Clint O’Connor Releases a New 3D Printed Pinhole Camera: The Flyer 6X6 Stereo

Years ago, my father handed down his Canon Rebel 35mm camera to me. My best friend somehow had a matching camera and we were never without them. Many trips were made to buy film, and a lot of allowance money went toward paying for photos to be developed—whether from the fancy shop in town or by mail (remember that?). Fast forward, and for most of us, we’ve dropped the old-fashioned camera and now just use our phones; in fact, I often say “Let me grab my camera” but actually mean my smartphone!

Many enthusiasts are still old school, however, and like the quality of a ‘real’ camera, along with all the technicalities that often accompany them. Thanks to Clint O’Connor, you can harken back to older technology created with new, via 3D printing. The Flyer 6×6 Stereo, also known as the Stereo Flyer, follows O’Connor’s previous Flyer camera—known as the first 3D printed camera on Kickstarter—as well as the Clipper camera, a panoramic pinhole camera. The Flyer Stereo is 3D printed in black plastic and is meant to be durable. For those purchasing the camera, it is $69 and comes with a free roll of film.

Busy as a creative maker since he was a child, O’Connor is also deaf, giving more insight into his passion for visuals. He states that he has taken pinhole pictures from as far north as Reykjavik in Iceland and as far south as Antarctica.

With this new model, also regarded as a pinhole camera, the device can take two pictures which merge into one 3D photo, seen through a stereo viewer.

 “I have wanted to do a stereoscopic version of Flyer for a long time since Flyer has been such a successful camera in many ways. However, my printers and my time have been tied up with making Flyers and Clippers.  I enjoy designing new cameras and printing some for pinhole enthusiasts around the world, but each new camera leaves me with less time.  I’ve decided recently the way forward for me is to do limited editions of each, and then move on,” said O’Connor.

“The Stereo Flyer is the first in my series of limited edition cameras.  I plan to continue making Flyers and Clippers for some time, as well as making more open source cameras for others to make, like the 35mm film adapters and the Easy 35 camera.”

Features of the new camera follow:

• 3D printed – body, top, knob, winder, shutter
• 120 format film, 6 paired exposures/roll
• Image size – double 6×6 square format (56 x 56 mm)
• Field of view – 70 degrees
• Focal length – 40mm
• Pinhole diameter – 0.25mm (two)
• f/Stop – 160
• Tripod nut on bottom (1/4-20)
• Size – 185 x 54 x 82 mm (WxDxH)

The camera is available in a limited run of 100 units. Find out more about this camera, and information for purchasing it, here. Discuss in the 3D Camera forum at 3DPB.com.