About
VIDDY: The world's cutest DIY pinhole camera
£39,215
871
VIDDY is a screenprinted do-it-yourself pinhole camera kit made from tough, durable recycled card. It accepts both medium format and 35mm film.
Each and every VIDDY is screenprinted and die-cut by hand in the UK and is available in 4 colours; Green, Black, Blue or Red.
VIDDY comes as a kit and the main pieces you'll need simply pop out so you'll go from flat pack to working camera in around half an hour!
Stickers and split pins are used to build the main body and you just need a small drop of glue to construct the film advance knobs.
There's no sharps, virtually no glue, and no mess.
Each VIDDY kit comes with everything you'll need to complete the camera, including a reclaimed medium format spool, a precision laser-cut pinhole, a red light-proof window, split pins, a sticker sheet and clear illustrated instructions alongside an easy to follow how-to video.
It's simple, educational, fully functional and takes great photographs. But most importantly, it's fun!
Want to know a little more about Kelly and The Pop-Up Pinhole Company? Check out our story here.
Each VIDDY kit also comes with two decorative front sticker panels designed exclusively for this Kickstarter campaign by illustrators Becca Allen and Suzi Kemp. You'll receive both designs with your VIDDY kit. Check them out!
A pinhole camera is a simple camera that uses a single small aperture - a pinhole - instead of a lens.
As light passes through this hole, an image is exposed onto the film loaded inside the camera. Exposure times are typically longer than with a normal lensed camera, due to the aperture being so much smaller. This means that pinhole cameras can typically take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of hours to expose a photograph. Because of these long exposures the shutter is usually manually operated.
It strips complex photographic concepts down to their basic foundation: Light. How much to let in, and for how long!
The VIDDY is the little sibling of our VIDERE pinhole camera.
It's been in development for the past 6 months and is a direct result of the feedback we've received from the fantastic community of current Pop-Up Pinhole users.
This is our development method. It’s simple, but it works.
We are always listening and making improvements to our designs. VIDDY is ever evolving and we'd love you to join the journey.
VIDDY is easy to use, easy to load and has lots of new user experience features to make it our best model yet. These include a film viewing window, shutter indicator and virtually glue-free construction.
It's also the best kit yet for little hands and we've been successfully testing it in schools with children as young as 11 as part of educational workshops. Constructing a camera by hand that can take real photographs, using the simplest method possible, transforms complex concepts into hands-on understanding.
So far the VIDDY has been used to teach subjects as wide-ranging as science, maths, history, art and design and engineering.
When you support this project you'll not only be helping get the VIDDY get into production, but you'll also be be helping its development as an educational aid for use in schools and colleges.
We could have just sent our VIDDY prototypes out to journalists and bloggers, but instead we decided to run a user testing programme and get the kits into the hands of the people that really matter: you!
We used what funds we had to make 80 VIDDY prototype kits, and we've been running testing sessions and workshops across the country and sending kits out for testing around the globe. They've been tried out everywhere from the south of Australia to San Francisco and our testers have varied from school kids to pro-baristas. We've also made sure we've tested them on everyone from pinhole fanatics to film photography virgins- we like to cover all bases!
If there's one thing we're certain of, it's that VIDDY definitely isn't just for photography buffs
Check out London based photographer Lydia Garnett testing out one of our early VIDDY prototype models >
What our London testers thought >
Since The Pop-Up Pinhole Company was founded we've always only used local suppliers that are small, independent, and place an emphasis on craft and quality.
The craftspeople we work with have been honing their skills for several decades, which means you get one of the highest quality products possible and you can be assured in the knowledge that you are helping to support independent British businesses.
We work with trusted suppliers in the UK, but we have also started to build relationships with screenprinters, diecutters and distributers in the USA. This means that if the target is reached and a large proportion of our backers come from the States, we will be able to look into production there too which will not only reduce our carbon footprint, but help support US small businesses too.
Each VIDDY kit will come with a basic exposure guide as part of the instructions- but we know that you’re not going to have that with you every time you are out having fun shooting with your VIDDY.
The Pop-Up Pinhole app is our solution. You just need to fire it up, select your film speed and conditions, and you'll be shown exactly how long to keep the shutter open on your VIDDY for perfectly exposed pictures.
