Sitina S1: Open-Sourced Full-Frame Camera
Wenting Zhang, a Boston-based engineer and avid photographer, combined his love for DIY electronics and photography to create the Sitina S1, his very own full-frame camera. This incredible project, born from a long-time dream, wasn’t just a personal challenge but evolved into an open-source initiative that invites others to follow in his footsteps.
Wenting’s fascination with cameras started early. “Back in middle school, I wasn’t allowed to use my parents’ camera, and I couldn’t afford to buy one,” Zhang recalls. “I thought, ‘Why not build one myself?’ It seemed cheaper at the time.” Although his first attempt didn’t quite work out, his passion remained, and years later, he was able to buy a Nikon D90. Yet, the dream of creating his own camera never faded.
Fast forward to 2017: Zhang embarked on his DIY camera project, which he anticipated would take about a year. However, like many ambitious endeavors, it took much longer than expected. “Engineers are notoriously bad at estimating time, and I’m no exception,” Zhang jokes.
Crafting a Unique Camera
The Sitina S1, as Zhang calls it, isn’t meant to compete with industry giants like Canon or Sony, but it’s an impressive feat in its own right. The camera is built around a 10MP Kodak KAI-11000CM CCD sensor—a decision Zhang made mainly because it was available for purchase on eBay. “Most companies don’t sell sensors to hobbyists, so I had to work with what I could find,” he explains.
What makes this camera even more interesting is its use of an electronic shutter, eliminating the need for the complex mechanical shutters found in most cameras. Zhang also opted for an LCD screen as the viewfinder, keeping things simple with a mirrorless design.
Innovation at Every Turn
Zhang’s attention to detail extended to the camera’s lens compatibility. He designed it to work with existing lenses, currently using an E-mount system with electronic contacts. Beyond that, he integrated everything from a custom circuit board, signal processors, and an analog-to-digital converter, to a user interface—entirely built from scratch.
“I designed and printed my own circuit boards, housing everything in a 3D-printed enclosure,” he says. “The result? A camera I’m proud of, even if it’s not going to rival the big names.”
A Community Project
Despite the challenges, Zhang has made his entire process open-source. He has shared his designs on GitLab so that other curious makers and engineers can take a stab at building or improving their own versions. While it’s a complex project, Zhang is hopeful that one day he’ll be able to offer DIY camera kits, allowing others to assemble their own cameras. “It’s not about profit,” he clarifies. “It’s about sharing my passion with others and ensuring my efforts don’t go to waste.”
While Zhang is still refining the Sitina S1, he’s optimistic about its future. He continues to work through technical challenges and estimates that in a year or two, it could become a fully functional, user-friendly camera. “It’s been a long road, but the satisfaction of seeing something you’ve built from scratch take a photo—that’s priceless.”
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