I haven’t posted a good camera modification in a while, so it feels good to present you with this new tutorial on how to build your own tilt-shift lens. Have you seen those photos where only a small part of the picture is in focus and the rest of the image gets dramatically blurred? If you ever wondered how this effect is created, chances are the picture was taken with a tilt-shift lens. Most lenses are fixed exactly parallel to your lens because that is the position that will distribute the light evenly and keep focus at a fixed distance. A tilt-shift lens is different because it allows you pivot the lens. By “tilting” and “shifting” the lens you can throw things out of focus in unconventional ways. Using a tilt-shift lens is a fun way to inject your photos with drama and controlled distortion. Here is a link to a good Flickr gallery full of examples of tilt-shift to give you an idea of what is possible with a tilt-shift lens.

If I have convinced you that a tilt-shift lens would be a nice addition to your photography arsenal, I have some bad news for you. Tilt-shift lenses are expensive. A quick Ebay search reveals that you will be lucky to secure a lens for under $500 with some lenses well over $1000. Yikes! A slightly less expensive option is something called a Lensbaby, which will run you between $100 to $400. Despite hearing good things about the lensbabies, I just can’t justify dropping a couple hundred dollars on a lens that’s main purpose is to degrade and distort my pictures. Luckily there is a third option. Here are some ideas that will help you create your own tilt-shift lens for next to nothing.

The great thing about this method is that you don’t need glue, tape, liquid nails, or anything messy. All you need are four things that you might already own:

1. The first thing is a single lens reflex camera. For this example I am using a Pentax K1000, but it should work with any SLR including most digital SLR cameras.
   
   

2. The second thing you will need is a body cap. If you bought your camera new, the body cap was probably in the camera when you pulled it out of the box. This is the cap that you would have removed before you attached your lens. If you don’t have a body cap you should be able to pick one up for cheap on Ebay.
   
   

3. The third thing you will need is an inner tube from a bike tire. You probably have a bike in your garage with a flat tire, so that will work perfectly. If you don’t have a flat, you can pick one up an Wal-Mart, but it could cost about $20. If you live close to a bike shop I would bet they could give you a flat inner tube for free.
   
   

4. The fourth thing on the list that might be the hardest thing to track down is a lens from a junk camera. If you hit your local thrift shop or an antique store it should be relatively easy to find a lens that will work. As you hunt for a lens there are a couple things to consider. First, it will be to your advantage if the lens is easily removed from the camera. If the shutter mechanism is part of the lens (as is common with older cameras) you will have to figure out a way to keep the shutter open permanently. This could be a challenge. You want the lens to be thin. A half inch is ideal. If your lens is too thick it will be too bulky to tilt and shift. For this example, I used the lens off a really old (but common) Argus 35mm camera. The lens is easily removed. It has a “T” setting for a shutter speed that keeps the shutter open for long exposures. This is handy for our needs because we want the shutter open permanently. If you go with the lens off an Argus don’t pay more than $10 because these are really junky cameras.
   
   

Now that you have all your supplies you are ready to start building your tilt-shift lens. Depending on the SLR you have and the type of lens you were able to secure, the following steps could vary quite a bit. Use the following instructions as a guide and improvise to suit your needs. The general idea is that you cut a section of a bike tire inner tube and stick your body cap in one end and an old lens in the other end. The rubber tube flexes enough to hold both parts tightly and it lets you move the lens freely in any direction that you desire.

Step 1: Remove lens from your junked camera
Strip away everything that you can so that you are left with as thin and small of a lens as possible. You can click on any of the images in this tutorial to see a larger photo. The third photo below shows what the Argus lens looks like from the back.

Step 2: Prepare your body cap
The body cap that I had was made of a soft white plastic, so I was able to use an exacto knife to cut out the center circle. Once you have the center of the body cap cut out you are ready to stick it in the inner tube. I started with a section of the tire that was about 4 inches long. You want more than you actually need so it is easier to work with. We will cut off the excess later. The diameter of the bike tire inner tube is quite a bit smaller than the lens cap, so it will take a bit of stretching and pulling to get it in there. It takes a bit of work, but the result is a tight fit that won’t move after you get it in there. That’s a good thing. At this point you can test to make sure that the body cap still fits in your camera.

