These kits, products and 3D printing templates help consumers make a camera that could be used for everything from home security and thermal imaging to hobby photography.
The rise of maker culture has inspired consumers to become creators who are familiar with the inner-workings of useful devices. At the same time, smartphone photography has become so widespread that many creatives are looking to differentiate themselves with a DIY camera that's more closely tailored to their needs.
These DIY camera projects can be made from a range of materials. For instance, the Pop-Up Pinhole Co.'s 'Viddy' camera is made from cardboard, while the 'The Focal Camera' boasts a laser-cut wooden frame and Pinhole Printed's 'Flyer' model is made from 3D-printed ABS plastic.
10 DIY Camera Projects

10
3D-Printed Pinhole Cameras
This 3D-Printed Camera Brings a New Perspective to Old Photography

9
DIY Thermal Cameras
The Thermocam Kit Allows Users to DIY Their Own Thermal Imaging Camera

8
DIY Vintage Cameras
The Konstruktor F by Lomography is a Modernized Vintage Product
7
DIY Security Cameras
This Microsoft Project Lets You Build Your Own Security Camera
6
Sophisticated DIY Cameras
'The Focal Camera' Teaches Anyone to Make an Advanced Cameras
5
DIY Camera Kits
This Pinhole Camera is Made from Durable Recycled Card Material
4
DIY Instant Cameras
The PolaPi Instant Thermal Camera Offers Instant Printing for Makers
3
Wooden Pinhole Cameras
These Cameras Offer a Unique Alternative to Digital Photography
2
Modular Imaging Blocks
The Cambits Imaging System Allows For Convenient Scientific Imaging
1
DIY Pinhole Cameras
The Viddy Camera is Made of Cardboard and Reclaimed Materials
Related Ideas
Dedicated Content Creator Cameras
The Conceptual 'InstaPocket' Supports Social Media Users
Photography Brand Multitools
The Conceptual Leica Multi Multitool by Marco Barbosa is Branded
AI-Powered Smartphone Cameras
The Alice Camera Works on its Own or with a Smartphone
Upcycled Film Camera Designs
The FOTOFOTO OM-1 Presents a Revolutionary Camera Design
Portable Stabilizing Cameras
DJI's Osmo Action 4 is Great for Aspiring Photographers
Hybrid Creativity Instant Cameras
The FUJIFILM instax WIDE Evo Prints Photos and More
AI-Powered Productivity Projectors
The Conceptual 'Lay' Portable AI Device is Packed with Sensors
Immersive Holographic Projectors
The Twelvetooo Mini Holographic Projector Has More Than 50 Themes
Nostalgic Computer Graphic Cameras
Retrospekt and Polaroid Collaborated on a New Camera
Subtle Smartphone-Friendly Printers
The Conceptual Samsung Image Box Instantly Offers Keepsakes
Cat-Inspired Camera Collections
Hello Kitty's Strawberry Kawaii Collection is Nostalgic and Fresh
Cowboy-Inspired Retro Cameras
The 'Hello Kitty Howdy Partner Collection' Features Fringe Details
Tactile Photography Phone Attachments
The Leica LUX Grip is Designed to Enhance Smartphone Tech
Videography Smartphone Cases
The 90 Degree Instinct Case Transforms the Samsung Galaxy Flip
Vintage-Inspired Instant Cameras
Fujifilm Introduces the INSTAX MINI 99 Point and Shoot Camera
Attachable Eyewear Cameras
The VISOO Spatial Video Camera by Suosi Design is Immersive
Miniature Spatial Cameras
The Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Camera Features Two Lenses
Vibrant Retro Tech Collections
The Retrospekt x Miffy Collection Features Illustrious Devices
Quad-Lens GIF Cameras
The Moment 3D Camera by Olga Orel Captures Scenes from Four Lenses
Branded Action Camera Go-Karts
The Conceptual GoPro GoKart by Sean Gao Captures the Action
Smartphone Photographer Sling Bags
The Shiftcam Workflow Sling Addresses Mobile User Needs
