy.com/listing/50208988/handmade-pinhole-camera-iphone-box-35mm

  • braschlosan

    Why is this even posted? I am not normally a negative person but this is a waste of space and time. So what if he cut a hole in a box and put a camera in it. Would it have been posted if the box was plain cardboard? This is FAR from a “pinhole” camera,,, I’ve never seen pins that big!

  • calabanos

    #2 I’m not convinced you know what a pinhole camera is.

  • scothampton

    actually, I used a fine needle; barely poked thru the tinfoil. The large opening you see is just a larger hole I created so I could swap out the tinfoil/interchangable lenses, from the inside, in case a particular needle/pin size wasn’t working.

  • Takuan

    Alas, people need to think about about where what they use every day came from. I love “Rough Science”, ever watch it?

  • OM

    …Damn thing looks more like a Jack-in-a-Box!

  • Marshall

    I’ve known an iHole or two in my day…

  • arkizzle

    great result pictures!

    I’m really impressed at the clarity and contrast in them.

    (i know having iPhone written on the box doesn’t distinguish it from the countless other tried and tested pinhole cams, but it’s just nice to be reassured of what a cardboard box, some film and a very small hole can do)

    well done :)

  • dculberson

    Braschlosan gambled .. and lost!

  • Takuan

    if you used two and a piece of string, you could have had a phone as well (end flap to open to speak)