Home made macro lens

morgansforever · February 24, 2013 8:35PM

Sick for the last couple of days. Haven't been sick in 10 years or so, feeling much better today.
Instead of laying around, I found a cardboard tube and fitted a 2" glass 2x magnifying glass to one end.
I then mounted it to a swinging lamp base and shot through the other end. 15 minutes to construct and mount it
to the base. Here are the results.

lcoopie · February 24, 2013 9:00PM

excellent

how about a photo of it

ambro51 · February 24, 2013 9:33PM

The idea works much better if you use an achromat instead of a single element lens which causes chromatic abberation

CoinZip · February 24, 2013 9:37PM

<< The idea works much better if you use an achromat instead of a single element lens which causes chromatic abberation >>

You win the award for making me google 3 words in one sentence......wow

CoinZip · February 24, 2013 9:42PM

<< 

<< The idea works much better if you use an achromat instead of a single element lens which causes chromatic abberation >>

You win the award for making me google 3 words in one sentence......wow >>

Edited to add: Pretty decent photos for a homemade lens......

morgansforever · February 24, 2013 9:49PM

Very crude I know, but I was seriously bored. Zip ties yes they are handy.
The magnifying lens is held in place with paper clips with a 90 degree bend, for the lens to lay on.
The lens fit perfectly inside the tube.

ricko · February 24, 2013 9:56PM

Superb results... that makes a 'sick day' pay off nicely.... Cheers, RickO

lcoopie · February 24, 2013 9:56PM

MacGyver-like

messydesk · February 24, 2013 10:56PM

Not bad. Does your camera have filter threads on the front of the lens so that you can get a decent close-up lens that doesn't have the chromatic abberation issues?

morgansforever · February 24, 2013 11:03PM

<<MacGyver-like>>

I'm good at being resourceful for sure. I was looking at the swivel stand, knew I had a couple of cardboard tubes and a magnifying glass.
I thought to myself, could I construct a crude lens? Not going any further with it just a little fun.

morgansforever · February 24, 2013 11:07PM

<<Not bad. Does your camera have filter threads on the front of the lens so that you can get a decent close-up lens that doesn't have the chromatic abberation issues?>>

No it does not. I would have to get a an extension tube with set screws to mount it to the fixed lens, with a female
threaded end for lenses.

CoinZip · February 24, 2013 11:12PM

<< Not bad. Does your camera have filter threads on the front of the lens so that you can get a decent close-up lens that doesn't have the chromatic abberation issues? >>

I believe this is what messydesk is referring to......these 3 macro lens cost about 15-30 bucks depending on what brand name ya buy.

No lights required...

morgansforever · February 24, 2013 11:16PM

Redrock Micro HD Achromatic Lens - 72mm (8x) Bet this thing can magnify!

B&H 8x

astrorat · February 24, 2013 11:38PM

Very cool!

CoinZip · February 24, 2013 11:39PM

<< Redrock Micro HD Achromatic Lens - 72mm (8x) Bet this thing can magnify!

B&H 8x >>

Is your lens a 72mm? if its not it won't fit. My Sony came with a 52mm......

messydesk · February 24, 2013 11:46PM

The Canon 250D (+4) and 500D (+2) are achromatic close-up lenses that should work quite well if you have filter threads. They're more expensive than the cheap kits of multiple lenses, but you get what you pay for here. If you're able to use one of these on a fixed-lens camera, you'll be able to zoom the camera toward telephoto a bit and still get close, which will give you the comfortable working distance afforded to users of a longish macro lens on a DSLR. I would probably choose the 500D for most applications.

lcoopie · February 25, 2013 12:03AM

I have a fixed macro lens
and a close up filter

and I thought that what the filter does
is allow me to get closer

which is not helpful in coin photography

?

I also have extension tubes which does the same thing?

nwcoast · February 25, 2013 12:41AM

Cool experiment...
Thanks for sharing. Better quality than I might have expected actually.

LindeDad · February 25, 2013 3:07AM

He would be proud.

lava · February 25, 2013 3:31AM

Not bad for an experiment that didn't require duct tape.

northcoin · February 25, 2013 5:02AM

Love the ingenuity incorporated into the design (I.e. paper clips, cardboard tube, already available lamp arm and zip ties.) Reminds one of some of the things POWs were able to come up with despite limited resources.

Constantine · February 25, 2013 5:21AM

Impressive shot considering the home-spun lens you created. Nice.

morgansforever · February 25, 2013 5:43AM

Thanks for all the comments, this set up will be short lived. I just picked a 72mm adapter that
will mount to my Fuji S3280 using 3 set screws. This has 72 mm female threads in the front allowing me to
mount a 72mm lens. I'm gonna go with the 8x and 2x, probably from B&H Photo. I know the best route is a DSLR
with a macro lens but hopefully this setup will produce some crazy macro shots.

Two piece assembly, black anodized aluminum.

HD Achromatic Lens - 72mm (8x)

Wabbit2313 · February 25, 2013 10:19AM

I love this! Lost in all of this is that he could sell just "one" of his coins and buy a decent macro lens on eBay tonight!

Type2 · February 25, 2013 11:09AM

Look at the sun with it let's see if it works.

Dolan · February 25, 2013 11:35AM

+1 for creativity
+1 for diligence
+1 for making the best out of your illness

Feel better

Home made macro lens

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