[Docrwm]

If you are a tinkerer, you may want that old camera as a source of spare screws. If you ever lose a screw on a camera that you are trying to fix, you'll want an old camera like that one. I have thrown away a couple of cameras like that, but I scavenged the screws first and stored them in an empty pill bottle.

Too late but an excellent idea. I have a bunch of watch screws (my other hobby) and they are for that exact purpose. I'm finding that all my watch repair tools are appropriate for lens work but I am too skittish to try my hand at a good lens, hence sending them off to Eric for CLAing.

[RioRico]

Good deal on the bellows! Now you can start accumulating enlarger-projector-copy-xray-etc lenses.

The camera: donate it to Goodwill, eh?

[Docrwm]

Good deal on the bellows! Now you can start accumulating enlarger-projector-copy-xray-etc lenses.

The camera: donate it to Goodwill, eh?

Do you have a tutorial on enlarger-projector-copy-xray-etc lenses?

No, I just tossed it - didn't want anyone else to shell out any money on it.

[RioRico]

TUTORIAL ON NON-CAMERA LENSES:

* Enlarger lenses (ELs) have apertures (often with the numbers upside-down). Others like projection lenses (PLs), copy lenses (CLs), etc don't; either shoot wide-open, or improvise some Waterhouse stops or baffles.
* Some people report better sharpness with reversed lenses; I haven't tried that.
* Non-camera lenses usually require hoods to cut flare and increase contrast.
* Many ELs have 39mm / L39 threads; M39-M42 adapter rings are dirt cheap. Some ELs are M42 -- no problem. Many USA ELs, and other non-camera lenses, have inch-based or other nonstandard threads, or even no threads. The cheap solution: cut holes in cheap M42 body caps (about US$2 each) and stick the lenses in.
* ELs-PLs-CLs longer than 80mm can often reach infinity focus on bellows. Shorter ones can't and can only be use for closeups on bellows, but may be used for fixed-focus work on tubes.
* Some xray and copy lenses, even those marked as being greater than 80mm, may only be usable for extreme closeups.
* Longer lenses (>140mm) may require macro tubes as well as bellows, to reach a decent close-focus distance.
* You can never have too many macro tubes. Get the cheap non-auto ones.

That's a start. I gotta go cook dinner now. Ciao!

EDIT: Potatoes are being nuked, so I have time for a little more.

* ELs are fairly predictable; PLs ain't. I prefer those meant for 35mm/135 slides, which usually have focal lengths in the 60-150mm range. (I especially like PL zooms, which can be marvelously hacked.) Those meant for 16mm or 8mm cine aren't really usable on our cameras.
* Some non-camera-lenses come in weird-size bodies. Duct tape is your friend here, as is contact cement. Don't be afraid to sacrifice cheap tube sections to be adapters.
* Almost any optical material can be stuck into something that can mount on bellows. Lenses from old folder, box cams, polaroids; eyeglass and magnifier lenses; crystals, prisms, fresnels, headlight lenses, etc. Lotsa fun!

Oops, there goes the timer. Gotta go.

---

Last edited by RioRico; 07-30-2011 at 07:41 PM.

[Docrwm]

TUTORIAL ON NON-CAMERA LENSES:

* Enlarger lenses (ELs) have apertures (often with the numbers upside-down). Others like projection lenses (PLs), copy lenses (CLs), etc don't; either shoot wide-open, or improvise some Waterhouse stops or baffles.
* Some people report better sharpness with reversed lenses; I haven't tried that.
* Non-camera lenses usually require hoods to cut flare and increase contrast.
* Many ELs have 39mm / L39 threads; M39-M42 adapter rings are dirt cheap. Some ELs are M42 -- no problem. Many USA ELs, and other non-camera lenses, have inch-based or other nonstandard threads, or even no threads. The cheap solution: cut holes in cheap M42 body caps (about US$2 each) and stick the lenses in.
* ELs-PLs-CLs longer than 80mm can often reach infinity focus on bellows. Shorter ones can't and can only be use for closeups on bellows, but may be used for fixed-focus work on tubes.
* Some xray and copy lenses, even those marked as being greater than 80mm, may only be usable for extreme closeups.
* Longer lenses (>140mm) may require macro tubes as well as bellows, to reach a decent close-focus distance.
* You can never have too many macro tubes. Get the cheap non-auto ones.

That's a start. I gotta go cook dinner now. Ciao!

EDIT: Potatoes are being nuked, so I have time for a little more.

* ELs are fairly predictable; PLs ain't. I prefer those meant for 35mm/135 slides, which usually have focal lengths in the 60-150mm range. (I especially like PL zooms, which can be marvelously hacked.) Those meant for 16mm or 8mm cine aren't really usable on our cameras.
* Some non-camera-lenses come in weird-size bodies. Duct tape is your friend here, as is contact cement. Don't be afraid to sacrifice cheap tube sections to be adapters.
* Almost any optical material can be stuck into something that can mount on bellows. Lenses from old folder, box cams, polaroids; eyeglass and magnifier lenses; crystals, prisms, fresnels, headlight lenses, etc. Lotsa fun!

Oops, there goes the timer. Gotta go.

Another Plus 1 for you! Thanks, these are things I have never even considered for an SLR or dSLR before reading your posts.

[boriscleto]

I just picked up an Asahi M42 extension tube set (with case) for $6.00. Even after shipping it was less than half what KEH wants for the same set.

[Docrwm]

I just picked up an Asahi M42 extension tube set (with case) for $6.00. Even after shipping it was less than half what KEH wants for the same set.

Cool. I love a bargain.

[RioRico]

Another Plus 1 for you! Thanks, these are things I have never even considered for an SLR or dSLR before reading your posts.

Thanks. I'm going to write this up as an article. I still have a couple articles to go -- on non-camera lenses, on macro math, on stuff that can be hung on lenses (filters, optical adapters, etc). Stay tuned.

I just picked up an Asahi M42 extension tube set (with case) for $6.00. Even after shipping it was less than half what KEH wants for the same set.

Yes, with M42 sets going for US$6 and PK sets for US$7 shipped quickly from Shanghai, there's no reason NOT to have a few sets of each. But guess what? Collectors hare here too! I had a short set (2 pieces) of M42 tubes and a 2x TC, marked Sears, in original boxes -- and they were bid up to US$30 on the bay! The generics sell for US$10. Hmmm, I wonder what my mint Ricoh tubes are worth... ???

[Docrwm]

Thanks. I'm going to write this up as an article. I still have a couple articles to go -- on non-camera lenses, on macro math, on stuff that can be hung on lenses (filters, optical adapters, etc). Stay tuned.

I look forward to it. Each of your articles has been highly educational for me. Perhaps pics for this one to illustrate your points?

Yes, with M42 sets going for US$6 and PK sets for US$7 shipped quickly from Shanghai, there's no reason NOT to have a few sets of each. But guess what? Collectors hare here too! I had a short set (2 pieces) of M42 tubes and a 2x TC, marked Sears, in original boxes -- and they were bid up to US$30 on the bay! The generics sell for US$10. Hmmm, I wonder what my mint Ricoh tubes are worth... ???

With, or without, the infamous Ricoh pin?