wood or plastic?

[clickcanon40]

Ok, I have to keep this camera related.. soo... my girlfriend and I are having this debate. Is plastic more expensive to purchase and use than wood? So basically, the photography related question is, would it cost more to produce a wood camera or a plastic camera? (wood isnt really practical, I know, just go with me here)

[Nor*Cal]

I'd say wood costs more. You can pour plastic into a mold, but you can not pour wood into a mold.

[Andrushka]

wood has to be grown and cut... plastic is synthetic but needs petroleum products (right?) so thats not so cheap these days... wood cant be molded but the routing/cutting/etc can be automated with C & C wood cutters like a lot of guitar makers do...

but in mass production plastic still wins out for cheaper - or else so much of what we purchase now wouldnt be plastic!

[clickcanon40]

I'd say wood costs more. You can pour plastic into a mold, but you can not pour wood into a mold.


depend on if its green mold or black mold... haha just kidding

[Killjoy]

wood cant be molded but the routing/cutting/etc can be automated with C & C wood cutters like a lot of guitar makers do...


Actually, wood can be molded. Take a look at an old style rocking chair. The back slats are molded, and also take a look at the curves on those handles. The ones that run down the front and almost into a circle. You can see that the grain goes around that circle. It definately can be molded, but it is in no way as easy or as simple as it is to mold plastic.

Now if you are talking about a camera body, then that is a whole different story. It can not be molded, but yes it can be cut out of a large chunk of wood. It would be much more expensive to make it out of wood.

[gjl711]

... (wood isnt really practical, I know, just go with me here)
What do you mean wood is impractical? It was about the only material used for a very long time. ;):)
http://www.photographica.nu/cameracollection.htm (http://www.photographica.nu/cameracollection.htm)

[tiger roach]

I have an antique WWI-era Instamatic that is partially made from wood. :cool:

To answer the OP though, would has to be more expensive. If it was cheaper, there would be wood cameras.

[Stocky]

wood might be a cheaper bulk material, but the fact that its not homogeneous makes it a poor choice for smaller work. I think its also weaker and harder to work with on camera scale projects.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Wood,..

But just saying "wood" is hardly descriptive, wood prices vary from reasonably affordable for some crap like hemlock pine, up to almost as costly as gold for some of the more exotic types.

Wood is not more affordable though, even in the low grades. Lumber costs are at an all time high, no matter the variety.

[clickcanon40]

What do you mean wood is impractical? It was about the only material used for a very long time. ;):)
http://www.photographica.nu/cameracollection.htm (http://www.photographica.nu/cameracollection.htm)

Sorry for the mis-wording there. I just mean that it's impractical for todays cameras. I still like wood but... how to word this... oh, ok, here we go. A DSLR made out of wood. Thats where I was coming from. film its really kinda cool I think, but I was refering to it in an DSLR point of view. like an all wood 40D... not as practical with all the electronics inside.

Hope that makes sence.