Originally posted by SpotmaticGuy I need to find a way to stretch and secure the fabric across the front of the lens. I have some ideas, but I'm certainly interested in what others may suggest, or what they may have done. Perhaps some folks here have done this sort of thing. I'd love to know what your techniques and results have been.
I remember "experimenting" with various thin materials as diffusers back in my film days … some (I don't remember which) certainly had distinctive characteristics, which could be altered depending on how tightly the fabric was stretched and, to a degree, by the angle of rotation.
Method of attachment varied from simply a rubber band over the lens, mounting the fabric for use in a 'Cokin' holder to pinning the fabric out then gluing an empty screw-in filter holder to the fabric before trimming the excess once the glue had dried.
Results can vary depending on whether the diffuser is within and shaded by a lens hood or "out in the open" where extra flare can be induced, also by the distance from the fabric to the front of the lens, depending on the coarseness (or fineness) of the weave/knit.
Good luck … and enjoy
Originally posted by gofour3 Pentax made many "soft focus" lenses over the years, they do the trick nicely.
Phil.
I've hung on to my Fujinon 85mm f/4 Soft Focus "just in case" … it hasn't been used recently