Yes, our pinhole cameras can take excellent pictures, which tend not to be quite as sharp as pictures taken with a conventional lens camera. The results will generally be better with a tripod. Or you can hand hold the camera for special motional effects.

It is a simple light-tight box with a tiny hole (usually made of brass shim), placed in front of the box. For more about pinhole photography, please go to our interest link page.

120 roll film is an international standard size for medium format photography used by professional photographers and artists.

There are several reasons why we chose 120 format:

1. Better quality than that of 135 format.

2. Much easier to change the film: if you use 135, you have to wind the film back to the beginning once you have exposed all frames. If you use 4 x 5 format and take more photos in the field, you have to carry a lot of cut film holders, or you need a changing bag. If you use paper film or special format, e.g. 8 x 10, you have to load the film or paper negative every time after each shot.
Update: We have launch the Zero135 which is no need to re-wind the film by 2003.

3. If you don't want to process the film and make the print, you can simply send it to your local photo lab . If you want to do it yourself, just add a processing can that accepts 120 is o.k. You can also enlarge your image with your enlarger by adding a 120 film holder.

Please visit here for more information.

It is the same as 35mm roll film.

You can buy it from the well-known shops and labs at Color Six or Kowloon PHotos

Yes, You can take transparencies, in color or b&w.

Yes, but you have to cut the paper film into size and load it to the camera before you take the photo.You may need to carry a changing bag or tent for load and unload the paper film.

You can only use Polaroid back with our Zero 4 x 5 system, it's a regret that now the Polaroid film is discounted. You can try Fuji instance film(expired) but the price is rather high!!!

You can use the 550 film back with our camera but this film back is a bit different from the other standard polaroid film back so the final image may shift (up and down position). i..e. the final image is not located at the middle of your film, you may need to do some adjustment when framing the image. So bad now it is very difficult to get the Polaroid film and the price is crazy if you can find some expired film!!!

Please visit our Price List page. You may need to pay for the import tax (or VAT) if the custom of your countries need to charge you for such tax.

Yes, but you need to have a Paypal account.

For details, please go to our Order Page

Normally we can ship your order within 72 hours after the order is send to us by Paypal. We ship by Speed Post (EMS) and the normal delivery time is just 2-3 business days (reach to yoru country). It may need more time for the parcel to reach to your door depends on your custom.

Sorry we no longer able to accept money order since 2004, now we can accept credit card (via Paypal) or money/bank transfer only (25/4/2007).

We offer a flat shipping rate for all countries. The price is the same what we listed on our web site, for the price list, please visit here

Please be reminded that your customs will charge you the importing tax.

For Hong Kong customers or visitors who travel to Hong Kong, we can ship to your address or hotel within 24 hours, by SF Express. Please contact us to ensure that the model you want is available and the price is better if you can send payment directly to us directly, like despit to our bank, allipay.

Yes, please feel free to contact us and we can send you a free version. contact us

Please feel free to contact us and we can send you a free version. contact us

Yes, you can take as many exposure as you want. Simply don't advance the film.

Yes, flash photo is possible. Simply open the shutter and trigger your flash head or flash light. If the output of your flash is not enough for the exposure, trigger your flash many many times to achieve the proper exposure time and close the shutter when you have finished.

We have already incorporated 35mm, 6 x 7, 6 x 9, 6 x 12, 618 4x5 and 8x10 formats, and are available in different focal lengths. If you are interested in these formats, please contact us and let us know.

I am so sorry that I cannot under your language, it's Spanish? Let me hazard a guess: You want to have an instruction in Spanish? Please visit Manual in Spanish. We have our Spanish friend Carlos who has helped us to translate our Zero 2000 manual into Spanish.

The brass shim is not easy to damage if you are not intend to punch it with a sharp pen or other pointed object. When it is not in use, it is protect by the shutter and the brass ring (as you can see in the picture). You can remove the shim if you don't like the original one, in case you decide to make your own in a circular shape and replace ours. Our shim is in a tiny disk shape. We can send you one separately without installing it to the camera. So you can install your own into the camera. The pinhole is the heart of the camera. You can use one made by yourself.

The shutter is just held by the two screws, and it will loosen after using the camera for a long time. You can adjust the screw to suit you. We adjust the screw somewhere between not-so-tight (easy to slide) and not-so-loose (will not open by it's weight when carrying). Customers can adjust it to suit their own preferences. We have mentioned this topic in our instruction manual which accompanies the camera.

The wood is a Teak Wood imported from Mainland China and their source is from Thailand. It's a rather high-price wood that we can get in our country. We tried many different woods, and have found this to be the best choice for the manufacturing of our cameras, from the standpoint of cost, quality, and durability.

The wood is rather heavy because it is very dense. It's harder than cherry. We know many people like cherry but this wood in our country is very very expensive and it will triple the price of the camera. We aim to let more people enjoy pinhole photography by keeping our purchase prices very reasonable and affordable.

The thickness of the wood is 6.5-7mm. The joints are rigid and light-tight. When you get the camera, you will find that we have considered every part of the camera, and have addressed any problems that might occur when taking photos, whether it be film advancing, exposure, film holding, format, reloading film, etc..

a. The horizontal and vertical angle of view for this camera is 95.45 deg. and 130 deg. diagonally. b. The focal length for a pinhole camera is the distance between the film plane and the hole. It is different from that of a 'lens". We can say that an 80mm lens for medium format is equivalent to a 50mm lens for 135 format. But for a pinhole camera, the focal length is dependent on the design of the camera. For example, in the Zero 2000, the distance of the pinhole from the film plane is 25mm, so we call the focal length 25mm. We can make it in any format and it wil remain a 25mm of focal length. The only thing that changes with the format is the angle of view. The result in image is the smaller the format, the more normal perspective (like that of a tele-lens). The larger the format, the more distorted perspective (like that of super-wide angle lens). We can tell you that images come out from the Zero 2000 is similar to the images result from a wide-angle 20MM lens for 35 format. The overall effect, however is different. We suggest you to visit our gallery to see the images took by our different Zero cameras.

