The moon taken with homemade lens

nick c · 10-26-2009, 03:58 PM - **1 Like**

Taken with a +2 diopter close-up lens taped to the end of a lens barrel made from two tubes of black paper. The barrel was attached to a 2x teleconverter. I attached an aperture about 3cm wide to the front of the close-up lens.
Foccusing was done by sliding one of the tubes of paper over the other. The finished lens foccused at the infinity (the moon) was about 500mm long.

The 35mm equvalent focal length of the lens was about 1500mm (+2 diopters=500mm + 2x
teleconverter = 1000mm x 1.5crop = 1500mm )

EdMaximus · 10-26-2009, 04:58 PM

WOW!!! Can you please show us how you build the lens? It sounds like something rather inexpensive too for such an amazing result.

Rich_A · 10-26-2009, 05:02 PM

Terrific shot, Nick. I'd love to see a photo of the lens in question and your inspiration behind building it. What was the effective speed of the lens, by the way? Since you had to manually expose it, did you use trial or did you use some of the estimates on moon exposure as a starting point?

Andi Lo · 10-26-2009, 06:11 PM

Wow... what creativity... I demand pics of the setup!

Barnster · 10-26-2009, 06:34 PM

Incredible result!Please show us curious people how you did it!!!!

**EsBee** · 10-26-2009, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by nick c

... 1500mm (+2 diopters=500mm + 2x
teleconverter = 1000mm x 1.5crop = 1500mm )...

Can you explain that in English?

Taff · 10-26-2009, 09:48 PM

nick explained it, just try to imagine it in your head.

x2 converter connect to cam > black paper x2 rolled up > with 2x close up filter on one end > stick paper tube over x2 converter > cut out hole and attach to close up filter for aperture > slide one tube up and down over other tube to focus.

Easy peasy

**EsBee** · 10-27-2009, 04:49 AM

Originally posted by Taff

...x2 converter connect to cam > black paper x2 rolled up > with 2x close up filter on one end > stick paper tube over x2 converter > ...

hmm, were you trying to help?

goddo31 · 10-27-2009, 05:01 AM

Originally posted by EsBee

hmm, were you trying to help?

I'm sure he was, what don't you understand?

nick c - excellent work, i am really impressed at the end result you got. And the idea, very cool

stormcloud · 10-27-2009, 05:08 AM

WOW!! show us how to make one of those!!!!

hehe quick check through some old photography equipment and yup confirmed i have a 2x teleconverter hiding away in there and even a +2 close up filter!!!!!!! now to find some black paper =)

but have no idea how to do the aperture and think my +2 filter is probably abit small but should be able to pick another one up cheaply enough on ebay - so yeah write up how you made this beast please

miks · 10-27-2009, 05:23 AM

its a DIY telescope!

have to put that in my DIY list

Adam · 10-27-2009, 05:34 AM

Originally posted by nick c

Taken with a +2 diopter close-up lens taped to the end of a lens barrel made from two tubes of black paper. The barrel was attached to a 2x teleconverter. I attached an aperture about 3cm wide to the front of the close-up lens.
Foccusing was done by sliding one of the tubes of paper over the other. The finished lens foccused at the infinity (the moon) was about 500mm long.

The 35mm equvalent focal length of the lens was about 1500mm (+2 diopters=500mm + 2x
teleconverter = 1000mm x 1.5crop = 1500mm )

Now that's impressive, both in terms of sharpness and in terms of exposure. I like how the background of your image is dark blue, and not black, and how you can see some leaves in the foreground on the right (in addition to the crystal-clear moon)!

wildlifephotog · 10-27-2009, 05:36 AM

Super shot there Nick.
I used something similiar years ago.

It is a telescope for a lens. The diopter goes at the business end. And the teleconverter at the camera end. One paper tube fits inside the other for a slide focus adjustment.
You can build a pretty fair telescope from a +1 diopter and eyepiece from a binocular or reading glass.

wildlifephotog · 10-27-2009, 05:47 AM

Just a little extra info.
One can build quite respectable long lenses from surplus telescope parts. Surplus Shed is one seller that has a number of the lens elements. Surplus Shed
I built a 600mm F6 last year that works very well.

xhanatos · 10-27-2009, 05:57 AM

holy crap.. beats the quality of my moon shots taken with the sigma 70-300!

nicely done!

photo of the rig please?

