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How to Make a Camera Out of a Cardboard Box

Save your empty oatmeal container and use it to make a pinhole camera. According to Kodak, the cardboard box is a perfect shape and light-tight enough for the camera body.
Modern film and digital cameras have lenses that make images on film or memory cards. In a pinhole camera the lens is a small hole, says Bob Miller of the Science Learning Network.
Pinhole cameras must be kept still to get sharp images. Miller suggests taping them to a brick or a tripod.

Things You'll Need

Light-tight box
Black matte paint and brush
Scissors
Heavy foil or dark paper
No. 10 sewing needle
Black tape
Opaque black paper
Photographic paper or sheet film

Instructions

The Body
- 1
  Paint the inside of the clean cardboard box with dull black or line it with black paper to eliminate light reflections.
- 2
  Make the pinhole in the end opposite the lid. Cut a 1 inch square of thick aluminum foil or dark paper. Push a No. 10 sewing needle into the center of the square and wiggle it in to the middle--of the shank--to create a 1/75 inch pinhole.
- 3
  Make a 1/4 inch hole in the middle of the oatmeal carton bottom. Cover it with the square and look through the two holes. If the view is clear, tape the square securely to the outside of the box with the holes aligned. If not, smooth the edges until it is.
The Shutter
- 4
  Create a shutter from 1 inch wide heavy black paper about two inches long.
- 5
  Crease the middle to make a hinge. Tape the top to the carton above the pinhole square. The bottom should cover the pinhole.
- 6
  Add a piece of tape to the bottom of the shutter to seal out light between exposures.
Paper or film
- 7
  Use fast photographic paper or sheet film. Paper can be loaded in a dark room with a safelight. Film must be loaded in total darkness.
  Cut a 2 ¼ inch x 3 ¼ inch piece of paper or film (or clip ½ inch off the corners of a 3 1/4 inch x 4 1/4 inch piece). Tape the paper or film to the inside of the open end of your camera with the emulsion side facing the pinhole. The emulsion side feels tacky. Close the lid.
- 8
  Secure the camera by taping it to a tripod, windowsill or other steady object. Lift the shutter cover to expose the pinhole. Count the exposure time exactly and close the shutter.
- 9
  Expose paper for two minutes in bright sun and 8 minutes in cloudy conditions. Expose 400 ASA film for 1 to 2 seconds in sun and 4 to 8 seconds in cloud. Double the exposure time for 100 ASA film.
  Replace the film or paper. Process them normally.

Photography