Cameras

How To: Make A Fisheye DSLR Lens For $US16

By Dan Nosowitz on July 10, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Over at Instructables, user Banjomaster shows how to make a fisheye lens for his Nikon D90 for just $US16, with the help of one of those wide-angle doorway peephole lenses.
It looks like a pretty simple mod, both in materials required and construction method: It only needs a couple pieces of particle board, the aforementioned peephole lens, the spare lens shield that came with his camera, and of course some duct tape. The only possible caveat: The replacement wide-angle lens is significantly smaller than the camera’s lens, so there’s a circle around all of the shots. On the other hand, it’s sort of cool; it makes everything look like you shot it through a hotel door. Check it out, we’re sure it can be modified for other makes and models of DSLR. [Instructables]

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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • craig_16
    July 10, 2009 at 7:33 PM
    @AndyMac: I don't carry my lens hoods with me - it's just another thing to lose when I have to take it off. They are too bulky for what they do and get in the way of the flash when shooting wide. Modern lenses have multiple coatings which do a very good job of preventing lens flare. The rare situations that I do notice a bit of flare I just shield it with my hand.
  • cobra_commander
    July 10, 2009 at 5:14 PM
    @cobra_commander: also note that, years ago, in some mail-order catalog fisheye lens converters were rather common and they were really cheap.

    cobra_commander

  • cobra_commander
    July 10, 2009 at 5:11 PM
    the '80s called, they want their crappy DIY projects back...

    cobra_commander

  • AnnataVarro
    July 10, 2009 at 2:39 PM

    Thank you for pointing out something important about annoying DIY photographers. ;D

    AnnataVarro

  • iGo
    July 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM
    @Lite: is on a boat.: Uh... that's a gross question... but I guess the answer is also equally gross. It would make your junk look... umm.. for the lack of better word.. SWOLLEN. :P
  • thebear91
    July 10, 2009 at 11:41 AM
    Instead of duct tape, why not use a carb boot or something? Take a rubber hose that will fit snugly and cut a piece off. Just seems ridiculous to put something like this on a $500-3000 camera.

    thebear91

  • Poison_Shroom
    July 10, 2009 at 11:31 AM
    I'm getting tired of people doing weird things like this. I don't plan on doing this to my hassy anytime in the future

    Poison_Shroom

  • rudeadly
    July 10, 2009 at 11:20 AM
    or you could just do the real thing :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadvideokid/3379096210/
  • sqeakytoy of the apocalypse
    July 10, 2009 at 11:13 AM
    Actually, it might be really cool to mount two of them side by side for the stereographic images! I wonder if that would work? hmmmm, no if only I had two identical lenses lying around.

    sqeakytoy of the apocalypse

  • Scaramanga
    July 10, 2009 at 11:09 AM
    A real fisheye gets 360 degrees from a sub-10mm wide retrofocal lens (35mm-full frame equiv). Putting a peephole on a telephoto lens only gives you horrid barrel distortion. This is a poor substitute; if you just want barrel distortion you can easily do this in photoshop in less then a minute for FREE. Sorry, this isn't a fish-eye lens. Far from it.

    Scaramanga

  • AndyMac
    July 10, 2009 at 10:33 AM
    That's not the "the spare lens shield that came with his camera". It's the lens hood that should always be on the lens when it's in use to prevent stray light from entering the lens.

    AndyMac

  • Greg Krynen
    July 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM
    This idea may actually work better on a point and click camera. Cell phone cams would also work well for this lens setup. Both have shorter lens length and much smaller outer lenses.

    Greg Krynen

  • RainyDayInterns
    July 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM
    OH...it works as lot better with a point-n-shoot: http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2006/RainyDayPhotography/WideAngle/RDMPhoto_SuperWideAngle.htm
  • wingbatwu
    July 10, 2009 at 10:28 AM
    how about making a reverse peephole attachment so you can take photos of the inside of people's homes? http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/reverse-peephole-viewer-182411.php

    wingbatwu

  • philibuster
    July 10, 2009 at 10:28 AM
    Is there any project that Duct Tape can't add some class to? That 1/2" particle board is pretty slick too.
  • bosskev
    July 10, 2009 at 10:26 AM
    @Lite: is on a boat.: Wait. What just happened? I'm sitting here in a Castro cafe and suddenly every guy around me is on his cell phone making ophthalmology appointments.
  • Crispy Aardvark
    July 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM
    Using this technique, you can pretty much fix any sort of lens, filter etc to your camera. Why not bust open a few of those dollar store prismatic toys. You know the ones that give a fly's view or kaleidoscope view.
  • Lite: is on a boat.
    July 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM
    @Lite: is on a boat.: Hrm... This is like Walleye vision. I think the only cure for that is a multi-opti-pupiloptomy. Too bad that surgery requires them to go in through the rectum to fix.
  • Lite: is on a boat.
    July 10, 2009 at 10:14 AM
    @bosskev: So will this make your junk look bigger, smaller, or just fatter?
  • bosskev
    July 10, 2009 at 10:13 AM
    @Lite: is on a boat.: Exactly my point. I'm planning on making several.
  • Lite: is on a boat.
    July 10, 2009 at 10:12 AM
    @bosskev: So, you're saying this is the next great version of voyeur/gonzo porn cinema technique?
  • bosskev
    July 10, 2009 at 10:10 AM
    Given the extremely low-res and cheesy image quality you get, I'd say your describing it, Dan, as a "hotel door" lens is a much more accurate name. I mean, look at how very little of the camera's image sensor is used to capture the pic:

  • jetRink
    July 10, 2009 at 10:09 AM
    I wonder if the field of view is any larger than the unmodified lens. If not, it would be easier to do this electronically.

    jetRink

  • 32ndnote
    July 10, 2009 at 10:08 AM
    This is certainly clever. The lens size issue isn't too difficult to fix since you can buy larger peepholes and still keep the price very low.
  • battra92
    July 11, 2009 at 5:08 AM
    @AndyMac: I've been shooting film cameras for years and I have a DSLR now in addition to the dozens of film cameras and I own exactly zero lens hoods. Though, if I wanted one I could always print one out and make it with construction paper.
  • Futileboy
    July 11, 2009 at 3:48 AM
    What you really want is one of these http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/fisheyes/6mmf28.htm
  • rewinditback
    July 11, 2009 at 2:43 AM
    WORTHLESS
  • GraphicoFantastico
    July 11, 2009 at 1:08 AM
    There's no way in hell I'm ever putting Duct Tape on my lenses.
  • joey1234
    July 11, 2009 at 12:49 AM
    @elchimpo: LOL I think you're better off just buying a conversion kit from Amazon for $30 if you decide to do something like this. At least you won't have to mess with duct tape... lol

    joey1234

  • elchimpo
    July 10, 2009 at 11:33 PM
    this belongs on thereifixedit.com, can you also show me how to turn an slr into a hammer or maybe a flower pot? This is so stupid.

    elchimpo

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