The Focal Camera: An Open Source Modular Camera
Over the past year, Dutch artist Mathijs van Oosterhoudt has been developing a new camera system. No, it’s not a high-tech digital system that’s intended to go up against the major camera companies. Instead, it’s an open-modular camera system that’s intended to teach people how to build complex cameras. Its name is The Focal Camera.
“Even complex cameras can be made in simple ways,” the Focal Camera website says. It features a collection of module designs and instructions. The basic component is a central cube that serves as the “base module.” All other modules (e.g. 6×6 film back, ground glass, optical viewfinder, pinhole) can be combined with the base module in various ways to create different kinds of cameras.
Each module is designed to be lasercut out of a 3mm material. Depending on the module, you may also need other materials (e.g. a front-silvered mirror, some ground glass, a lens).
Once you’ve created the modules and combined them into the form you want, you can fix the body permanently and then seal it to block out light.
Here are some examples of cameras that have been created using Focal Camera modules:
Here are a few sample photos captured with Focal Camera bodies:
If you’d like to build your own Focal Camera, head on over to the website to find all the instructions and files you’ll need to get started.
Image credits: All photos by Mathijs van Oosterhoudt/Focal Camera unless otherwise noted