is there a REALLY cheap lens that's just for fun?

rosselliot

okay, so I was just wondering if anyone knew of a lens around or less than $100 that was merely for fun. it can be crappily built or whatever. kinda like the lomography, those camera are pieces are crap and the pictures they take are technically horrible! but they look REALLY neat! great colors and even the bad focusing abilities is cool.
so is there a lens to make your expensive DSLR take crappy pictures?

- RE

mmroden

www.lensbaby.com might be what you're looking for.

BeachBill

Why not make your own pinhole lens?

http://www.dennisonbertram.com/hackmaster/2005/02/digital-pinhole-lens.htm
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/Canon_1ds_pinhole.html
http://syncspeed.dpblogs.com/2006/04/09/diy-pinhole-lens/

Or, make your own lensbaby type lens:
http://www.dennisonbertram.com/hackmaster/2005/02/tilt-shift-pc-lens.htm

claudermilk

There's several EOS-Holga how to sites. Basically you take a Holga lens and attach it to a modified body cap.

colourbox

There are people who smear vaseline on a filter for the effect. You could buy a cheap old lens at a garage sale and abuse it in creative ways. Might be a good stress reliever.

Awais Yaqub

colourbox wrote:

There are people who smear vaseline on a filter for the effect. You could buy a cheap old lens at a garage sale and abuse it in creative ways. Might be a good stress reliever.

I agree . Yesterday i put some vasoline on MC protector . Great effect just rub the finger to change the effect . worked well on multi color objects

rosselliot

Awais Yaqub wrote:

I agree . Yesterday i put some vasoline on MC protector . Great effect just rub the finger to change the effect . worked well on multi color objects

do you have any that you could share with us?

- RE

gtc

rosselliot wrote:

do you have any that you could share with us?

- RE

how about old manual focus lenses-you will need an adapter plate from adorama or the like-a beautiful 50mm/f1.4 Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar can be had for about $50.00.

KA0TVO

May I recommend the Russian Helios 44 58mm. A manual focus lens that will need a M42 lens adaptor, about $14.00. I purchased my Helios for $17.00 on ebay. A fun lens. Built like a tank because it probably was one :-)
Here is a link to the first pictures I took with this lens. Nothing to write home about, but gives an example of the DOF.

http://KA0TVO.smugmug.com/gallery/2421878/1/126969305

ziggy53

You can make almost any lens look "cheap" by stretching plastic wrap across the front of the lens. Two layers have more impact than one, and you can improve the center sharpness by cutting a rough hole in the center of the plastic. Try to stay fairly wide open for best effect.

You can also take a cheap lens cap and drill numerous large holes in the cap. Varying the aperture varies the effect, which also varies by focal length. Try both random and regular spacings for the holes.

Also try using a plain (second surface) mirror and viewing an image reflected in the mirror. Distant objects are more affected than close objects.

ziggy53

rjpat

Try this link

KA0TVO

Another idea,
I have used those "toy" cameras sold in Walmart for about 14.00. Walgreens sells them for 10.95 :-) They are digital and really quite fun.

ed_h

KA0TVO wrote:

May I recommend the Russian Helios 44 58mm. A manual focus lens that will need a M42 lens adaptor, about $14.00. I purchased my Helios for $17.00 on ebay. A fun lens. Built like a tank because it probably was one :-)
Here is a link to the first pictures I took with this lens. Nothing to write home about, but gives an example of the DOF.

http://KA0TVO.smugmug.com/gallery/2421878/1/126969305

I hate it when people say their pictures are nothing to write about and IMO they look great.
Ed