This Modular Pinhole Camera Is Colorful and Environmentally-Friendly
Scottish camera maker Finite Industries has announced the fi35, the company’s first pinhole camera.
Update: An earlier version of this article stated that the Fi35 was available to order now. It will be available to order on November 29 from Finite Industries.
As reported by Amateur Photographer, the fi35 is a modular pinhole camera that uses 35mm film.
“We have designed our cameras so that they can be fully disassembled. This means that any part can be replaced if necessary, and all materials can be recovered and reused at the end of their life. We use recycled materials where possible to make the camera parts,” Finite Industries explains. The camera is 3D printed in Scotland, and the company is committed to minimizing its environmental impact.
The fi35 and fi120, a prototype camera in development that shoots 120 and 35mm format film, are incredibly colorful and distinct in their appearance. Concerning the fi35, the body comprises a large red or green main body and a yellow front piece, which can be detached. The blue circular portion is the pinhole itself. These parts operate alongside an internal frame, where the film is loaded. The camera is super simple.
This simplicity is part of the fi35’s charm and appeal. However, it is more than just a boxy pinhole camera. The team has been thoughtful in its approach, integrating a bubble level on the top of the camera and a standard threaded tripod mount on the bottom. The camera also includes a built-in clicker to count down exposures and a frame indicator to make it easy to line up shots.
By employing a modular design, photographers can create very different images. Two pinholes can be attached to the same body, one from the front and the other from the back, enabling double exposures. Photographers can also change out the frame to shoot with different aspect ratios. The “twinhole” attachment puts two pinholes on the front, enabling a 36-frame roll of film to capture 72 images, like a half-frame camera.
The pinhole module can also fit in one of four positions on the front of the fi35, which Finite Industries says allows photographers to select different offsets for their photos. Another creative option is using the pinhole on the back to shoot through the film’s rear, creating redscale images rather than normal color photos.
Finite Industries says it is working on even more modules for analog photographers, including panoramic and curved film plane options.
Nils Aksnes is the photographer and designer behind the fi35, and Aksnes developed the camera thanks in part to support received from Analogue Wonderland’s Film Photography Community Fund.
The fi35 will be available to order on November 29 from Finite Industries, with bundles starting at £125, which is about $156 at current exchange rates. Individual components will also be available for purchase separately.
Image credits: Finite Industries
