My Ektoplasmar lenses are at the next stage. That stage is called rather imaginatively, projection lens conversion problems and solutions. Funky bokeh lenses are so close that I can already savor the creamy bokeh, but I still have some problems to solve. Here are the goals and challenges.
The problem blocking everything else, getting the tools and supplies, is about over. Now that everything is here, I see exactly what I need to do.
Almost everything seems to fit and work as expected! Some pieces are going to need some fairly intensive modification. And then everything needs to be made permanent.
This marks the next problem-solving stage. The one where I ruin lenses if I mess up. 😬
Projection Lens Conversion Problems to Solve
- Optimum fit or how to achieve turning lathe results with a cordless drill.
- Ouch! How to avoid unwanted chemical reactions. This may be more of an unfounded concern than a problem, but I won’t know for sure until I’ve tried it.
- Dang it, Newton! or how to avoid unwanted mechanical reactions — maybe with some jigs.
- Fschew! or how to maximize cleanliness so that the lenses come out needing only minimal cleaning.
The Goal: Converted Optics with Funky Bokeh
This is all about having fun and gaining the ability to make some very unique images with lenses that are easy to use.
The next milestone is to produce three or four fast telephoto projection lenses permanently converted to m42 on the back — the camera side — and some of them to 52mm filter thread on the front.
Why m42?
The m42 specification is easy to adapt to a different mirrorless cameras. Photographers who like adapting lenses will already have, or likely want, an m42 adapter for several different lenses.
The Basics: Make Some Promising Images
The basics are already there. The temporarily converted projection lenses work great in testing! They create a look different from almost anything else I’ve seen. Which is nice. And, even better, it is a look that I like.
They have fairly shallow depth of field because of the wide aperture. This makes backgrounds, and sometimes foregrounds, blur out. The bokeh, the way that the out-of-focus areas blur out, is sublime.
That’s my opinion, but don’t take my word for it. All of the photographs in this post are taken with one of these lenses. What do you think?
I want one!
Starting today, anyone in the contiguous United States that signs up for my mailing list will get a chance to win an Ektoplasmar converted projection lens of my choosing. (If one works, and I’m pretty optimistic now.) Sound interesting? Sign-up form is below.
Join me!
As I develop my methods, I’m going to keep a lab notebook of sorts. Some of that information is available here, and I’ll put more inside my newsletter.
I’m required by blogging convention to say that here. It’s a plug, but it’s not quite a shameless one. 😁
And since I’m promoting, you can follow me for more images on Instagram (which is absolutely the squarest), Flickr (which is the most fun), and Pinterest (which I haven’t yet used very much).