Psychedelic Light Projectors
Kino retro projector inspired by psychedelic bands
Half-Frame Film Cameras
The Pentax 17 Has a Magnesium Body Construction
Modular Point-and-Shoot Cameras
The 'Keepsake' Modular Camera Concept is Customizable
Retro Hybrid Instant Cameras
Leica's New SOFORT 2 is a Hybrid Camera and Printer Device
Micro-Sized Mirrorless Cameras
The 'Yashica - I'm Back' Has Interchangeable Lenses and More
Celebratory Photography Camera Models
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Camera Comes in Two New Colors
Creative Vlog-Specific Cameras
The Sony ZV-1 II Ambitiously is Equipped with Multiple Features
Compact Body Cameras
The 'PhoneCam' Lets You Capture Footage Of Illegal or Threatening Behaviour
Rugged Storage-Equipped Camera Caps
The PolarPro Defender Body Cap is Made with 6061 Aluminum
Retractable Camera Lens Smartphones
The HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra Captures Stunning Images and More
Smartphone-to-Camera Transformed Attachments
Belkin Presents the Stage PowerGrip During CES 2025
Three-in-One Smartphone Vlogging Devices
The 'MagMirror' Puts a Screen on the Rear of a Smartphone
Camera-Centric Chinese Smartphones
Vivo's 'X100 Pro' Offers Best-In-Class Photography Specs
Online Creative Course Platforms
Coursera Partnered with Illinois on an Online 3D Printing Course
Pro-Grade Macro Smartphone Lenses
The Moment 75mm Macro Lens Offers 10-Times Magnification
Versatile Effortless Instant Cameras
FUJIFILM Adds the INSTAX MINI 41 Instant Camera to its Roster
Content Creator Camera Kits
The GoPro HERO13 Black Creator Edition Comes as Part of a Kit
Designer Camera Printer Concepts
The Conceptual Polaroid Trance Camera is Ultra-Modern
Sculptural Pebble-Shaped Cameras
The 'Ditto' Camera Concept Captures with Holographic Effect
Textured Quad-Camera Smartphones
This iPhone 17 Concept by Mohamed Mahdy Has an Industrial Form
Compact Sports-Ready Cameras
GoPro Has Introduced Updates to Its Compact HERO Action Camera
Nostalgic 90s-Style Film Cameras
The Moment Long Weekend 35mm Film Camera is Retro
Pro-Grade Smartphone Cameras
The 'SwitchLens' Transforms a Device into a Professional Camera
Foldable Structural Security Cameras
The Psync Genie S Camera is Box-Shaped with a Lid
Nostalgic Camera Designs
Polaroid Debuts the Polaroid Now and Now+ Generation 3
Retro Doll-Themed Cameras
Retrospekt's Barbie Film Camera Collection is Nostalgically Vibrant
Upgraded Compact Cameras
Panasonic's New 'ZS99' Revitalizes Point-And-Shoot Photography
Retro-Inspired Instant Cameras
The Polaroid Flip Camera Features a Four-Lens System and Autofocus
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Memory-Making Retro Camera Concepts
The Polaroid Duo Modular Instant Camera is a Sleek Concept
Hybrid Smartphone Photography Systems
The Beaverlab Tech Excope DT1 Enhances Existing Setups
Vintage Camera Experiences
Nikon’s Vintage Pop-Up Diner Teases the Past at Yorkdale Mall
Field-Ready Ultra-Zoom Cameras
The Nikon Coolpix P1100 Offers 125x Optical Super-Telephoto Zoom
Modular Photography Smartphone Concepts
The Xiaomi Modular Optical System Has a Detachable Lens
Beer-Branded Disposable Cameras
The Retrospekt x PBR Single-Use 35mm Film Camera is Nostalgic
Analogue-Like Digital Cameras
The Leica M11-D Has a Screen-Free Form
Proprietary Smartphone Camera Apps
The Apple Final Cut Camera App Offers Ample Adjustment Features
Smartphone-Powered Camera Processor Systems
The Ninja Phone Makes Use of Smartphone Power
Digital-to-Analog Photo Printers
The 'Jollylook EYE' Converts and Prints Smartphone Photos
Micro 4K Video Cameras
