Camera Obscura

En cette journée pluvieuse et venteuse, nous étions à la recherché d’un abris quand nous somme tombé sur ce musée.
Cela consiste en un ensemble d’illusion d’optique, de jeux de lumière et de forme, parfois de simple tableau, des fois des activités plus grandes comme un labyrinthe de miroirs. Très sympathique mais un peu cher tout de même !
Idéal avec des enfants.
La partie du 7eme étage, la caméra obscura, est aussi très intéressante !

Brilliant wee day out. Entry £14.50 for an adult which entitles you to pop in and out as manytimes you want during the day.
There is 6 floors to climb to reach the camera obscura and viewing deck so worth baring in mind if you have mobility problems.
Stunning views over edinburgh and we were lucky to visit on a clear day.
Lots of hands on gadgets to play with and explore.
Definitely worth a visit when in the area!

We visited Camera Obscura on our honeymoon (nearly 10 years ago) and really enjoyed it, but I could remember very little about it to be honest. So, now we live in Edinburgh, we needed to get around to going again, and a visiting friend was the perfect excuse.
The experience gets off to a great start with the desk staff who were friendly and chatty to us, and talked us through our options, while stamping our hands (free re-​entry throughout the day/​as long as you don’t wash for). The told us when the next showing of the actual camera obscura was, and recommended we make our way up to the 6^th floor in plenty of time.
Boy howdy that’s a lot of climbing! But as with all these things, the view is immediately worth the climb. 5^th floor has an observation balcony which will keep you plenty occupied while you wait to enter the dark room!
Yup — «Dark Room» is the literal translation of «camera obscura» (I know facts me!). The member of staff giving the talk has obviously been doing it all day (and for many years) and yet everything was presented to us as fresh and exciting — for kids and adults alike. I won’t spoil any of the patter, but it makes the entry price worth it alone.
After the camera we made our way down, exploring 5 floors of optical and light illusions. Warning to arachnophobes — there is a 3D holographic tarantula. It is warned and signposted so make sure to read and you can avoid it.
Other than that highlights for me included the maze of mirrors (which we would have solved much quicker if my husband hadn’t deliberately misled us), and the projection of Edinburgh Castle on the floor which you can make fireworks go off on just by waving your arm in the way. I made it down the vortex tunnel but it’s not an experience I would like to repeat any time soon!
So much fun whether you have kids or just want to behave like a big kid yourself, there’s plenty to gawp in awe at!

On a vraiment apprécié notre visite a la Camera Obscura ! Le musée est très interactif on peut tout touché et s’amuser avec tout ! Tout les effets d’optique rencontrés sont géniaux ! On a même eu droit à notre visite de la Camera Obscura tout seul avec la guide !

La camara obscura est un ensemble d’activité jouant sur la lumière, les jeux de miroirs et autres illusions d’optiques. La tour, situé à coté du château, est surplombée par la fameuse «camara obscura», litéralement chambre noire, qui permet d’espionner, grace à un ingénieux jeu d’optique et de miroir, tout les alentours.
C’est une attraction vraiment bien réalisée, que je je recommande à tous

Die Camera Obscura ist sehr beeindruckend. Schon im 18. Jahrhundert konnte man mit dieser Kamera, die über Spiegel funktioniert und hoch oben in einem Turm angelegt war, die Umgebung der Festung beobachten. Niemand bekommt das mit und ich war wirklich erstaunt wie viel man doch mit diesem alten Gerät erkennen kann.
Desweiteren gibt es dort noch verschiedene Räume mit Illusionen und physischen Experimenten. Alles sehr interessant.

Die Camera Obscura ist im Prinzip eine riesige Webcam aus dem 18. Jahrhundert. Es ist ein Turm aus dem ein riesiges Rohre ragt. An diesem Rohr sind 2 Spiegel befestigt die sich drehen lassen. Am anderen Ende ist eine weisse Matte auf der dann das durch den Spiegel aufgefangene bild projeziert wird. Im Eintritt inklusive ist eine Vorfuehrung der Kamera. Um die Kamera herum gibt es ausserdem viele Experimente wie zB. 3D Bilder, Waermekamera, alte Filme und und und. Eintritt £6.50 Student und Senior, £7.50 normal. Es lohnt sich.

Played tourist things when I first came to Edinburgh and was pleasantly surprised as right it might just be enjoyable for kids. The Camera Obscura show wasn’t as good because the visuals weren’t clear and it was dark, perhaps due to the angle and the crowd and guide seemed a bit rude — guide had little patience when someone talked over her the first time and then someone in the crowd pipped up rudely telling the person to «act properly or leave». Then chattering was fine later on so it seemed peculiar! It’s good for tourists as the guide points out some landmarks such as the Pentlands, Arthur’s Seat Calton Hill and the Scott Monument. and touches on some practices that being the past alive like the calling of «Garde Loo!» forming the sewage filled lake which is now Princes Gardens.
Great views from the top, lots of interesting illusions, mirrors and whacky participatory things to do so kids (and adults) will love it! My favourites were the maze of mirrors and the twirly bridge at the end and always give it another go bit would avoid if you’re prone to nausea & dizziness!