NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: ARTUROARTISTA on August 27, 2025, 11:54:14
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Lens from a 19th-century magic lantern.
Can it be adapted to a modern camera?
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Probably. Whether it is going to be useful or practical, depends among other considerations on what focal length it has. If long, the likely alternative, you might need added extension to make the lens focus to anything closer than infinity.
You don't need to know the exact focal length, merely what the distance will be from the rear end of the lens to the sensor/film plane. Easily observed by projecting an image of the sun or other bright objects onto a sheet of paper and moving the lens back and forth to focus the test target seen on the paper sheet. Be aware that the sun might set fire to the paper when you nail the infinity focus :)
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Thanks, Birna. I see what I can do with your instructions. I think that's a huge distance, 17 cm.
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Hmm. Makes using it for ordinary photography a bit complicated, unless you have a long bellows device :)
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I've reached 14 cm. I think I'll have to buy a bellows like you say Birna.
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Maybe a length of blackened plastic water pipe of a suitable length and diameter - certainly inexpensive for proof of concept purposes.
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Maybe a length of blackened plastic water pipe of a suitable length and diameter - certainly inexpensive for proof of concept purposes.
That's a good idea. Thanks, Hugh.
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Well those old lenses (I tested a lot of them also projectio lenses) usually have quite some long focal length so quite some extension is needed even to reach infinity. I used some longer M42-helicod plus a longish tube with black flocking inside to miniize reflection - worked rather well, but clumsy to use...
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Well those old lenses (I tested a lot of them also projectio lenses) usually have quite some long focal length so quite some extension is needed even to reach infinity. I used some longer M42-helicod plus a longish tube with black flocking inside to miniize reflection - worked rather well, but clumsy to use...
I have a small collection of antique magic lanterns and thought I'd use some of your lenses. Thanks for the information, Dr. Klaus.
Best regards
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Here I have the invention. It works in its own way.
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Examples of the invention.
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2
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3, D200
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You have made it - well done.
Are you going to refine the plastic adapter into metal and develop it for greater ease of focussing?
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You have made it - well done.
Are you going to refine the plastic adapter into metal and develop it for greater ease of focussing?
Thanks, Hugh, your idea was crucial. I can't yet assess the ingenuity; when I have more tests, I'll consider the lens's usefulness.
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It is a macro lens, transformed, super bright and difficult to handle, and it works the same in its normal position as when turned upside down, inverted.
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now you´re somewhere between painting and taking photographs
the 2nd picture is very good
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Thanks, Thomas. Painting shows me how to take photos, and taking photos tells me how to paint.