Insta360 Debuts a New Miniature 4K Camera Complete with Find My Technology
5G-Enabled 360-Degree Cameras
The Nokia 360 Camera Can Livestream 8K Video and More
Flippable Retro-Style Instant Cameras
The Polaroid Flip Has a Four-Lens System for Bright Shots
Emotive Smartphone Camera Covers
Yifan Hu Designs the Emoji-Inspired Smartphone Accessories
Shadow-Mimicking Photography Boards
V-Flat World Introduces the New 'Shadow Boards'
High-Power Palm-Sized Telescopes
The Konsivy Pro 4K WiFi Telescope Supports Hobbyist Needs
Budget-Minded Point-and-Shoot Cameras
The Leica D-Lux 8 Has an Interface Inspired by its Q Line
Elongated Smartphone Photography Lenses
The SANDMARC Probe Lens Captures Unexpected Perspectives
Tape Crafting Kits
Curious Universe's Nano Tape Magic Kits Create Fun Crafts for Kids
Kid-Friendly Tech Frames
myFirst Recently Unveiled Two New Digital Frames
Portable Selfie Printer Systems
Canon Introduces its New Selphy QX20 Printer On the Go
Lightweight Content Creator Cameras
Panasonic's LUMIX S9 is Compact and Convenient
Smartphone Gimbal Attachments
Buddiesman Presents the Snappy Mobile Attachment Tool
Imperfect Photography Celebrations
The Nonna's Cam Adds Artificial Fingers to Block Shots
AI-Powered Security Cameras
The U-tec U Home Ulticam Cameras Recognize People, Pets and More
Content Creation Smartphone Accessories
ShiftCam 'SnapSeries' Mobile Creator Gear is Intuitive
Wide-Angle Instant Cameras
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Instant Camera Has a Chunky Construction
360°-Degree Action Cameras
Insta360 Launches the Flagship X5 Camera in the Philippines
AI-Powered Camera Accessories
The Arsenal 2 Intelligent Camera Assistant Offers Auto Enhancement
Screen-Free Digital Cameras
The Camp Snap Camera Holds up to 2,000 Photos in its Storage
AI-Enabled DIY Technology
LOKLiK Emphasizes the Potential of DIY Intelligence at CES 2025
Video-Focused Integrated Cooling Cameras
The Canon PowerShot V1 Captures 4K Videos and More
Vlog-Friendly Compact Cameras
Sony Introduces the ZV-E10 II Camera with New Upgrades
Instant Film Smartphone Printers
The FUJIFILM Instax Mini Link 3 Was Created with Google
Doll-Inspired Retro Instant Cameras
Mattel and Kodak Join Forces on a Barbie Instant Camera
Cube Toy-Inspired Projectors
TCL's Playcube Projector is Designed Inspired by the Rubik's Cube
Portable Photobooth Printers
The HP Sprocket Photobooth is Debuting at CES 2024
Miniature Ink-Free Photo Printers
The Canon IVY 2 Features ZINK Technology and More
AI Pet Photography
Pet Lens AI Offers Professional Photos of Your Pet with AI Assistance
Modernized Video Cameras
The Kodak Super 8 Camera Revives the Brand's Analog Hardware
Comprehensive 3D Printing Resources
'Udemy' Offers Engaging Online Courses on 3D Printing
Instant Product Photography
Shots Maker Generates Realistic Model Photos from Product Images
Color-Changing Instant Cameras
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 Uses LEDs for Visual Effects
Camera-Branded Photography Apps
The Leica LUX App Brings the Brand's Prowess to the iPhone
Remixed Stealthy Camera Concepts
Wencheng Zhang Creates the Leica M Reimagined Concept
Mirrorless 4K Compact Cameras
Samuel Mello Medeiros Designs the Yashica I'm Back Camera
Image-Based Homework Help
Answer Lens Can Uses AI to Answer Homework Questions with a Photo
Portable Holographic Displays
Looking Glass Go Shares Memories as 3D Holograms, Not Photos
Polaroid-Inspired Poetry Cameras
The Poetroid Uses AI To Print Poems Similar to a Polaroid
Brand Photography Marketplaces
VSCO Unveils a New Marketplace for Photographers to Find Work
