Thinking Inside The Box - With Zero Image

One might be forgiven for thinking that if a product is named Zero Image that it would not be much use in photography. Nothing could be further from the truth - Zero Image makes some of the funnest gear in the shop.

Look at the heading photograph. What looks like a small wooden jewel casket with brass fittings is actually a fully-functional camera. It is running in parallel with another famous product on the market at present in that it too does not need to be focussed. It is in focus all the time.

The wooden box is a pinhole camera made by Zero Image. It operates on 120 roll film, colour or black and white, and the sun. Or the moon, if you are very patient.

The camera has a perfectly good shutter, and a very precise laser-cut aperture, a smooth winding mechanism, a simple film indexing system, and no lens at all.

The focussing is done by the tiny aperture - it is effectively f:235! That means an enormous depth of field, gently soft edges to some bright areas, and a very long exposure time. The camera is fitted with a sturdy brass tripod screw on the bottom and you will need to use it for nearly every shot you take.

The exposure in bright West Australian sun for a 400 ISO film would be somewhere between 30 and 45 seconds. I've done this for years on all sorts of stock and if you can keep the subject and the camera still you can get some very interesting photos. Those people dedicated to long exposures blurring the sea or waterfalls might care to load a 50 ISO film into it and blaze away. Actually it is more of a very slow warmth in those cases...

The camera has provision in the back to work the 120 film as 6 x 6, 6 x 7, or 6 x 9 format. The indexing of the film is the good old sliding shutter over a red window at the back. Crude and sophisticated all in one.

Please note the elegant revolving dial calculator at the back that allows you to imagine up an exposure in the field. This is one camera that rewards careful mathematics.

Please note that the Zero Image people have also sent us a 35mm version of this camera.

It has a provision for a cable release attachment and a wonderfully steam-punk levelling bubble on the top. All you need are motorcycle goggles and a top hat to complete the look.

Only two of these great Zero Image handmade wooden pinhole cameras in stock.

We have the Zero 135 which takes 35mm film and the zero 6x9 which takes 120 roll film and can shoot in 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x9 formats. Both cameras are real collectors items as well as functional cameras. All hand made in Japan and coming with an individually signed and numbered certificate of authenticity these cameras have a huge amount of old world charm and the fine craftsmanship shows. Don't miss your chance to own such a beautifully crafted camera, come in today to purchase one.

Don't be fooled by the good looks, the images they produce are great and have a very unique quality to them. You can view images shot on these cameras by people around the world on Flickr here.

Hand Made Wooden Cameras are Back!

Thanks to the clever craftsmen at Zero Image we have some unusual cameras for you. Arriving to our showroom floor via horse and cart. These little cameras remind me of times gone by, times before I was born actually. Anyway just because I wasn't alive in the 1920's doesn't mean I can't enjoy the charm of a camera from that era.

Handmade in Japan and coming with a personally signed certificate from the maker. They are pinhole cameras, so everything will be in focus and you'll be shooting long exposures even during the daylight. Check out the gallery on the Zero Image site to see the unique images these cameras produce as well as learning techniques to use them. Have a look at this Flickr search to see more images and discussions about these cameras.

We have a 35mm model that can shoot panoramic images too (Zero 135 dual format Deluxe) and a medium format model (Zero multi format 6x9 Deluxe) that can shoot 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7 and 6x9 in stock. All other models displayed on the the Zero Image site are available to order.

The 35mm and 6x9 models side by side.

35mm model front view.

35mm model rear view.

A close up view of the brass pinhole lens and wooden shutter on the 35mm model. You can activate it using your finger, as I am doing here, or a shutter release cable can also be used to help keep the camera steady for longer exposures.

Showing the camera disassembled and ready for loading film.

 

The wooden back slides in neatly and then the top simply screws down.

 

The Zero multi format 6x9 Deluxe camera front view.

Rear view.

Close up of the rear showing the frame counter window when pushed open.

Close up of the spirit level.

The Zero multi format 6x9 Deluxe model in it's three parts ready for film loading.  With the individually signed and numbered certificate on show.

The craftsmanship of these cameras certainly impresses. This camera that brings the the romance and magic back to modern photography. In the days of instant digital satisfaction and phone cameras in everybody's pocket take a step in the other direction to create timeless images on film that will last a lifetime. Don't let the old world charm go to waste and when not in use keep this camera on display in your private collection at home rather than hidden away in a camera bag.

Call us on 08 9328 4405 for enquiries, or come visit us at 230 Stirling St Perth to see them in person.