Comments on: Simplest macro hack ever

By: bob

bob — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:04:29 +0000

Guys I need some help here.
I just bought a new pair of ruggedized & waterproof Zeiss 7×50, and a used sledgehammer. What next?

By: lessermilton

lessermilton — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:55:26 +0000

I’ve done a similar thing for non-SLR cameras using a jewlers loupe (available at your neighborhood Harbor Freight for a song and dance).

It allows you to increase the detail tremendously.

Also, h-a-d should totally repost a hack from 3 years ago and watch all you whiners complain that it’s not a hack.

“o-m-g, mr. jalopy doesn’t have plans on his site, how is this a hack?”

By: stunmonkey

stunmonkey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:13:19 +0000

@alchemyguy “the nature of the site isn’t that every single post is a transcendental modification of some existing object to create more awesome functionality.”

True, but I see that as a failing. Maybe it should be.
I can glue popsicle sticks together and call it a pot holder all day long, and you are right, it is learning.
this site, however, is called hack-a-day, not craft-a-day. I don’t need to see any more grade school experiments. thats what grade schools are for, not a propeller-head hacking site.

By: Mr Poo

Mr Poo — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:46:58 +0000

A: Not the simplest macro hack ever, as evidenced by the fact you need to have a pair of buggered binoculars lying about to do it, as opposed to just using a backwards 50mm lens (which you still need to have lying about, but it doesn’t get damaged in the process)
b: What’s especially telling is that there are no photos supplied to show the quality attained by said optical butchery. Here’s what you get with a crappy point and shoot, an equally crappy 50mm lens, some sunlight, and a 2mm across wild strawberry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28888140@N04/3632246852/.

By: splame

splame — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:20:22 +0000

As one of the other commenters points out – you can get screw in filters in different strengths. The staple of filter makers like Hoya provide these in measurable grades, not something that you get with destroying a pair of binoculars.
http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/oef-12.html

I do like the reversed lens macro though – this image from a 28mm lens flipped over: http://www.raromachine.com/resources/images/raromachine_barrel.jpg

By: James P. Wack

James P. Wack — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:17:55 +0000

LOL http://www.flickr.com/photos/peewack/2720569604/

nowadays almost any camera has macro, but the cellphones do not.

By: amarygma

amarygma — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:03:33 +0000

I hold my cell phone camera or regular smaller digital camera up to a microscope at work all the time when I don’t feel like going to the fancy mic plus computer just for a quick pic. And the resolution is usually better and in a more friendly format.

I even made a video of a 48 hr chicken embryo (sorry, cell phone video is horrible)

By: Alchemyguy

Alchemyguy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:26:54 +0000

@stunmonkey: One could argue that learning and doing > purchasing.

We can debate what “hack” means all day, but the nature of the site isn’t that every single post is a transcendental modification of some existing object to create more awesome functionality.

By: Toby

Toby — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:20:32 +0000

On an SLR (at least the “old” ones), you simply took the 50mm lens, un-mounted it, turned it so that the front of the lens was against the camera body lens-mounting flange, and held it there. This gave you a macro lens… you’d have to be about 1″ away from your subject.

Did this for years when I couldn’t afford a decent macro lens for my Dad’s old camera.

By: stunmonkey

stunmonkey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:53:33 +0000

@ clark

For 9.99 you can get a stackable set of three of these lenses designed for seven different adjustable macro ranges, already in threaded mounts, ready to go.
Hacking is cool when it solves a problem or comes up with something new. why screw around with a more expensive, more problematic, and less functional way to do the same thing?
That isn’t a hack, that is a (bad) solution looking for a (nonexistent) problem.

By: clark

clark — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:11:27 +0000

i was in walgreens the other day and noticed a 7x pair of binoculars for $9.99. Might not be the greatest, but you at least get a big piece of glass from it

By: stunmonkey

stunmonkey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:09:46 +0000

Um, you can already buy one of these ready made and mounted in a threaded filter ring for like three bucks.

You have been able to for 70+ years now.

I don’t get it, so what’s the hack?

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:52:05 +0000

I’ve done something similar with an inexpensive point and shoot for taking close ups for eBay items. I just held a magnifying glass in front of the lens. Hold it straight enough and divergence is minimal. Worked well enough for eBay items. Pictures came out remarkably well.

By: strider_mt2k

strider_mt2k — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:14:37 +0000

Alchemyguy: it’s kinda fun ;)

By: photozz

photozz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:07:43 +0000

If you have an SLR, set ut to Manual and remove the lens. Turn it around and hold the front of the lens against the body. Move the camera in and out until subject is in focus. Usually about 2-5″ from the camera. I have done this for years. No extra glass, no tape, no degradation of the image. Works better with older lenses where you can manually force the aperture to a certain value.