Let's start with the obvious: creativity in photography isn't limited to taking great shots. Over time we've seen excellent equipment and accessory hacks, while the market itself offers a wide range of lens adapters. Now, how about printing one? “Billt” on YouTube decided to find out in a very personal way, transplanting the optics of a disposable camera, and a Holga 135BC…
They say anything can be a camera if you're brave enough, but some enthusiasts out there weren't satisfied with the classic “black box”. I still remember the OpenReflex project, and it would be a gross mistake to forget the Landers AL6 Mark II. However, both projects use optical solutions that belong to other cameras.
So why not build a lens? The idea isn't exactly new, and with the magic of 3D printing at our disposal, the possibilities for experimentation are enormous. That brings us to Tom, the man behind a “new” YouTube channel, “Billt”. What did he do? Basically, he was inspired by the Pocket Dispo project, and made a lens with a disposable camera's lens.
The essence of disposable cameras in a DIY lens
Tom begins with a brief introduction to the “registration distance” (also known as “flange focal distance”), which for Sony's “E-mount” system reaches 18 millimeters. Then he bought a disposable camera with the mission of extracting its small optics, and using the design of an E-mount compatible cover as a starting point, created his own version in OnShape. The problem is that with just one lens at his disposal (which also requires a pause in printing for its installation), his margin for error is almost zero.
In his initial version, the space for the lens was too small (“if you measure tight, it's never going to fit”), but with a minor revision in the design, that problem disappeared. And the answer is yes, the lens works well, with that characteristic “in-focus-and-out-of-focus-at-the-same-time” style of disposable cameras. For the second version, Tom decided to transform the optics of a Holga 135BC, and the curious thing is that the initial prototype did its job better.
And to finish, another obvious detail: these lenses are technically mounts, and no one should expect professional results here. But once again, the idea is to experiment. Why limit yourself to a filter when you can get the same effect with real hardware?
Source: Hackaday
