Cheapest wide angle lens

[manojd]

I am excited to share this with you (actually brag about it):

Sorry for the long post. I should start my own blog.

I made my own wide angle lens which seems to be as wide as a 12 or 15mm. Total cost less than $25. Here is what I did:

I had an old konica super wide disposable camera. This had a very good quality lens in it. I decided to take it out of the camera. After careful disassembly (the only thing you have to worry about is the hihg voltage flash capacitor), I was able to get the lens out of the camera.

Now I had to find a way to mount it on the R-D1. Based on the PS assembly, it was placed very close to the film. So, I new that the lens had to go inside the body of the R-D1. The best way to do this was to mount it on a body cap.

So I ordered after market body caps (2 for $7). The cap had to have a hole in it for the lens. I don't have drilling tools, but I had a soldering gun. Using that I punched a hole in the cap and tried to take the edges off. The hole is approximately as big as the lens.

After cleaning up the cap, I placed the lens in it. I had to trim some outer edges of the lens holder assembly otherwise it would rub against the inner cavity of the R-D1. I then taped the lens into the cap using electric tape.

After taking a few trial shots, I realized that they were not as sharp except one macro shot. Which indicated that the lens needed to be closer to the sensor. I added some tape padding where the cap hole is and tried a few more shots. After some trial and error and adding of more padding tape, I finally got it.

Here are some test shots. I will post comments about the pictures later.

[manojd]

Here is the camera with the modified lens.

[like2fiddle]

Wow, now that's what you might call a 21st century pinhole camera!

[tmessenger]

I would be real careful that nothing comes loose and gets into the shutter, could turn out to be a very expensive lens.

Tim

[manojd]

Yes, I agree. This experiment may lead me to get a 12mm or an actual pinhole lens.

[JonasYip]

One of my favorite lenses is one that I hacked together from a 98-cent magnifying glass, some electrical tape, and a body cap. It's regularly in my bag next to the decidedly costlier lenses ending in 'lux and 'cron...

j

[manojd]

It's amazing how sharp these cheap lenses are. Makes you wonder why we pay for the expensive glass. I am going to improve on my lens to make it more sturdy. I plan on using it for panorama shots.

[pzillig]

… is one of the most expensive holes in da world. My first results are „soso results”. Must have more practice