Step 3: Insert Lens in the inner tube
Now in the other end of the inner tube you can insert you lens. The diameter of my lens was smaller than the body cap so it isn’t quite as much work to make this side fit. At this point you need to start thinking about focal length (the distance that you lens will be from your film. This is important because it will determine what is in focus at certain distances from your camera. If you want to take photos of things at midrange to far away you will want the lens to be as close to the film as possible. If you want to take pictures of things really close to the camera (macro photography) you should keep the lens further from the film. I couldn’t decide what I wanted so I left a little extra rubber so that I could move the lens depending on what kind of mood I was in.

A SLR like the Pentax K1000 lets you remove your lens without exposing the film, so if you want to adjust your tilt-shift lens halfway through the roll, just take the lens off, make adjustments and reattach. The other thing that makes an SLR ideal for this homemade tilt-shift lens is that what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what will end up on the film. So as you are moving your lens around you are getting a perfect preview of what is and what isn’t in focus. Test your tilt-shift lens out as you are building it to help you get a better idea of what to expect from it. Once you know where you want the lens to be positioned in the inner tube you can cut off any excess rubber.

Step 4: Attach your tilt-shift lens to your SLR
Now you have a tilt-shift lens. Depending on how tightly your body cap fits into your camera you may need to secure it better so that your lens doesn’t fall out. You can see in the photo below that I used some extra rubber from the tire to make large rubber bands that hold the lens on more securely. It makes an already ugly lens a little uglier, but it does the job. I think some body caps might screw into your camera body, and if you can find one like that then you wouldn’t have to worry so much about the lens falling off.

Step 5: Hack your camera so you can use its light meter
Your tilt-shift lens should work as is, but you probably won’t be able to use your camera’s light meter. If you want to have a working light meter there is one more hack that you will have to perform. Usually without a “real” lens on your camera body the light meter will be disabled. I can only speak for the Pentax K1000 so you will have to experiment with other models. If you find a solution for other kinds of cameras, please share your advice in the comments below. On the Pentax K1000 there is a tiny latch on the right. When a lens is put on the camera it turns this latch about an inch and a half and this turns the light meter on. I used a small piece of a twisty tie to wedge this latch into the “on” position. You will want to be careful that you don’t damage your camera as you are doing this. You will also want to be sure to remove the twisty tie before reattaching your other lenses.

Congratulations! You are done. If you had all the ingredients already it cost you nothing. If you had to buy everything from scratch it didn’t cost you more than $150 and you that includes a 35mm SLR! That is cheaper than a lensbaby!

Pentax K1000 = $100
Bicycle inner tube = $20 or less
Argus 35mm camera = $10
Total = Under $150!

Last but not least, here are a few samples from the first photos taken with my homemade tilt-shift lens:

References:
I was inspired by a post on mkaz.com where Marcus Kazmierczak attaches a lens with bellows onto a Nikon SLR. If you want to learn more about tilt-shift lenses, Wikipedia is a good resource.

Here are some of the auctions on Ebay for tilt-shift lenses that you might be interested in:

Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L Tilt Shift Lens for Canon SLR

US $740.00 (8 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 8:37:32 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon Wide TS E 17mm f/4 L Tilt Shift Camera Lens 550D

US $2,399.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 9:28:29 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $2,399.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L Lens - Tilt Shift

US $710.00 (25 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 12:00:18 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

CANON TS-E 45MM 2.8 TILT SHIFT REAR MOUNT LENS PART

US $55.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 17:50:13 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $55.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

MC 2.8/80mm TILT/SHIFT lens for Olympus 4/3 rds

US $369.00 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 5:46:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $369.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Canon TSE Tilt Shift 17mm f/4L SLR Lens

US $2,299.00 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 18:21:00 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $2,299.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Canon TSE Tilt Shift 24mm f/3.5L II SLR Lens

US $2,049.00 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 20:26:52 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $2,049.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Canon 90mm F2.8 TSE Tilt Shift Lens

US $1,210.00 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 20:32:53 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $1,210.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Arsat Arax MC 2.8/80mm TILT/SHIFT lens for Nikon AI

US $369.00 End Date: Tuesday Aug-03-2010 2:29:38 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $369.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