It covers the full 6x6 format. The actual side of the image on the 120 film is 57mm x 57mm.

Yes, it is possible to do that. The interior of the camera will hold a filter that conforms to a size 55mm x 55mm. You can simply find a filter with a diameter size smaller than 55mm. (Square filters cut into size make a good fit.) If the filter is too small and tends to shift about, just tape it with photography tape. Personally I don't use commercial filters. I prefer to use color acetate (color film about 0.8mm) and cut it in a size of 54 x 54mm, which I then put into the camera, with no tape needed. I have also cut a Cokin filter which fit well.

We could have added a filter holder, but we didn't because of the following points:
1. Not all people like to use filter for pinhole photography.
2. If we made the filter holder, the size of the filter becomes fixed, and the customer then has to find a filter with the right form factor. Now our customers can put their existing filter into the camera, so long as it is smaller that "55MM".
3. If we made the filter holder, the camera's size would increase, and one of our chief aims was to make a compact camera.
4. It would also make the camera a bit more complicated. The camera as it exists is simple to operate, and a joy to carry.
5. Many people can make their own pinhole cameras. We have left some space for the customer to convert the camera to fit their demands, like the shutter, the lens, the filter, and also the finishing.
6. We wanted to design a camera with elegant simplicity and handy construction, so that every function can be enjoyed by every customer. Updated: We have added an external filter holder for all our camera (except the 6x18 series) and now most people buy the camera with this fiter holder. (1/6/2012)

Move the camera at different angles so that the light can shine into the small window. Do not put your head too close to it or you will block the light. Keep it at least 12 inches from your eye. You should be able to see the number even in dim light. If you still have problems seeing it, a mini torch may help.

Yes, it is possible to mount a zone plate to the Zero 2000 camera but we don't recommend our customers to work on it as it may cause damage to the camera. You can buy the brass shim and stick it to the brass ring of this camera. To replace one, you have to punch out the original one (it will damage it) and then stick the one you drilled yourself, or the zone plate, to the brass ring of the camera. Our camera has a brass ring with an opening of 3mm diameter. The brass shim is attached to the brass ring (on the inner side of the camera)

A clever decision is to use the color slide film first. Black and White will be the last one to use until you can "see" the tone and contrast of the scene.

If your slide film is ASA 100, use 1-2 seconds in bright sunlight, 6-10 seconds in shade. Try to shoot the same scene with different exposure times, and record the time for each frame. When the slide film is processed, you can find the correct exposure time for different light conditions. The advantage of using slide film is that you can know whether the exposure time is correct when you see the film. It is very difficult to judge this with a negative.

Use 10-20minutes when shot indoor under sufficient light, like that found in the office, or in a shopping mall, etc. Use at least 30minutes when shooting indoors under dim light, like a moody restaurant.

Remember to record all the exposure times of each frame for each roll of film. You will find it very useful as a reference for your next roll of film. After several rolls of film, you will be able to take photos with correct exposures more easily.

When you look through the tiny hole, it look like it is fogged. This is normal. Your eye and the small hole is 100% o.k. Since the shutter is always closed, the lens will not become dusty easily. You can blow the lens with an air blower TENDERLY. Too much pressure will blow out the lens.

You may use orange oil or lemon oil for wood (furniture) cleaning. I think you can buy it easily, or you may order it from internet. Beeswax for wood polishing, and also works well.

1. You may try the finger method. First open the shutter and cover the "lens" with your finger, remove and put it back to cover the "lens" as fast as you can. You may use your hat instead of your finger.

2. If fast speed film is not a must for your photography, try slower speed film.

3. We sell a cable release attachment (the new shutter mechanism for the 6 x 9 and 6 x 12 format, and also sold as accessory). This would make a perfect upgrade your camera, and a great way for you to deal with fast exposure times.

Thanks for interesting in our camera again. The Zero 612F is our top of the line camera, if you look carefully to the detail of this camera, you will know the production time is many times longer than our other camera and all it's minor details are of very well-considered designed:

1. Special joint make it more complicate (in production), the back panel is made of 3 piece of wood glued together, this avoid serious wrap when the weather change; 2. previous marking for framing;

3. with brass film format indication at the back;

4. pressurized film back to avoid curvy film;

5. pinhole and zone plate interchangeable structure which is rather expensive and difficult to machine, but it is very handy if you like both pinhole and zone plate because you can switch them anytime you want;

6. Bubble level is not just on top of the top panel, there is a pocket hole machined so as to hold the bubble perfectly, this add difficult to production;

7. brass format indication on top of the divider;

8. for the finishing, it do have more layers;

9. other 612 pinhole camera available in the market are as high as US$900 (except the copy camera from China!!!) while our one are nearly half the price;

10. our basic 612 model cannot install the cable release adaptor because the design is different and it will include the cable release adaptor in every frame when the camera is set to 612 format.

To be honesty, you can buy a basic version and you also get the same result (because the pinhole is the same!) but some customer may like to have top of the line item and treat this camera as a piece of art for their own collection, some also have their name engraved on the name plate of the camera. Different goods for different customers, that's why we make a basic version later.

Hope now you know why the Zero 612F is far more expensive than our other models.

Update 2015: Many cheap 612 pinhole camera are now available from the market. Price of teak wood already rise over 100%! After many years, here are still no other 612 pinhole cameras that can have our unique pinhole/zone plate interchangeable function.