Objectives salvaged from junk lenses
This is one of several trays containing objectives removed from damaged lenses. These are used reverse mounted on a variety of prime lenses to achieve close focus for macro shooting. Some can be stacked to produce higher magnification. Using front-mounted optical components doesn't result in light loss affecting exposure. Two lenses in the group aren't recycled optics. The lens in the upper right is the large "common objective" from an American Optical Cycloptic stereo microscope. This is used unreversed, as it's used on the microscope. The lens in the lower right is a Schneider 210mm Xenar (complete.. not having parts removed) that I sometimes use reversed... but not often, because it weighs 1.25 pound. Old junk filters are used as lens caps. The "N" plus dimension in millimeters refers to the native filter ring size. When I present a seminar on macro shooting that involves using these add-on lenses, I need to be able to quickly fit each lens with the proper macro reversing ring to fit it on an attendee's camera.
As well as providing varying degrees of magnification, the lenses have different characteristics regarding curvature / flatness of field, and color bias. Some produce images having warmer or cooler color temperature than others. The difference is slight, but noticeable.
Sometimes an objective can be used immediately upon removal from the rest of the lens. Just attach the proper size macro reversing ring and put it to work. Others need some barrel "finishing" or shortening. This is done by using a hacksaw for rough cutting, then careful filing, and final finishing with emery paper. See:
www.flickr.com/photos/61377404@N08/9959675436/in/album-72...
DSC-6796
Objectives salvaged from junk lenses
This is one of several trays containing objectives removed from damaged lenses. These are used reverse mounted on a variety of prime lenses to achieve close focus for macro shooting. Some can be stacked to produce higher magnification. Using front-mounted optical components doesn't result in light loss affecting exposure. Two lenses in the group aren't recycled optics. The lens in the upper right is the large "common objective" from an American Optical Cycloptic stereo microscope. This is used unreversed, as it's used on the microscope. The lens in the lower right is a Schneider 210mm Xenar (complete.. not having parts removed) that I sometimes use reversed... but not often, because it weighs 1.25 pound. Old junk filters are used as lens caps. The "N" plus dimension in millimeters refers to the native filter ring size. When I present a seminar on macro shooting that involves using these add-on lenses, I need to be able to quickly fit each lens with the proper macro reversing ring to fit it on an attendee's camera.
As well as providing varying degrees of magnification, the lenses have different characteristics regarding curvature / flatness of field, and color bias. Some produce images having warmer or cooler color temperature than others. The difference is slight, but noticeable.
Sometimes an objective can be used immediately upon removal from the rest of the lens. Just attach the proper size macro reversing ring and put it to work. Others need some barrel "finishing" or shortening. This is done by using a hacksaw for rough cutting, then careful filing, and final finishing with emery paper. See:
www.flickr.com/photos/61377404@N08/9959675436/in/album-72...
DSC-6796