ARRI Shift & Tilt Lens System - Used

US $34,900.00 End Date: Wednesday Aug-04-2010 13:27:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $34,900.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

I finally got the camera I have always wanted. No, it wasn’t a Hasselblad or a Mamiya or a Leica. The camera that has been on my wish list longer than any other is the Pentax K1000. Sure, I could pick one up on Ebay for under $100 but I just figured that someday the classic camera would just find its way into my collection. That is pretty much what happened. I love having a story to go along with a camera and now I have one that I will probably be telling quite a few times in the future. Here is how the classic tank of a camera came into my collection…

I have coveted my friend Bennett’s K1000 for years and envied the $5 deal he found at a rummage sale. Knowing how much I coveted his Pentax, he has been on the lookout for a K1000 for me. After cleaning out his basement he made a trip to the landfill to drop off some junk. Shortly after entering the building he spotted something on a conveyor belt that looked familiar. It was a Pentax K1000! He flagged down a worker and was able to get the conveyor belts stopped. It took some negotiating, but he was able to save the camera from the doom of the landfill. Aside from a broken film counter, it was in perfect working condition. All it needed was a new battery and the light meter snapped back to life. Now that I have a K1000, I couldn’t be happier.

If you took a photography class in high school, chances are you used a K1000. The fully manual camera is (or was) the standard shooter for pimply-faced teens everywhere. Holding the Pentax K1000 is like going back in time to my days at Wentzville High. The faces of friends come back in focus. Walking the halls of the school with my friend Molly. The magic of the darkroom. The excitement of capturing something on film. And that sound! Is there a better sound in the world than the shutter releasing on a Pentax K1000 and the clicking as you advance the film? I don’t think so.

I would be willing to bet that part of the enduring appeal of the K1000 has a lot to do with similar nostalgia that the camera brings back to their owners. People that really cherish a camera know that it is more than just a picture making machine. It is an extension of who we are. As we look back through are photo albums and recall the special moments of our lives we remember that the camera was there. A silent friend, steadily documenting our lives and capturing the light that fills our memories.

Here are some of the auctions on Ebay for Pentax K1000 cameras that you might be interested in:

!! Very Nice Genuine Asahi Pentax k1000 !! LOOK !!

US $99.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:52:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $225.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

75" Heavy Duty Tripod F/ Pentax K20D K200D K1OD K1000

US $42.95 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:19:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $42.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Asahi Pentax K 1000 55mm, 135mm, 2X TeleCoverter & Bag

US $125.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:47:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $125.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pentax K1000 35mm Camera 50MM LENS & CASE AND EXTRAS

US $49.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:35:36 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Pentax K1000 35mm Film Camera

US $24.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:59:07 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

ASAHI PENTAX K1000 INSTRUCTION MANUAL

US $8.95 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:00:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pentax K1000 35mm Film Camera

US $11.50 (4 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:24:19 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Pentax K1000 35mm Camera + Multiple Lenses, Case + More

US $79.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:24:44 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

ASAHI PENTAX K1000 CAMERA SMC PENTAX-A 1:2 50mm LENS

US $49.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:30:23 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Asahi Pentax K1000 SE Camera & SMC Pentax-M 1:2 50mm

US $39.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:05:41 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

A recent addition to my camera collection that is quickly becoming a favorite is the Yashica Electro35. It is an old rangefinder with a fast lens, a quite shutter, and accurate auto exposure. If you are like me and can only dream about owning a Leica, this camera might be just what you are looking for. They are a bargain on Ebay going for $25 or less.

The only downside of the camera is that they don’t make the 6v batteries anymore. Luckly, there are a bunch of enthusiastic fans of the camera that have figured out how to make modern batteries work in this antique. If you need battery help check out this thread in the Yashica Electro35 Flickr group.

If you are interested in seeing some of my photos from this camera you can click here.

The photo below shows what the viewfinder looks like. To focus the camera you align the image inside the diamond with the image outside the diamond.

Here are some of the auctions on Ebay for Yashica Electro35 that you might be interested in:

YASHICA ELECTRO 35 GT-GTN-GS-GSN METAL Lens Hood Vintag

US $13.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 8:23:49 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

YASHICA ELECTRO 35 GS with case and flash no scratches!

