Category: Camera Hacking & DIY

DIY extension tube / reverse mount for macro photography

Nicolai Grossman Leave a comment

"The following is a tutorial on how to create an extension tube / reverse mount for a standard 18-55mm lens using common plumbing supplies found at your local hardware store… Reversing the lens using a ‘reversing ring’. This special adapter attaches to the filter thread on the front of a lens and makes it possible to attach the lens in reverse. Excellent quality results up to 4x lifesize magnification using fairly cheap, ‘standard’ (not specially designed for macro) lenses can be produced."

Continue reading at jyoseph.com

Via MAKE Blog

How to modify the Lex 35/Vivitar T100 toy camera for multiple & bulb exposures

Nicolai Grossman Leave a comment

Key and tape positioning

The Lex 35/T100’s shutter cocking mechanism is coupled to its film advance, so reliable multiple exposures are out on a stock model. If you’ve got a screwdriver, a metal coat hanger, a pair of pliers, and some tape, this is not a problem. This will show you how to add a key that will cock the shutter without touching the film advance and allow you to shoot multiple exposures with impunity as well as how to block the shutter from closing, allowing you to keep it open as long as you want…

Continue reading here on Photon Detector.

Cheap DIY UV light source for alt process printing

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f295 Pinhole Forum user Marv has instructions for and photos of how to build a cheap UV light source for alt process photo printing. Sweet!

Marv writes, "How I did it was as simply, and cheaply, as possible. I used recycled wood and only had to buy the black light lamps. This is a beta version and I made it to be easily modified. I figured I would experiment with distances to the bulbs, number of bulbs etc. and simple was better K.I.S.S. if you know what I mean…"

Continue reading at f295.

Digital Lomo: Minitar lens + RD-1 = success!

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The people at Sushicam have successfully grafted the Minitar lens from a Lomo LC-A onto an Epson RD-1 digital rangefinder. Check out the step-by-step of building the lens mount as well as sample images here at Sushicam.

See previous post on part 1.

Also don’t miss Ta King, who has several galleries of photos taken with Lomo Minitar and Holga lenses hacked onto his Canon Digital Rebel DSLR.

Dremel introduce Stylus cordless rotary tool for precision modding

Nicolai Grossman 2 Comments

Dremel have just come out with a really sweet-looking rotary tool called the Stylus. The Dremel has long been a favorite of makers and modders, but this takes it a step further to a lithium ion rechargeable battery-powered, pencil-grip tool for precision work. This looks perfect for camera hacking!

Their press release says:

"The Stylus is intended to be held like a pencil, but for added comfort and versatility the user can hold it in several different positions: reverse grip (the handle is inverted), the side grip (the handle is pushed to the side) and the stable grip (the handle is rested on a solid surface). With this increased adaptability, the Stylus is more than a tool – it is a literal extension of the hand that is perfect for quick fixes and comfortable, extended use.

"The Dremel Stylus is ideal for intricate projects, including detailed drilling, carving, cleaning, detailed sanding, engraving, cutting and polishing. It is also perfect in a pinch for projects such as fixing furniture spindles, polishing cabinet hardware and slotting a stripped screw making it the perfect solution for your at-home needs. Complete with 25 genuine Dremel accessories, the Dremel Stylus retails for $69.99. It is available at most hardware and home improvement centers nationwide."

Check it out at Amazon or Dremel.

Via MAKE Blog via Extreme Tech

Homemade anamorphic camera

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f295 member Andrew has converted his homemade anamorphic pinhole camera—where instead of light going straight through the opening and striking the film head-on, the film is formed into a circle and the light is projected into its center from above—to use a lens, and the results are stunning!

Andrew writes, "To get a lens anamorphic camera with the least possible effort I modified the pre-existing ‘black box of hell’ pincam. The p_p_p_pinhole is mounted in the ‘lid’ so I just made a new lid and mounted an 85mm lens stripped off a dead Agfa Isolette…"

Continue reading and see photos of and plans for the camera here, and photos that he took with it here at the f295 DIY Forum.

22 51 days to Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day!

Nicolai Grossman 2 Comments

Just a reminder that Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is only 22 51 (I am a tool, see comments) days away! If you want to participate, make sure you’ve got a camera built or bought in time by April 30, 2006!

See pinholeday.org for more info on the event. If you’d like to convert an existing camera or build one from scratch, the f295 Pinhole Photography Forum is an excellent resource.

There’s a long list of events and workshops happening, check out the list to see if there’s one near you.

Digital Lomo: hacking the Minitar lens onto an RD-1

Nicolai Grossman 1 Comment

The folks at Sushicam are working on putting the Lomo LC-A’s Minitar lens onto an Epson RD-1 digital rangefinder. As they point out, with the RD-1’s 1.5x crop factor, they’ll probably lose out on much of the vignetting, but there’s one way to find out!

I’ve long thought about adapting it for use on video cameras, perhaps using something like Media Chance‘s DoF Machine, and am quite curious to see what they get out of it.

Check out Part 1 and stay on the lookout for Part 2!

Via MAKE Blog