DIY "crackbabies" (lens hacks -- similar to lensbaby product)

SF1 · 08-06-2008, 01:15 PM

Hi,

I'm not a newbie to Pentax - but am very much so to this forum. I recently spent a day making some DIY toy lenses from a variety of "found" materials. I put together a how-to booklet in .pdf format and thought I'd share it here. Aside from seeing the "lensbaby" product in ebay -- I hadn't searched online for other DIY lenses - so I'm sure there will be things here that other people have already seen/done.

Cheers,
SF1

Attached Images

Improvised DSLR Lenses.pdf (261.1 KB, 4180 views)

Last edited by SF1; 10-01-2009 at 05:18 PM. Reason: .pdf uploaded as previous web link has expired

MRRiley · 08-06-2008, 05:45 PM

Very interesting and my frugal side is intrigued...

Red · 08-06-2008, 05:50 PM

I been tempted to try the "plunger baby"

The Plunger Baby - Zenza Bronica 75mm lens + toilet plunger = DIY tilt-shift lens on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The link for the "crackbabies" was unavailable when I clicked on it, so it might be the same thing.

raz-0 · 08-06-2008, 06:14 PM

The link to the pdf appears to be broken.

timbo13 · 08-07-2008, 03:51 AM

looks like a fun project! your link to the "crackbabies" pdf has been down, it finally worked this morning. I enjoyed seeing the sample images, perhaps you could post some here on the forum.

**keithlester** · 08-07-2008, 05:55 AM

link is broken

SF1 · 08-08-2008, 09:31 PM

Hi,

Thanks for the interest --- the daily download limit for Geocities is very low so I have also put the instructions on this page:

Making the "Crack Baby"

I've recently done a very very easy and cheap DIY ringflash for macro. Will post that soon.

Cheers!

roy · 08-09-2008, 05:34 AM

Originally posted by SF1

Hi,

Thanks for the interest --- the daily download limit for Geocities is very low so I have also put the instructions on this page:

Making the "Crack Baby"

I've recently done a very very easy and cheap DIY ringflash for macro. Will post that soon.

Cheers!

cool,
i've done a lot of DIY projects including a 24 LED ringlight, adapters to reverse the lens with the ability to use filter or ringlight.. also a grip i use all the time for macro + off camera flash.

if you send the file to me i'll host it online for a while for you.. no charge, free.
we only use MAYBE 10% of our bandwith. email is
roysphoto at Gmail.com
i can recieve upto 20megs in an email.

Mike Cash · 08-09-2008, 06:20 AM

Originally posted by SF1

Hi,

Thanks for the interest --- the daily download limit for Geocities is very low so I have also put the instructions on this page:

Making the "Crack Baby"

It looks very intriguing. But the transfer speeds from that server reminded me of my old dial-up....from 1997.

SF1 · 05-05-2009, 07:05 PM

These are from the lens hacked out of the Pentax zoom point and shoot. Haven't played with it for a while - so took it out this afternoon. Very weird to squeeze for focus. Wish the shot of the new moss on the bottom left was a bit sharper... blame my shaky hands (should have increased the sensitivity to reduce shutter speed...) This is not a tripod friendly lens as you have to squeeze it to maintain focus. Taken on K-m DSLR in AV mode.

**barondla** · 05-06-2009, 06:18 AM

Cool shots. May have to try this to go along with my Lens Baby.
thanks
barondla

Check out POINT & SHOOT CONTEST # 18 WINNER in P&S forum. Enter #19. Any brand camera. Enter now!

08-08-2008, 09:31 PM	#7
SF1 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 41 Original Poster	"Crackbabies" update --- new website for DIY instructions Hi, Thanks for the interest --- the daily download limit for Geocities is very low so I have also put the instructions on this page: Making the "Crack Baby" I've recently done a very very easy and cheap DIY ringflash for macro. Will post that soon. Cheers!

05-05-2009, 07:05 PM	#10
SF1 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 41 Original Poster	some new images from 'hacked' lens These are from the lens hacked out of the Pentax zoom point and shoot. Haven't played with it for a while - so took it out this afternoon. Very weird to squeeze for focus. Wish the shot of the new moss on the bottom left was a bit sharper... blame my shaky hands (should have increased the sensitivity to reduce shutter speed...) This is not a tripod friendly lens as you have to squeeze it to maintain focus. Taken on K-m DSLR in AV mode. Attached Images

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08-06-2008, 05:45 PM	#2
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Very interesting and my frugal side is intrigued...

08-06-2008, 05:50 PM	#3
Red Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Suwanee, GA USA Posts: 153	I been tempted to try the "plunger baby" The Plunger Baby - Zenza Bronica 75mm lens + toilet plunger = DIY tilt-shift lens on Flickr - Photo Sharing! The link for the "crackbabies" was unavailable when I clicked on it, so it might be the same thing.

08-06-2008, 06:14 PM	#4
raz-0 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Central NJ Posts: 470	The link to the pdf appears to be broken.

08-07-2008, 03:51 AM	#5
timbo13 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northboro MA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,007	looks like a fun project! your link to the "crackbabies" pdf has been down, it finally worked this morning. I enjoyed seeing the sample images, perhaps you could post some here on the forum.

08-07-2008, 05:55 AM	#6
keithlester Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Carradale, Scotland Posts: 301	link is broken

08-09-2008, 05:34 AM	#8
roy Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: D/FW area, Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,710	Originally posted by SF1 Hi, Thanks for the interest --- the daily download limit for Geocities is very low so I have also put the instructions on this page: Making the "Crack Baby" I've recently done a very very easy and cheap DIY ringflash for macro. Will post that soon. Cheers! cool, i've done a lot of DIY projects including a 24 LED ringlight, adapters to reverse the lens with the ability to use filter or ringlight.. also a grip i use all the time for macro + off camera flash. if you send the file to me i'll host it online for a while for you.. no charge, free. we only use MAYBE 10% of our bandwith. email is roysphoto at Gmail.com i can recieve upto 20megs in an email.

08-09-2008, 06:20 AM	#9
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by SF1 Hi, Thanks for the interest --- the daily download limit for Geocities is very low so I have also put the instructions on this page: Making the "Crack Baby" It looks very intriguing. But the transfer speeds from that server reminded me of my old dial-up....from 1997.

05-06-2009, 06:18 AM	#11
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Cool shots. May have to try this to go along with my Lens Baby. thanks barondla Check out POINT & SHOOT CONTEST # 18 WINNER in P&S forum. Enter #19. Any brand camera. Enter now!