US $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 9:25:31 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Vintage Yashica Electro 35 Camera 1.7 45mm Lens

US $29.99 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:30:11 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $29.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR YASHICA ELECTRO 35 GSN/GTN

US $3.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 13:03:00 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

YASHICA ELECTRO 35 GSN Camera/Case/Strap/Manual -NICE++

US $65.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 14:40:55 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Yashica Electro 35 GSN 35mm Rangefinder

US $19.95 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 15:00:02 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

YASHICA 35mm 35 ELECTRO RANGEFINDER CAMERA OUTFIT

US $19.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 17:59:52 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Soft Shutter Button Yashica Mat 124 Electro 35 Rollei

US $8.99 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 18:45:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

YASHICA Electro 35 Camera w/ Yashinon-DX 45mm Lens

US $24.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 19:34:20 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

YASHICA ELECTRO 35 GSN CAMERA, 35mm,

US $24.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 19:38:30 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

The newest addition to my camera collection is the Canon AE1 Program. This is the automatic version of the AE1 which I reviewed a few months ago. It is just a coincidence that I got this camera at the same time as my Pentax Super Program becuase these cameras had to be competing against each other around 1984. I had to chuckle at the lens cap because it had “Official 35mm Camera of the 1984 Olympics” on it.

Both this camera and the Pentax Super Program represent the peak of consumer 35mm SLR cameras. They were reliable, accurate, compact, had great lenses, and could take a beating. This is pre “Rebel” days, before cameras became bloated with electronics and features that doubled the size and weight of cameras.

The controls are logical and easy to use. If you aren’t real sure what you are doing you can leave it on the automatic setting and not worry about it. When you want to go manual the controls are right where you would expect them. If I have a complaint about this camera it is that I miss the needle light meter of the plain AE1 version. Flashing lights and numbers can’t compete with the simplicity and common sense factor of a needle. This is a minor complaint, however, and I highly recommend this camera.

Here are some of the auctions on Ebay for Canon AE1 Program cameras that you might be interested in:

CANON AE-1 PROGRAM CAMERA WITH ZOOM LENS (VINTAGE 1981)

US $70.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 8:54:03 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon Power Winder A For AE-1 AE-1 Program Others

US $36.99 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 9:52:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $36.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 Program SLR Camera with Quntaray 70-210 Zoom

US $26.00 (10 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:46:11 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

CANON AE-1 PROGRAM EYECUP

US $9.90 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:09:00 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.90 Buy it now | Add to watch list

CANON AE-1 PROGRAM 35MM FILM CAMERA AND TELE CONVERTER

US $37.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 12:08:45 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1/ AT-1/ A-1 & AE-1 Program Battery Door Cover

US $5.95 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 12:58:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $5.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 program with Sunpak flash & 100-200 mm lens

US $35.50 (5 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 13:42:19 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Instructions: Canon AE-1 Program Camera

US $18.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 14:08:53 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $18.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Canon Fitted Camera case + Winder for AE-1 Program A-1

US $45.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 15:04:16 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $58.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Beautiful Canon AE-1 Program Camera Body, EX++ AE1

US $95.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 16:00:36 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

I recently came into possession of a Pentax Super Program, a 35mm SLR made in the early Eighties. I have always wanted the completely manaul Pentax K1000, and since I already own the fantasticly automatic Pentax ZX5n, I wasn’t sure what I would think of the Super Program

While researching the Super Program I was impressed by the loyal following that this camera has earned over the years. People praise its reliability, exposure accuracy, small size, and sharp lenses.

One of the first things you notice about this camera is that it doesn’t have a shutter speed knob like a the old K1000′s or the newer ZX5n’s. When you are in the “M” mode (manually metered) or shutter priority mode you use the two buttons on the top of the camera to cycle betweeen shutter speeds. My preference is firmly in favor of knobs, but once you get used to the idea, the buttons are fine. There is a digital readout on the top and in the viewfinder that tells you what shutter speed you have selected. I guess my biggest complaint is that the controls aren’t real intuitive at first glance. Fortunately, it isn’t as complex as it first seems and once you get the hang of it it is pretty simple. Here is a photo that shows the main controls:

My ZX5n has a solid feel to it, but the Super Pentax has less plastic and just feels like it can handle more abuse. It feels like a machine as opposed to a an electronic device, if that makes any sense. It has more metal parts, but the weight is comparable to the ZX5n, which is a good thing. Compared to a K1000 it is slightly smaller as well. What I am trying to say is that it feels great in your hands. It makes you want to take it around the world in rough conditions and “dare” it to not perform.

