Dora Goodman—Founder of Goodman Camera

 Dora Goodman has a full-time career in the computer game industry, but she’s been pushing boundaries through her hobby in making custom cameras. Based in Budapest, she’s been fiddle with custom cameras for the past 5 years, and boy, is her camera gorgeous.

 Current Favorite Spots to get work done?

The great thing about working on cameras is that most of my tools fits in my backpack. Coffee is my fuel, so if I’m not in my workshop then I’m working in a cafe. My guilty pleasure is to drink Nespresso ( I’m too busy in the morning to make “real” coffee for myself ). I do have some favorite cafes around the world:

Why and how did you get into this venture?

My work mostly revolves around a computer, so working with real materials is my meditation. 🙂
I worked with glass and wood (not professionally) in past. When it comes to the craft that combines old cameras, wood, gold, lenses, films, developing, shooting, designing, and building…what more can I say?? I’m loving it!

If you are passionate about something and you have the persistence about your project, you will get there.

How long have you been a working on it?

My first design was born about 5 years ago, but it was just on paper as a sketch. My first (really bad try) was an old Praktica with leather covering. It was an ugly piece of work. I know only a little about the mechanics of the cameras, just as enough to separate cameras into pieces and put them back together. I made some mistakes but nothing unfixable 🙂 If I have a broken camera that I want to work with, I’d go to some specialists that I can work with to fix it up. 🙂

How long does it take to build a camera? (I’m sure this can vary greatly depending on the camera; perhaps you can give us 1 or 2 examples of past cameras?)

It takes about 2 weeks to cover a folding camera with gold and wood. To build a camera body from scratch..oh boy..it’s another story 😀
I only built one from scratch. From the first idea to the working prototype it took more than a year.

What are the steps to building a custom camera?

Like with any other thing, months of drawing, 6-10 bad prototypes and sometimes ends with one perfect moment when it’s done!

How many cameras have you built?

I have one custom built camera and a few designs in my sketchbook. I made some woodplate-work for my friends. And I have 5 cameras with custom woodwork or some modifications.

You know I had to ask, which one is your favorite? 

My favorite is always the one I’m working on! and let me tell You, my new camera will be awesome!!!
(Sorry, readers, no sneak peeks, yet.)

Are the cameras for sale? if so, how much? 

I’m sorry I have to say No. But the good news is I have much better idea than selling my cameras.. but you have to wait few weeks to figure out what my plan is about 😉

Do you have any advice to those that are pursuing similar routes (crafts, handmade goods)? 

If you are passionate about something and you have the persistence about your project, you will get there.

 Best way to connect:

You can find me on Instagram at @doragoodman and on tumblr. You can also shoot me an email at goodmancamera@gmail.com