Rechargeable Instant Print Cameras
Kodak SMILE+ Digital Instant Print Has a Filter-Changing Lens
Space-Breaching Mirrorless Cameras
Nikon and NASA Work on the Handheld Universal Lunar Camera
Pebble-Shaped Effortless Cameras
Matsuura Yasuaki Designs the kyu Camera
Dual-Lens Security Cameras
IMILAB Boasts the Household-Focused C30 Dual Surveillance Camera
Functional Gingerbread Cameras
Dmitri Tcherbadji Created a Camera That Shoots with Instant Film
Camera Gear Product Displays
GoPro Has Announced a Significant Retail Expansion at Best Buy
Smartphone Filmmaker Accessories
The Beastcage 16 Transforms the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Bauhaus-Inspired Modern Projectors
Leica Introduces the New Cine Play 1 Projector
Timeless Photo Books
Photos by Artkive Uses an App to Turn Cluttered Camera Rolls into Photo Books
AI-Powered Action Cameras
Insta360’s Ace Pro Action Camera Utilize Leica Engineering and AI
Redesigned 360-Degree Cameras
'Ricoh' Partnered with 'nTop' to Optimize its Theta Camera
Tomato-Red Retro Cameras
Retrospekt’s New Hello Kitty 35mm Camera is Inspired by Summer Picnics
Vintage Building Block Cameras
The LEGO Ideas Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera Set Arrives in 2024
Vintage Projector Puzzle Kits
The LEGO Magic Lantern by Norders is a Functional Projector
Custom Photo Puzzles
Make Your Puzzles Enhances Customer Experience of Its Services
3D-Printable Toy Ranges
MakerWorld 'CyberBrick' Has Reusable Electronics and 3D-Printed Models
Accessory-Focused Action Cameras
GoPro Launches its HERO13 Black with a Variety of Accessories
Accessible Cinematic Home Projectors
The Optoma Photon Go Brings the Cinema to the Living Room
Retro-Futurism Video Cameras
This Super 8 Camera Concept by Juliana Iacono is Nostalgic
Kid-Friendly Portable Projectors
Little Tikes' Story Dream Machine Supports Early Literacy
Mirrorless 60-Megapixel Cameras
Leica Introduces the SL3 Camera with 8K Video Quality
Instant Camera Collections
Prinics Launches the New 'Era' Product Line Inspired by Kodak's History
Fixed-Lens Digital Cameras
Fujifilm Released its 'X100VI' Following its Viral TikTok Camera
Time-Lapse Creation Tools
With PhotoJourney, Users Easily Create Time-Lapse Videos from Photos
Grid Photography Tools
Griddr. Helps You Capture Better Photos with Customizable Grids and Tips
Vintage Photo Camera Apps
mood.camera Brings Back Nostalgia in a Digital Age
Affordable Spatial Camera Lenses
Canon Introduces its Small RF-S7.8mm F4 STM Dual Lens
Video-Friendly Makeup Tools
Rad Camera Applies Virtual Makeup to Enhance Appearance on Video Calls
Craft Starter Kits
Noah Makes It Easy to Begin a New Hobby
Ergonomic Solo Shooting Cameras
Semin Park and Seona Jeong Design the CLIPS camera
Pebble-Shaped Vlogging Cameras
The kyu Camera Captures Nine-Second Videos
Animal-Perspective Video Cameras
A Team of Researchers Develop a Special Imaging System
Multi-Coated Glass Lens Cameras
Lomography Debuted a New Instant Camera with High-Def Photos
Introductory Connected Device Kits
Arduino's Plug and Make Kit Supports Beginner-Level Projects
3D-Scanning Block Devices
Ascand for Lego 3D Scanner Brings Everyday Objects to Life
Event Photo Solutions
JoyCapture Brings Disposable Camera Fun to Digital Event Guests
Celestial Photography Tools
Star Identification Camera Captures and Identifies Stars with Ease
Digital Photo Booth Experiences
Pixely is a Tool That Can Elevate Any Social Occasion
Anticipating Camera Tools
RecordBack: PreCatch Camera Captures Moments Before They Occur
Essential Smartphone Repair Kits
This Hyper Tough Cell Phone Kit Features 17 Efficient Tools