So, it took me a little time to warm up to this camera, but now I am hooked. They don’t make cameras like this anymore, so if you have a chance to get one, I highly recommend it. Here is one more glamour photo to leave you with:

Here are some of the auctions on Ebay for Pentax Super Program cameras that you might be interested in:

PENTAX SUPER PROGRAM 35MM SLR BODY W/ CAP & STRAP

US $45.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 16:50:42 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $45.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

PENTAX SUPER PROGRAM with EXTRAS

US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 17:17:47 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Pentax Super Program-Great compact SLR camera-Project

US $58.80 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 17:36:33 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $58.80 Buy it now | Add to watch list

2 cameras = Pentax Program Plus, Pentax Super Program

US $49.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 19:31:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $60.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

1983 PENTAX SUPER PROGRAM CAMERA Vintage Print Ad 10x13

US $9.99 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 12:13:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Clean Working Pentax Super Program Film SLR Camera

US $24.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 21:07:12 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Pentax Super Program Manual + Pentax Photography

US $6.00 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 21:53:22 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $6.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pentax Super Program camera w/ case & 50mm lens

US $37.00 (3 Bids) End Date: Tuesday Aug-03-2010 13:38:49 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

ASAHI PENTAX SUPER PROGRAM MANUAL/93054

US $15.00 End Date: Tuesday Aug-03-2010 14:50:07 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $15.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

VTGE. PENTAX SUPER PROGRAM 35 MM SLR CAMERA F 1:17 50MM

US $22.47 (2 Bids) End Date: Tuesday Aug-03-2010 19:00:31 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

The biggest hole in my camera collection (besides a hasselblad or some other really nice camera) is a fully manual 35mm SLR. I have wanted a Pentax k1000 ever since I used one in high school, but one has never presented itself to me. My Pentax ZX5n is a great camera, but it is too easy to rely on the automatic settings and let the camera do all the work. Sometimes you just want a wonderful old machine. The cranking to advance the film. The needle light meter. The manual focus. The physical motion to set the aperture and shutter speed. And don’t forget the glorious sound when the shutter releases. If there is a more wonderful sound in the universe, I would like to hear it.

Well, you can imagine my delight when a friend of my Betsy’s learned of my camera collection and donated a Canon AE1 to my cause. What a great little machine! It was well cared for, and once I replaced the battery this thing was ready to go. I won’t bore you with the technical specs but rather close with a recommendation that you pick up an old manual SLR. As digital continues to make these old beasts “obsolete” the price is a steal. If you are like me and you learned to take pictures with these cameras, reconnecting with the past might just reinvigorate your love for photography.

Here are some of the auctions on Ebay for Canon AE1 cameras that you might be interested in:

Canon 35mm Camera AE1

US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:49:21 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 35mm Film Camera lenes

US $28.67 (4 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 8:28:17 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

CANON AE-1 PROGRAM CAMERA WITH ZOOM LENS (VINTAGE 1981)

US $70.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 8:54:03 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 35mm Film Camera w/ Vivitar 70-150mm Lens

US $15.50 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 9:00:01 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 35mm Film Camera with an auto rewind!!!!!!!!

US $45.99 (15 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 9:51:13 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 Program SLR Camera with Quntaray 70-210 Zoom

US $26.00 (10 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:46:11 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 with Customized Lens Kit Film Camera

US $3.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:15:55 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 35mm Film Camera w/50mm Lens

US $13.50 (4 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:18:29 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 camera with 50mm f1.8 lens

US $22.50 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:34:46 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Canon AE-1 Programable Camera and Extras!

