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How to make a MACRO lens for the S95
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    I recently made a macro lens, here are the must haves:
    1. A good +5 to +10 magnification lens preferably bought from a optical store and about the same size as the frontal selection ring: section]
    2. A box of junk electronics with some stuff like a broken lamp, some light-bulbs holders etc...
    3. A glue gun, sand paper,and file

    First find a piece of pipe or anything really that fits like a glove on the lens of the camera:
    ring

    second if it doesnt fit on the camera, file or sandpaper it untill it does...it needs to be tight but not too tight, i used a broken light bulb/lamp holder, before: IMG_9230
    After: IMG_9769

    that last picture show the whole macro lens but look at the white ring, anyway...
    Step two/three: if you can find this... IMG_9228
    ...then you are really....well endowed...that does not make any sense so moving on...that was a screw thing to tighten light bulbs to lamps, they are very common and any hardware store will have them.

    Second to last step: using the glue gun, glue the first piece that you did or did not file and/or sandpapered, to the second piece as shown here: IMG_9771

    Third step to step two: attach the lens to the contraption that you just made...mind looks awful...: IMG_9773
    I used the glue gun and electrical tape, youll probably do better...so go ahead and make one!!!
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    oh I forgot to say that if you zoom in with the macro lens attached you'll get the best results...Here are some samples:
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    Note: cute flower...
    IMG_9211
    ...and here is how big it is compared to my finger:
    IMG_9212
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    NO CROPPING OR POST-PROCESSING WAS USED IN THESE PHOTOS...
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9522
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9511
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9512
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9691
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9685
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9654
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9722
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9594
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9596
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    IMG_9267
  • miss_amiss_a +1 -1
    Posts: 88
    is it detachable?
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @miss_a yes of course if you read the instructions you'll see that I have not glued it to the camera...just the two pieces of broken lightbulb holder and the screw thing
  • LILIAKULILIAKU +1 -1
    Posts: 318
    Interesting...aren't you afraid that when the battery runs out and the camera shuts down the lens will retract with the adapter on and damage the lens ? ...
    I have a magnifying glass the same size of the control ring..maybe I will try too this trick...or maybe it works by keeping it in front of the lens...
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @LILIAKU no I'm not because the lens knocks off the adapter when closing...its tight enough that it does not fall off when you turn the camera upside down but it falls off when I turn it off...and the battery has never run out on me yet...I guess I could drill a small hole in the adapter, thread a string though and attach it to the camera...but I haven't had a problem...except with the flash... as the adapter is quite large and blocks about half the picture from flash light...some pictures though, turn out quite nicely with this effect
  • HitmanHitman +1 -1
    Posts: 392
    Those are some clean shots! Must give this a try soon :D
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @Hitman You should :) these, except the blue flower shot are not even ones I like...I got better ones then these....
  • GlennGlenn +1 -1
    Posts: 27
    Nice work! This is something I might have to look into. Your macro flower shots are quite impressive.
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @Glenn thank you, you should and I had no idea how the shots were going to turn out until after I had seen them on the computer
  • LowLightSueLowLightSue +1 -1
    Posts: 198
    wow you are clever!
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @LowLightSue awww shucks thanks :)
  • _Neo_Neo +1 -1
    Posts: 26
    Very cool, I need to find a lense and try this...
    Thanks for the write up.
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @_Neo thank you, and you're welcome:)
  • VandVand +1 -1 (+1 / -0 )
    Posts: 305
    Lighter spark
    this got to be one of my best photos!

    Loves: _Neo

  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    it's a lighter taken with the macro lens
  • HitmanHitman +1 -1
    Posts: 392
    @Vand That's really really cool! I assume this is with the macro lens that you constructed?
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @HItman yes and version 1.03 is on the way... I failed at making another macro that should have taken even closer-up shots because i didnt have the right pieces of pipe but I got them now and I shall start now
  • LILIAKULILIAKU +1 -1
    Posts: 318
    Hey Vand, I went today in the garden an took some shots through the magnifying glass, very hard to get decent focus, in one hand I held the magnifying glass in front of the lens and in the other the camera... this is what I came up with :

    In this one you can see the reflection of the mglass in front of the lens...

    Garden flower super macro

    This one is of the entire flower without macro i believe...
    Garden flower

    In those two you don't see the reflection those are cropped
    Ant super macro
    Bug super macro

    Anyways, I really need to construct the macro lens you invented :P

    Can you put some more pics with it ?
    maybe one mounted on the camera so I can get a better idea how it should look like ?

