Taking photography back to the basics, the CROZ DIY Digital Camera only features two buttons: the on/off also acts as the shutter clicker and then one other switch selects photo effects. The design might sound simple—and it is, in a way. The clear acrylic case, however, means that the camera’s insides are visible. Two extra lenses (fish-eye and wide-angle) are also included with this purchase.
From the inventive imagination of Cliff Haynes and the late photographer Mick Farrell, this wondrous photographic device allows lights to pass through 32,000 10-inch black drinking straws, encased in wood, before striking photo sensitive paper. As Haynes explains to PetaPixel, the camera has its own unique signature on images—as none of the straws are exactly even. The resulting imagery feels reminiscent of dot art, but …
There’s arguably no better way to learn how a camera works than by building one yourself. That’s exactly what Bigshot offers: a kit for constructing a 3MP digital camera from scratch—that’s easy enough for anyone over the age eight. There’s a flash and an LCD display, but most fascinating of all is the lens turn-wheel allowing for panoramic shots and even 3D imagery.
