Overview: A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens, but has a tiny aperture (the pinhole) instead. It is effectively a light-proof box or tube with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through the pinhole and projects an image on a screen in the box or tube.

Supplies: Empty Pringles can, diffuse paper (ideally press and seal wrap, but wax paper and parchment paper also work), scissors or exacto knife, push pin or other sharp pointed instrument, tape, black paper (optional), wrapping paper (optional)

Objectives: What does the image look like on the screen? Can you see an image with room light? What do outside images look like at different distances? Why?

What’s Happening? Unlike a lens, a pinhole can focus light coming from any distance. Because it’s such a small opening, it only allows light to come through in one place, and in only one direction from any particular source.