10-26-2009, 03:58 PM - 1 Like	#1
nick c Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 29	The moon taken with homemade lens Taken with a +2 diopter close-up lens taped to the end of a lens barrel made from two tubes of black paper. The barrel was attached to a 2x teleconverter. I attached an aperture about 3cm wide to the front of the close-up lens. Foccusing was done by sliding one of the tubes of paper over the other. The finished lens foccused at the infinity (the moon) was about 500mm long. The 35mm equvalent focal length of the lens was about 1500mm (+2 diopters=500mm + 2x teleconverter = 1000mm x 1.5crop = 1500mm )

10-27-2009, 05:08 AM	#10
stormcloud Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 232	WOW!! show us how to make one of those!!!! hehe quick check through some old photography equipment and yup confirmed i have a 2x teleconverter hiding away in there and even a +2 close up filter!!!!!!! now to find some black paper =) but have no idea how to do the aperture and think my +2 filter is probably abit small but should be able to pick another one up cheaply enough on ebay - so yeah write up how you made this beast please Last edited by stormcloud; 10-27-2009 at 05:15 AM.

10-27-2009, 05:34 AM	#12
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Originally posted by nick c Taken with a +2 diopter close-up lens taped to the end of a lens barrel made from two tubes of black paper. The barrel was attached to a 2x teleconverter. I attached an aperture about 3cm wide to the front of the close-up lens. Foccusing was done by sliding one of the tubes of paper over the other. The finished lens foccused at the infinity (the moon) was about 500mm long. The 35mm equvalent focal length of the lens was about 1500mm (+2 diopters=500mm + 2x teleconverter = 1000mm x 1.5crop = 1500mm ) Now that's impressive, both in terms of sharpness and in terms of exposure. I like how the background of your image is dark blue, and not black, and how you can see some leaves in the foreground on the right (in addition to the crystal-clear moon)! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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10-26-2009, 04:58 PM	#2
EdMaximus Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New York Posts: 318	WOW!!! Can you please show us how you build the lens? It sounds like something rather inexpensive too for such an amazing result.

10-26-2009, 05:02 PM	#3
Rich_A Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Montana Photos: Gallery Posts: 213	Terrific shot, Nick. I'd love to see a photo of the lens in question and your inspiration behind building it. What was the effective speed of the lens, by the way? Since you had to manually expose it, did you use trial or did you use some of the estimates on moon exposure as a starting point?

10-26-2009, 06:11 PM	#4
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Wow... what creativity... I demand pics of the setup!

10-26-2009, 06:34 PM	#5
Barnster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mid North Coast,Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,016	Incredible result!Please show us curious people how you did it!!!!

10-26-2009, 08:00 PM	#6
EsBee Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: National Capital Region Posts: 739	Originally posted by nick c ... 1500mm (+2 diopters=500mm + 2x teleconverter = 1000mm x 1.5crop = 1500mm )... Can you explain that in English?

10-26-2009, 09:48 PM	#7
Taff Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,612	nick explained it, just try to imagine it in your head. x2 converter connect to cam > black paper x2 rolled up > with 2x close up filter on one end > stick paper tube over x2 converter > cut out hole and attach to close up filter for aperture > slide one tube up and down over other tube to focus. Easy peasy

10-27-2009, 04:49 AM	#8
EsBee Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: National Capital Region Posts: 739	Originally posted by Taff ...x2 converter connect to cam > black paper x2 rolled up > with 2x close up filter on one end > stick paper tube over x2 converter > ... hmm, were you trying to help?

10-27-2009, 05:01 AM	#9
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Originally posted by EsBee hmm, were you trying to help? I'm sure he was, what don't you understand? nick c - excellent work, i am really impressed at the end result you got. And the idea, very cool

10-27-2009, 05:23 AM	#11
miks Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 49	its a DIY telescope! have to put that in my DIY list

10-27-2009, 05:36 AM	#13
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	Super shot there Nick. I used something similiar years ago. It is a telescope for a lens. The diopter goes at the business end. And the teleconverter at the camera end. One paper tube fits inside the other for a slide focus adjustment. You can build a pretty fair telescope from a +1 diopter and eyepiece from a binocular or reading glass.

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10-27-2009, 05:47 AM	#14
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	Just a little extra info. One can build quite respectable long lenses from surplus telescope parts. Surplus Shed is one seller that has a number of the lens elements. Surplus Shed I built a 600mm F6 last year that works very well.

10-27-2009, 05:57 AM	#15
xhanatos Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 379	holy crap.. beats the quality of my moon shots taken with the sigma 70-300! nicely done! photo of the rig please?