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How To Turn A Vintage Camera Into A Lamp

Learn how easy it is to turn a vintage camera into a lamp.

I bought my first vintage camera from a yard sale six years ago for $8. 

It was a Kodak Brownie Hawekeye with attached flash and I thought it was just about the coolest thing in the world. 

Sometime that very same day I also thought wouldn’t it be amazing if I could turn that big ole flash into a light somehow!

Well, here we are six years and thirteen vintage cameras later and I have finally done it!

vintage camera diy lamp pin image

This year of being bold is really paying off big time! All the little ideas floating around in my head that usually die a slow death are actually happening! This is huge!

Disclaimer:  I couldn’t really find any instructions out there on how to do this so I made up my own.  I am no electrician.  The majority of my knowledge of electricity comes from third grade science class.  Although it was gifted third grade so maybe that counts for something.  Please be extremely cautious when working with anything electrical.  My lamp works perfectly and nobody was electrocuted in its creation but I cannot promise you will have the same results.  (Though I certainly hope you do!)

How to Turn a Vintage Camera into a Lamp

This post contains some affiliate links – when you buy the stuff you like, you also support Lovely Etc. at no additional cost.  See my full disclosure here.

Supplies I used for this project:

What to Do:

Note: This is what worked for my camera flash.  You may need to make small adjustments for your own model.

3 images of a vintage camera lamp

First, remove the flash from the camera.  There is a small knob on the side that you unscrew to do this.

There is a small screw on the back of the flash.  Unscrew it to open the flash casing. Inside are some metal parts attached with two small screws. 

Remove those.

Take your keyless socket.  Remove the cardboard tube.  Use your sturdy scissors to remove the plastic casing.  (This is to make the socket small enough to fit into the hole in the flash.) 

You should really wear safety goggles for that part.

Connecting the candelabra cord to the keyless socket

Take the candelabra base switch cord and cut the cord from the candelabra base. 

Use your scissors to strip the casing from the last two inches of wire.

Your cord should now have two copper wires showing on one end.

Wrap one of the copper wires around each of the screws on the keyless socket. 

Use electrical tape to securely wrap the keyless socket, making sure all exposed metal and wires are covered.

Putting the vintage camera lamp together

Slip the socket into the back of the flash.  Screw the brass parts we removed earlier back in. 

You can bend these as needed to fit around the new socket.  Be sure that there is plenty of electrical tape between the new socket and this metal.

Reattach the back of the flash. The cord can simply hang out the bottom of the flash through the crack where the two halves join.

Vintage camera lamp plugs right into wall

Use electrical tape to cover your cord.  (This is just for decorative reasons – a black cord blends in much better than white).

Plug it in and turn on the switch!

vintage camera lamp

All in all, this project took less than an hour including figuring out how to do it.  I cannot believe I waited six years to try this!

DIY-vintage-camera-lamp on stack of books

If you made it this far, I’m pretty sure you are also going to love these free vintage camera art prints I made as well. 

These are watercolor vintage cameras and you can get your own free set right here.

framed photo of vintage camera

And if you are looking for more awesome junk upcycles, I’m sharing my top 20 trash to treasure projects right here.

vintage camera light

How To Turn A Vintage Camera Into A Lamp

Yield: 1 Lamp
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Active Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
Estimated Cost: $15-$20

Turn a vintage camera into a unique lamp that will be such a statement piece.

Materials

  • Vintage Camera
  • Keyless Socket
  • Candelabra Base Switch Cord
  • Nightlight Bulb

Tools

  • Sturdy scissors
  • Electrical tape
  • Small screwdriver

Instructions

  1. Remove the flash from the camera by unscrewing the small screw on the back of the flash. 
  2. Remove the metal parts that are attached with two small screws. 
  3. Take your keyless socket and remove the cardboard tube. 
  4. Use scissors to remove the plastic casing.
  5. Take the candelabra base switch cord and cut it.
  6. Use your scissors to strip the casing leaving about 2" of wire.
  7. You will see two copper wires. Wrap one of the copper wires around each of the screws on the keyless socket. 
  8. Use electrical tape to securely wrap it, covering all exposed metal and wires.
  9. Slip the socket into the back of the flash. 
  10. Screw the brass parts back in.
  11. Reattach the back of the flash.
  12. Use electrical tape to cover your cord.
  13. Plug it in and turn on the switch!

Recommended Products

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Did you make this project?

I'd love for you to leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest!

© Carrie
Project Type: Lamp / Category: DIY Decor

Google Web Story: How to Turn a Vintage Camera into a Lamp 

Comments

    • Carrie says

      Thanks Krista! This camera was begging to become a lamp and I’m just glad I finally got the guts to do it!

      Reply

  12. Trisha D. says

    When I saw your feature over at the Makers Party, I had to do a double take. I cannot believe how amazing a camera looks as a lamp!! Great work, looks beautiful. Off to go find a vintage broken camera…

    Reply

  14. Rebecca Suerdieck says

    Thank you for these excellent instructions! We found your site and made the lamp tonight with a vintage Brownie Camera I’ve had for many years. I wish I could send you a photo of what we made – so you can see! THANKS again!

    Reply

    • Carrie says

      Rebecca, Yay – I am so glad my post helped you make your own camera light! I wanted to make one myself for so long before I finally went for it! I definitely wish I could see pics too.

      Reply

  16. Doggie T says

    I love this idea and how you’ve shared it with links to the products to put it together!!

    Have you tried different watt bulbs? I’m thinking that it could get very bright and hot with the reflector and not pointed down to a surface.

    Thanks for your great blog!

    Reply

    • Carrie says

      Thanks! Good point about the different bulbs – so far I have only used it with a small nightlight bulb and it hasn’t been a problem.

      Reply

  17. Carole says

    Thanks for this!

    I’m a long time vintage camera collector, and I’ve always wanted to do this with my flash unit.

    Reply

    • Carrie says

      Yay, congrats on your camera purchase! That cord set might work but it will probably need a bit of modifying – mainly removing the metal wing things since they would be in the way. Any light that says it works with a nightlight/candleabra base should work though.

      Reply

  19. Megan Beckwith says

    Thanks for the response! :) I also bought a 25 watt Edison bulb to use. It turns on and looks rad as heck! I hope the wattage is fine… :/

    Reply

  21. Linda says

    This is such an awesome creative DIY project. Your projects are so fun to do Carrie; always look forward to your next one!

    Reply

  22. Al says

    As everyone who has left comments has said – really amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this. So creative, and so beautiful.

    Just out of curiousity, what is the other little camera beside your creation?

    Reply

    • Carrie says

      Thank you! The other small camera is just another camera from my collection. It is the Time Traveler 120 from the Pho-Tek Corporation.

      Reply

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