Crafting a Practical, Miniature Lego Camera: A Collaborative Project for Lego Enthusiasts
In a world where we've got a Lego NES and a Lego Pac-Man arcade cabinet, wouldn't it be awesome to snap some shots with a Lego-made film camera? Well, here's the kicker: there's a legitimate chance! Introducing the Lego ZH1, a fully-functional, 35mm point-and-shooter that's as legit as they come. This baby incorporates the real deal—film—and has all the bells and whistles to operate the shutter and wind to the next frame. The ZH1 sports a retro vibe sporting the black and white Lego logo from 1934, making it a dream come true for retro camera enthusiasts.
This puppy looks like a classic single-lens point-and-shoot, much like the recent Fujifilm X100VI. The lens? A Lego magnifying glass, and the back cover is hinged for easy loading of film. There's a winding knob, a rewind knob, a shutter button, an accessory shoe, and don't worry, it's as straightforward to use as a Lego set. Project creator Zung Hoang showed us the ropes on his Instagram page.
We first caught wind of this bad boy via Hackaday in 2023, and since then, creator Zung Hoang has been advocating for the project on Lego Ideas. As of writing, it has garnered less than 9,000 supporters and has 30 days left to reach the magical 10,000 mark. Once that's achieved, it's on Lego to review the project and decide whether it should become a real set. Lego currently offers a recreation Retro Camera with 261 pieces, but instead of a real roll of film, you get simulation film with picture windows.
Got some free time and want to get crafty? Check out the camera in action from an early prototype on Hoang's YouTube channel.
DIY cameras, you say? Well, you might think of something like the $40 Konstruktor Flash SLR DIY, where you clip, build, and assemble the sprues yourself. Creating a brick-based camera with Lego is like child's play, especially if you're fam with other Lego kits. However, the design may be a tad larger than your average analog or digital camera from Leica, Sony, or Fujifilm, measuring nearly 10 inches wide.
One thing worth considering: how light-proof is this brick-based camera? Hoang shared with Gizmodo over Instagram that early versions had some micro-cracks, but he's since switched to black color bricks, which has improved the design's containment. He tested the camera using a phone flashlight on the backplate, and surprisingly, there were no issues ruining the film.
While not as detailed as high-tech cameras with controlled aperture and shutter speed, Hoang confirmed that this model is a diffraction-based lens, rather than a refraction or even a pinhole camera. He created a mod to turn the device into a pinhole camera, but found the images lacked sharpness, so he removed the mod. But fear not, art enthusiasts! The images taken with the ZH1 have their own charm, with distortions, lens flare, and other effects that make for a unique and artistic look. The pictures are so compelling that they'd be perfect for wall-hanging or even creating a Lego-inspired camera collage.
This post was updated Aug. 19 at 11:34 a.m. to include additional comments and images from Zung Hoang.
- The Lego ZH1, a prototype camera, incorporates real film and resembles the single-lens point-and-shoot Fujifilm X100VI.
- The creator of the Lego ZH1, Zung Hoang, has been advocating for the project on Lego Ideas, aiming to reach the required 10,000 supporters before Lego reviews it for potential production.
- Currently, Lego offers a recreation Retro Camera with 261 pieces that simulates film photography, but the Lego ZH1 is a brick-based camera with a larger design.
- Zung Hoang has shared that there were issues with light-proofing in earlier prototypes of the Lego ZH1, but has since improved the design using black color bricks.