US $50.07 (6 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:39:43 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Inspired by George Bristol’s variation on the film advance mechanism of my Lego camera, I have reworked the design of my 35mm Lego camera. The new camera has several things going for it. Overall it is slightly smaller. It now has an internal shutter mechanism which replaces the clumsy swinging door of the earlier model. Most importantly, I came up with a simple way to rewind the film so now the camera no longer needs to be unloaded in the dark. I have tested a couple of rolls of film with it and the improvements make this a very fun little toy! I am seriously starting to consider selling these, perhaps on Ebay. Would anybody be interested? What do you think it would be worth?

Here are some photos and explanations of the new and improved 35mm Lego camera…

The animations below show the front and back of the camera. You can see that to take a picture you simply lift the piece on top. When the red block is showing I know that the pinhole is uncovered and the film is being exposed.

Here is what is happening on the inside:

Here is a better look at the film advance mechanism that I tweaked based on George Bristol’s idea. The purpose is to create a knob that only turns in one direction. My original solution did the same thing, but this one takes up less space and is a little more durable. This keeps the film tight and prevents inadvertent rewinding. To advance the film one frame, you turn the knob 1.25 turns.

My method for rewinding the film takes some explanation. I needed a piece that could fit into the 35mm film canister like this:

There isn’t a stock Lego piece that does this trick, so I had to modify a piece. Using a dremel tool and some sand paper I created this:

It will go on the camera like this:

The hole that the new rewind knob goes through needs to be bigger than a normal Lego piece. Here is what the enlarged hole looks like:

When I get to the end of the roll of film I remove the piece that is pushing into the gear of the film advance knob. This allows the film to rewind by simply turning the rewind knob. If the rewind knob was put into the film canister correctly the advance know will turn backwards as you are rewinding. Once the film has been rewound, it is safe to open the camera and reload.

If you are interested in pinhole photography, Ebay might be a good place to find a starter pinhole camera. Here are the pinhole camera auctions going on right now:

Gum Spy Cam DVR Clip Stick Camcord Pinhole 2GB Camera

US $39.98 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 0:50:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.98 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:24:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless Mini CCTV hidden Color Pinhole Camera SPY

US $32.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:04:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $32.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless COLOR Nanny Pinhole Camera Spy HIDDEN

US $78.87 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:22:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $78.87 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:24:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 4:24:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 5:24:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

CCD camera with pinhole lens OCB-662 (Night vision)

US $177.77 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:32:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $177.77 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vivitar PN2011 pinhole camera GREAT FOR BEGINNERS! 35mm

US $17.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:17:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

New Wire Mini Pinhole Color Camera Spy Cam CCTV+Power$0

US $16.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:54:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $16.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Soon after I built my 35mm Lego pinhole camera, it struck me that there wasn’t any reason why I couldn’t just make the camera longer and create a panoramic version of the Lego camera. While I prefer a more square format, I couldn’t help but build this camera. The result was a camera that produced a 78mm x 24mm negative. Since the Lego pinhole camera doesn’t have a mask, the entire negative is esposed including the sprocket holes, which looks something like this:

If you are interested in pinhole photography, Ebay might be a good place to find a starter pinhole camera. Here are the pinhole camera auctions going on right now:

Gum Spy Cam DVR Clip Stick Camcord Pinhole 2GB Camera

US $39.98 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 0:50:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.98 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:24:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless Mini CCTV hidden Color Pinhole Camera SPY

US $32.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:04:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $32.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless COLOR Nanny Pinhole Camera Spy HIDDEN

US $78.87 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:22:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $78.87 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:24:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 4:24:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 5:24:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

CCD camera with pinhole lens OCB-662 (Night vision)

US $177.77 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:32:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $177.77 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vivitar PN2011 pinhole camera GREAT FOR BEGINNERS! 35mm

US $17.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:17:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

New Wire Mini Pinhole Color Camera Spy Cam CCTV+Power$0

US $16.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:54:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $16.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Last night I tackled the project of a 35mm version of my medium format pinhole Lego camera. It turned out to be easier than I expected. I should probably have spent the time making better instructions for the medium format version, but rest assured, those are in the works. Anyway, here are a couple highlights of this camera’s design that are different from the medium format version…

