Nikon DX F-Mount Pinhole Lens

thingiverse

This is my custom pinhole lens design for the Nikon DX F-mount DSLRs. It might NOT WORK WITH FX cameras, because the larger mirror may collide with the back of the lens. My design features a focal length of approximately 37mm when compared to a standard zoom lens at that focal length. This is the advantage of my design - converting a cap into a pinhole camera yields an image roughly 45mm wide, making it visibly wider than the original lens. I chose not to modify a good cap, preserving its integrity. The pinhole lens works well on my D3100, securing tightly and clearing the mirror without any issues. However, the quality of the images produced depends heavily on the quality of the pinhole used. It's unrealistic to expect sharp images from this setup. On full-frame DSLRs, a well-crafted hole will produce somewhat acceptable images; however, on APS-C sensors, you can anticipate even more pronounced blurriness. Print Settings: All printed parts should be done without support material. You may need to adjust the orientation of some components in the slicer to ensure proper printing. Print all parts in BLACK plastic or paint them afterwards using black paint - I opted for spray painting the front and a black marker for the inside. Post-Printing: Assemble the parts under pressure; you might require a hammer or vice to squeeze part 1 and 2 together tightly. On my printer, the assembly is secure and cannot come apart in any circumstance. It's time to create the pinhole now. You can purchase a laser-cut pinhole, but that defeats the purpose of this project - it's meant to be fun and DIY. Obtain an aluminum soda can or something similar, cut a 20mm circle, and ensure there are no wrinkles or imperfections. Get a sharp needle and press its tip into the center of the circle without piercing the aluminum; you only want to create a small pimple. Next, use water sandpaper (I used 500 grit) to smooth out the pimple. Avoid applying excessive pressure, as this may cause it to bend back. Continue sanding until a hole appears. The optimal diameter for the pinhole should be approximately 0.25mm; avoid making it smaller than 0.2mm or larger than 0.3mm. In my tests, 0.25mm proved to be the ideal size. You can use a guitar string to verify the hole's diameter (I used a 0.24mm string). If you lack a means of measuring it, proceed with trial and error. Examine the pinhole under magnification to ensure its circular shape and absence of debris. Place your disk in part 3 and press it into part 1. If the fitment is not secure enough, apply superglue! However, be cautious not to let the parts disassemble inside your camera and cause damage. Clean the components thoroughly and confirm they are robust and cannot break or disassemble within the camera. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CAMERA DAMAGE! FX users BEWARE - your mirror may collide with the back cap! Double-check everything carefully. How I Designed This: I created this design using Onshape, referencing the camera, kit lens, and both caps for accurate representation.