Camera hacker and photographer Malcom Jay says his first camera built out of pandemic boredom was “literally held together with tape and hope” – but as he dove into the world of DIY cameras and 3D printing, he started building cameras unlike what exists off the shelf. Now, the hacker is bringing his DIY modular camera to the masses – and it comes complete with film simulations and even the option for a waist-level finder.
Built by camera hacker Malcom Jay, the WLV-01 is a modular camera built using Raspberry Pi with swappable sensors and a 3D-printed body and accessories. The camera can house a full-spectrum color or monochrome sensor, ranging in size from 1/1.2-inch to Micro Four Thirds, and can be paired with E-Mount or C-Mount lenses (Adapters also make it possible to shoot with vintage film lenses).
The sensors and lenses aren’t the only swappable pieces. The camera is built with a large four-inch screen at the top rather than at the back. That placement allows the camera to add an electronic viewfinder using a mirror, or yes, even a waist-level finder. The camera can be modified with a 3D-printed waist-level finder chimney, or can be modified to work with old Mamiya TLR waist-level finders.
The downside of that top screen? There’s no hot shoe slot, but the camera can work with flash using a 2.5mm mono jack instead.
Malcolm Jay calls the camera a “digital film” camera for two reasons. First, the camera has built-in presets based on popular film stocks, while it also supports loading custom LUTs for building custom color filters. But while the camera has a screen, the WLV-01 is built without the ability to review the images in camera for a film-like focus.
Using the Raspberry Pi system on the build allows for a custom camera interface, but Malcom Jay built the system with features like double exposure, focus peaking, and a Brenzier mode for stacked panoramas.
The WLV-01 launched as a DIY kit or assembled camera last year. But the camera’s creator is bringing the modular camera to Kickstarter to bring the system to more photographers – and add larger sensors to the system. The crowdfunding will bring a full color spectrum and monochrome Micro Four Thirds sensor to the range of options.
The Kickstarter campaign will help fund FCC certification, necessary for the Micro Four Thirds sensors and a wireless module. Wi-Fi will allow the camera to wirelessly access the camera for downloading files, uploading LUTs, previewing live shots, and doubling as a wireless tether.
While the WLV-01 is a modular 3D-printed camera, options range from purchasing just the files to individual sensor components to a fully built camera, assembled by the creator in Canada.
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