Step-by-step guide to making a 400-megapixel camera

Leonard Goh | Jan 30, 2009

(Credit: Dan Newton)

The megapixel race among the camera manufacturers is still going on, and it doesn't seem like it is stopping anytime soon. Instead of joining the fray, US photographer Dan Newton has a better idea--make his own 400-megapixel shooter with a budget of US$250.

Using an old Canon scanner he bought on eBay for US$30 and a secondhand 8 x 10 view camera (those big bulky shooters your grandfather probably used), he conceived a gizmo that generates extremely high-resolution pictures. Newton's scanner/camera combination looks awkward and, according to the photographer, has several limitations such as exposure time and the setup being cumbersome.

Nevertheless, he managed to snap (or should we say, scan) a few monochrome shots. Luckily for him, the scanner draws power via the USB port so he won't have to lug a mini generator around to take pictures.

Using a scanner to take pictures is not a new idea, and 400 megapixels is not the highest resolution we've come across for imaging. There is a gigapixel shooter in Hawaii which is protecting Earth as you read this. However, this makes a great weekend project if you have an old scanner and view camera lying around. Let us know if it works for you.

Filed under: Digital Cameras
Leave a comment | Bookmark | Share