    Thanks

    L.E.
    Nevermind... I managed to make it, i still need some insulating tape, forgot about zoom...pfoaa big difference, tomorrow I'll get the tape from the store and post the pics with my new macro lens ;)
  • HitmanHitman +1 -1
    Posts: 392
    Neat stuff! Haven't found myself a proper size lens yet, but I'll keep my eyes open everytime I visit the stores :)
  • LILIAKULILIAKU +1 -1
    Posts: 318
    Ok here's one with the macro lens on camera

    The focus is a little missed...it focused on the leaf and it's legs, I would have loved to get the focus right on the eye...maybe nex time.

    Macro Fly
  • LILIAKULILIAKU +1 -1
    Posts: 318
    here's the difference between normal macro and super macro with the macro lens, images not cropped.

    This is the closest focus distance with normal macro
    Macro flower

    An this is with the macro lens
    Super macro flower

    A very little fly about 3mm
    Small fly 3mm

    Small fly 3mm
  • mtologlumtologlu +1 -1
    Posts: 81
    excellent results. doesn't exist any macro lens for lens-mate adapter?
  • DeanTaylorDeanTaylor +1 -1
    Posts: 14
    hello--

    With the homemade lens you might save yourself quite a bit of money. The RAYNOX DCR-150 MACRO CLOSE-UP LENS 52MM 55MM 58MM 67MM is approximately $70, plus the adaptor, etc.

    Liliaku and Vand: do you feel that your results (i.e., home made lens) are equal to the Raynox?

    Is the +10X optical lens the best choice? Might another magnification work also--or, would that stress the camera?

    thanks

    Dean Taylor
  • DeanTaylorDeanTaylor +1 -1
    Posts: 14
    PS: Raynox has a DCR-250. As far as you know will that work on the S95 too?

    Best,

    D.
  • adam_lss01adam_lss01 +1 -1
    Posts: 509
    for reasons that i myself cant understand, i love macro shots so much but yet i missed out this all important thread!!!

    now this gives me an idea how i can take my macro shots to the next level! :)
  • nstarznstarz +1 -1
    Posts: 5
    How much to buy one made by you and ship to CA?
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    Hello everyone, I'm BACK after a year of not commenting or posting on this site...@DeanTaylor I have not tried the Ranox so I don't know how it compares, but it's produces quite sharp photos so its good enough for me....@adam_lss01 better late then never .-) ....@nstarz while I'm quite flattered that you would want to buy one from me, I think it would cost more then the store-bought one that DeanTaylor talked about....
  • nstarznstarz +1 -1
    Posts: 5
    Hi Vand,

    Can you show the picture of the macro lens you made next to the s95 and/or how it looks like on/off it?

    The outer control ring looks to be about 50mm. The smaller looks to be about 32mm in diameter. (Or about 2 inches and a a tad bigger than 1 and 1/4 inches)

    I see a 4 piece 52mm on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Piece-52mm-Close-Up-Macro-Lens-Kit-1-2-4-10-/110828518580?pt=Camera_Filters&hash=item19cde4fcb4

    Or a +10 43mm one http://www.ebay.com/itm/MACRO-10-CLOSE-UP-LENS-Filter-43mm-NEW-w-Wallet-/220468872286?pt=Camera_Filters&hash=item3354f8045e




  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @nstarz The lens I made, in fact is using a carl zeiss +10 magnifying glass, and yes I can show a picture with it on...
  • nstarznstarz +1 -1
    Posts: 5
    Thanks, How big is the magnifying glass you have?
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    image
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    image
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    image
  • nstarznstarz +1 -1
    Posts: 5
    Thanks. I got the idea now.
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    @nstarz I was gonna make a better model but I got sidetracked with my GF2(which is a great small, interchangeable-lens camera) however, after picking up the S95 again I feel compelled to give this lens a beta body...so be prepared for another model that will probably be easier to make...my goal is to make it with readily available parts from local hardware stores...
  • nstarznstarz +1 -1
    Posts: 5
    I was thinking the same. Just bought a Set of Macro Lens (+1,2,4,10) 55mm and would bring it and the s95 and browse Home Depot/Lowe's next month.
  • adam_lss01adam_lss01 +1 -1
    Posts: 509
    Vand, ship it to Malaysia! :P
  • VandVand +1 -1
    Posts: 305
    Haha...I'll see about that...
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