When you support this project, not only will you receive your own VIDDY kit, but you’ll also be supporting the development of the Pop-Up Pinhole app which we are hoping will be with you at the same time your VIDDY lands on your doorstep.
We'd love your support to get the VIDDY into production and to help us develop its potential as an educational tool. Check out the rewards below and see how you can support the project and what you can get in return!
Reward #1 - £1
- A £1 pledge to show your support for the project and the maker spirit! Please share and help us get the word out!
Reward #2 - SIMPLE- £30
- 1 x VIDDY kit: Black, Red, Blue -or- Green.
UK domestic shipping is included in this reward. (We'll be in touch via email after the Kickstarter campaign has finished to ask your colour choice.)
Reward #3 - KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE! - £40
- 1 x exclusive VIDDY kit: Red + Black, Green + Black, Blue + Black or Orange + Black.
This is an exclusive colour way especially for Kickstarter! This is strictly limited to 200 kits and will not be made available after the campaign. Each kit is double screen printed to create the two colour effect- grab it while you can! UK domestic shipping is included in this reward. (We'll be in touch via email after the Kickstarter campaign has finished to ask your colour choice.)
Reward #4 - MIX N' MATCH - £60
- 2 x VIDDY kits: Red + Blue, Black + Green, Red + Green or Blue + Black. UK domestic shipping is included in this reward.
Double the fun; make a mixed colour VIDDY or buy one for yourself and give one to a friend! UK domestic shipping is included in this reward. (We'll be in touch via email after the Kickstarter campaign has finished to ask your colour choice.)
Reward #5 - SCHOOL PACK - £500
- 10 x VIDDY kits in mixed colours with lesson plans, teaching materials and film provided. There will be three age brackets of educational materials available: 11-13, 14-16 and 17+.
UK domestic shipping is included in this reward. (We'll be in touch via email after the Kickstarter campaign has finished to confirm which age school kit you require.)
Reward #6 - VIDDY WORKSHOP DAY - £1,500
- A day-long VIDDY workshop run by Pop-Up Pinhole founder Kelly Angood, anywhere in the UK. Why not donate it to your local school or college? All materials, including VIDDY kits and film processing will be provided. Can be arranged from January 2015 onwards. Maximum group size 30.
We plan to get all VIDDY kits out to backers for the end of November, just in time for Christmas!
Check out the plan for testing and production >
The Pop-Up Pinhole Company is built on collaboration and creative teamwork and we've had some fantastic people on board to help bring this project to life. We couldn't be more grateful for their fantastic creative input.
These people, alongside all of our brilliant testers and community of Pop-Up Pinhole users have been part of the journey to get this product to this stage.
Product Photography: Jonathan Minister
Video Editing: Stella Malfilâtre
Stills photography: Becks Parnell
Music (main video): Sleep Party People // 10 feet up
Risks and challenges
I’ve been working on the VIDDY for the past 6 months and am really excited about launching this new, fun and innovative pinhole camera kit. I’ve been testing the VIDDY thoroughly, and can’t wait to be able to share it even further. In order to do that I know I need to fulfil my promise to you, my backers.
I’ve been making pinhole cameras for nearly 5 years and have made everything from one-off cameras to digital downloads to cardboard pinhole camera kits on a mass scale. I have plenty of experience and am confident I can bring this product to you on time and at high quality. As with all new products, however, there is always an element of risk involved due to unforeseen production or delivery issues.
I'm planning to make an app as part of rewarding backers for supporting the project. Although I have spoken to lots of digital experts and have people lined up to do the work, this may be a challenge for me as I usually make physical and tactile products. Despite that, I'm really excited about bringing digital and analogue together.
I can also assure you that I’m working really hard to ensure the VIDDY comes to life, and believe it will be a brilliant product. Most things have been finalised at Pop-Up Pinhole HQ, and I estimate the first shipment will be by the end of November 2014. Please bear in mind that some rewards such as the Workshop Day may take longer to organise due to logistic reasons, but I promise to keep you informed every step of the way.
During this project I have had the fantastic support of a network of skilled designers, creatives and marketing and business professions who I can rely on for help should I need it. This, alongside the support and feedback of the current Pop-Up Pinhole community, gives me the confidence to be able to bring you this product, on time and at optimum quality.
Kelly - Founder of The Pop-Up Pinhole Co.
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Funding period
- (41 days)