This high school student has built a faithful replica of his Canon camera
Jonas treats himself to a Canon EOS RP for his upcoming birthday. But instead of unpacking the camera, he makes a wooden model of it. Behind this strange-sounding story lies the combination of two hobbies.
When I open my computer for the first time after my summer holidays, I find a message in my mailbox from a Jonas Forrer I don't know.
"I've ordered the Canon EOS RP from Galaxus after a long period of saving and (unfortunately) won't be unpacking it until my 18th birthday, which is still about two months away. In the meantime, I've built my own RP out of wood on a scale of 1:1. When I was building it, I was particularly keen to ensure that every detail was as close as possible to the original. So I already have a rough idea of the feel of the Canon EOS RP and can look forward to the real thing all the more."
There are also numerous pictures from which I can see that the lens on this wooden camera can be changed and that Jonas has apparently built several lenses for it. The screen can apparently be folded out and rotated like the original.
I'm impressed. That must have been a lot of work. As I have no flair for craftsmanship myself, something like this would never occur to me. That's why I not only want to see the wooden model, but also get to know the person behind it. Jonas agrees and visits me in the editorial team. To do this, he has to get an absence from the cantonal school in Wattwil authorised.
Fully committed
Jonas unpacks his models, neatly wrapped in bubble wrap, from a large plastic bag. One camera. One lens. Another lens. Another camera. And more lenses. In the end, an impressive photo arsenal lies on the table in front of us - all made of wood.
I could already see from the pictures in the email that Jonas has built two cameras. Originally, he wanted to buy an EOS M50. He first put together a mock-up of it, including three lenses.
But then Jonas said to himself: if you're going to do it, do it properly - and decided to go straight into full format. It had to be a Canon EOS RP, not an M50. So he built another wooden model. Here, too, he went one step further. The M50 model does not yet have a movable screen. The lenses are attached to the body with magnets. With the EOS RP, on the other hand, the lens is screwed in - just like with a real bayonet mount.
The complete replica equipment:
The attention to detail is evident in many small things. For example, the camera has a holder for carrying straps that works. The 18-150mm lens comes with a removable lens hood. Jonas has also recreated the handle that matches the camera - it can be screwed onto the camera true to the original.
When Jonas picks up a real camera, it's still the bridge camera Canon PowerShot G3 X. Jonas got into this hobby through his uncle, who has been taking photographs for 20 years. "He's kind of my mentor," he says. He is particularly interested in landscape photography, including aerial shots with the DJI Mavic Air. And macros. That's why, in addition to the 24-105mm lens that he bought with the camera, he has also modelled the 35mm macro lens. That's next on his wish list.
Photography + modelling = wooden camera
The cameras and lenses feel light. They consist of many plywood panels glued together, which give the model its fine line pattern. Jonas cut out the wood with a jigsaw and sanded it by hand.
Of course, not everything worked out at the first attempt. Jonas spent around 35 hours working on the EOS RP and the two matching lenses. For the EOS M50, it was around 20 hours. Why all this effort? Quite simply because he enjoys it. The manual work is a balance to the top-heavy school work. Together with his father, he builds model railway landscapes. He shows me photos of the Alp Grüm station on the Bernina railway, of replica bridges and tunnels where each stone has to be placed individually. "I have a lot of patience with things like this," says Jonas.
If someone has photography and model railways as hobbies, the model replica of photographic equipment is no longer so unusual. It even seems obvious to me.
By the way: Jonas' father bought the Canon EOS M50 that Jonas modelled first - probably not entirely by chance.
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David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
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