1. Obviously it is smaller than the medium format Lego camera. Here is a picture that shows the size comparison:

1. The film advance is the same in that the advance knob can only turn one direction. Since we don’t have the spools of 120 film to worry about, the film just winds around the thin Lego axle. I used a Dremmel tool to cut a thin slice out of the axle. The film goes through this slit when you first load the film. Here is a photo of how the film loads. You can see that I haven’t painted the inside black, yet. The silver is the aluminum tape I use for lightproofing it:

1. Again, there are two parts to the camera. The second part just encloses the inside box to keep light out. Here is a view where you can see both parts:

The medium format version had a red window to help tell what frame you are on. Obviously 35mm film doesn’t have numbers on it or backing paper, so a red window doesn’t belong on this camera. So how do you tell what frame you are on? This is probably the biggest drawback of this camera. You will have to count the clicks of the advance knob and guess when you are on the next frame. At the beginning of the roll it takes around 38 clicks and when you get to the end of the roll it only takes about 22 clicks. I might have to rethink a better film counter method, but this works for now.

1. The shutter is a little different on this camera. I made a door that swings open when you turn the knob. I don’t love this design either, but it works pretty well.

2. Now in color! Partly because I am running out of black Legos, I had a little fun and made this one red and blue.

3. A couple other things to consider. There isn’t a rewind mechanism, so when you get to your last frame, you will have to take it into a dark room and rewind it by hand. Maybe I can figure out a way to make a rewind knob, but I can’t think of anything right now.

As you can see, I still want to tinker with this camera a bit. That means there will probably be a delay before I make instructions available. On the bright side, I have completed building the medium format version in Bricksmith and plan on making them available very soon.

UPDATE 1: Thanks for everyone’s comments, and sorry for forgetting a link to my Lego photo gallery. Follow that link to see thumbnails of all the photos taken with my Lego cameras. The color photos were taken with the 35mm Lego camera and most of the other ones were taken with the medium format version.

UPDATE 2: I have posted the Bricksmith files for anyone interested in building the medium format version of this camera. The film advance works the same on that camera, so anyone trying to attempt building this 35mm version may find it useful.

If you are interested in pinhole photography, Ebay might be a good place to find a starter pinhole camera. Here are the pinhole camera auctions going on right now:

Gum Spy Cam DVR Clip Stick Camcord Pinhole 2GB Camera

US $39.98 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 0:50:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.98 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:24:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless Mini CCTV hidden Color Pinhole Camera SPY

US $32.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:04:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $32.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless COLOR Nanny Pinhole Camera Spy HIDDEN

US $78.87 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:22:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $78.87 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:24:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 4:24:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 5:24:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

CCD camera with pinhole lens OCB-662 (Night vision)

US $177.77 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:32:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $177.77 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vivitar PN2011 pinhole camera GREAT FOR BEGINNERS! 35mm

US $17.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:17:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

New Wire Mini Pinhole Color Camera Spy Cam CCTV+Power$0

US $16.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:54:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $16.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

My friend Bennett gave me the perfect gift last weekend. He found a pinhole camera kit at a bookstore and past the treasure on to me. It is called a Hole-On Ex (don’t ask me why) and it is pretty easy to put together. The instructions say it only takes 2 hours, but that seems a little unrealistic. I used Elmer’s glue, so maybe you could save some time with a faster drying glue!

In my haste to test it out, I forgot to reinforce some of the walls with the included black paper. After wasting a roll of 35mm film, I used my aluminum tape to be extra sure there weren’t any leaks. The Hole-On Ex is a welcome addition to my ever growing camera collecion.

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras. Here are the pinhole cameras on Ebay right now:

Gum Spy Cam DVR Clip Stick Camcord Pinhole 2GB Camera

US $39.98 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 0:50:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.98 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:24:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless Mini CCTV hidden Color Pinhole Camera SPY

US $32.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:04:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $32.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless COLOR Nanny Pinhole Camera Spy HIDDEN

US $78.87 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:22:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $78.87 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:24:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 4:24:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 5:24:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

CCD camera with pinhole lens OCB-662 (Night vision)

US $177.77 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:32:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $177.77 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vivitar PN2011 pinhole camera GREAT FOR BEGINNERS! 35mm

US $17.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:17:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

New Wire Mini Pinhole Color Camera Spy Cam CCTV+Power$0

US $16.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:54:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $16.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list