Coke Bottle Lens -- for those who are tired of their 'Limiteds'

**c.a.m** · 09-21-2020, 11:03 AM - **9 Likes**

I imagine that some of our members could take terrific pictures regardless of the lens they use.

Here's a demonstration that a 'Coke-bottle lens', while not of Limited or 'star' quality, can produce images that are at least, shall we say, recognizable.

Coke Lens

Edit: Please take a look at his other projects -- they're interesting and impressive!

- Craig

Last edited by c.a.m; 09-21-2020 at 05:29 PM. Reason: Serious note at the end

pschlute · 09-21-2020, 11:32 AM - **1 Like**

Top-notch soft focus lens in my book.

**StiffLegged** · 09-21-2020, 11:40 AM - **3 Likes**

As a recent collector of better-quality glass, it's really helpful to have that standard for comparison instead of rude remarks about kit lenses.

**AstroDave** · 09-21-2020, 11:41 AM

Makes you wonder what other unsung "lenses" are out there.

**BigMackCam** · 09-21-2020, 12:01 PM - **1 Like**

I can see the marketing angle now... "Ideal for portraiture"

leekil · 09-21-2020, 12:29 PM - **1 Like**

I feel like he could have gotten better results by doing just little more with his Coke bottle glass than worrying about the blacking of the inside of the barrel.

---------- Post added 09-21-20 at 12:33 PM ----------

He has other cool projects where he does it more seriously -- like making a Petzval Lens

Topsy · 09-21-2020, 01:14 PM - **2 Likes**

I quite like that, but I'd rather be able to afford an old cooke soft focus lens than a coke soft focus lens!

**c.a.m** · 09-21-2020, 03:01 PM

Whew.

I was concerned that someone would comment only on the corner softness, ignoring the other optical qualities.

**gaweidert** · 09-21-2020, 03:17 PM

Today there was a pretty cool post on this forum. At f11 it was more pinhole camera than lens.

In the ancient days Coke bottle lenses usually referred the really think glasses that people who were severely nearsighted needed to wear.

**ramseybuckeye** · 09-21-2020, 03:26 PM - **1 Like**

This is where they got the idea for lensbabies.

garywakeling · 09-21-2020, 05:16 PM

Thanks for sharing, I looked at some of his other projects , the 35mm stereo camera and lens making were very impressive.

**PJ1** · 09-21-2020, 05:27 PM

Yes - ideal for portraiture. It will smooth the wrinkles.

**c.a.m** · 09-21-2020, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by garywakeling

Thanks for sharing, I looked at some of his other projects , the 35mm stereo camera and lens making were very impressive.

My pleasure. I should have mentioned the other projects in my OP; I've added a note.

texandrews · 09-22-2020, 06:25 AM

Actually, the photo of the house is way more interesting done with this....uh, "lens"....than it would have been with a good lens.

**Serkevan** · 09-22-2020, 06:34 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by c.a.m

Whew.

I was concerned that someone would comment only on the corner softness, ignoring the other optical qualities.

I would actually wager that the edges are fairly sharp, unless one takes care to sand them...

09-21-2020, 11:03 AM - 9 Likes	#1
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	Coke Bottle Lens -- for those who are tired of their 'Limiteds' I imagine that some of our members could take terrific pictures regardless of the lens they use. Here's a demonstration that a 'Coke-bottle lens', while not of Limited or 'star' quality, can produce images that are at least, shall we say, recognizable. Coke Lens Edit: Please take a look at his other projects -- they're interesting and impressive! - Craig Last edited by c.a.m; 09-21-2020 at 05:29 PM. Reason: Serious note at the end

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09-21-2020, 11:32 AM - 1 Like	#2
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,202	Top-notch soft focus lens in my book.

09-21-2020, 11:40 AM - 3 Likes	#3
StiffLegged Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,620	As a recent collector of better-quality glass, it's really helpful to have that standard for comparison instead of rude remarks about kit lenses.

09-21-2020, 11:41 AM	#4
AstroDave Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 1,637	Makes you wonder what other unsung "lenses" are out there.

09-21-2020, 12:01 PM - 1 Like	#5
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	I can see the marketing angle now... "Ideal for portraiture"

09-21-2020, 12:29 PM - 1 Like	#6
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I feel like he could have gotten better results by doing just little more with his Coke bottle glass than worrying about the blacking of the inside of the barrel. ---------- Post added 09-21-20 at 12:33 PM ---------- He has other cool projects where he does it more seriously -- like making a Petzval Lens

09-21-2020, 01:14 PM - 2 Likes	#7
Topsy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 625	I quite like that, but I'd rather be able to afford an old cooke soft focus lens than a coke soft focus lens!

09-21-2020, 03:01 PM	#8
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189 Original Poster	Whew. I was concerned that someone would comment only on the corner softness, ignoring the other optical qualities.

09-21-2020, 03:17 PM	#9
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,325	Today there was a pretty cool post on this forum. At f11 it was more pinhole camera than lens. In the ancient days Coke bottle lenses usually referred the really think glasses that people who were severely nearsighted needed to wear.

09-21-2020, 03:26 PM - 1 Like	#10
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	This is where they got the idea for lensbabies.

09-21-2020, 05:16 PM	#11
garywakeling Moderator Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,759	Thanks for sharing, I looked at some of his other projects , the 35mm stereo camera and lens making were very impressive.

09-21-2020, 05:27 PM	#12
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Yes - ideal for portraiture. It will smooth the wrinkles.

09-21-2020, 05:30 PM	#13
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189 Original Poster	Originally posted by garywakeling Thanks for sharing, I looked at some of his other projects , the 35mm stereo camera and lens making were very impressive. My pleasure. I should have mentioned the other projects in my OP; I've added a note.

09-22-2020, 06:25 AM	#14
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,393	Actually, the photo of the house is way more interesting done with this....uh, "lens"....than it would have been with a good lens.

09-22-2020, 06:34 AM - 3 Likes	#15
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by c.a.m Whew. I was concerned that someone would comment only on the corner softness, ignoring the other optical qualities. I would actually wager that the edges are fairly sharp, unless one takes care to sand them...