How I spent my day (or: well, I can't afford a DSLR) - minor dial-up warning.

[qnr]

First, I grabbed my trusty old Nikon Coolpix L2:
http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25543
Nice enough, 6.0 Megapixels (yeah, I know), and 3x optical zoom.


Then, off to the hardware drawers (and store, as needed), and the camera store for some PVC pipe, epoxy, hacksaw, files, sandpaper, step up rings, filters, and lenses (great deal on a 2x teleconverter, $1.44 from Circuit City online).


Some sawing, filing, epoxying, attaching and wheee:


A small fan, taken from twenty feet away:


It was pretty simple actually. I just had to find a piece of PVC large enough to fit around the retractable lens without impeding the movement. Then I cut it to be slightly longer than the maximum extension of the lens. I then used epoxy to attach a 34mm to 37mm step up ring to the end, to allow me to attach filters, lenses, or other step up rings as needed. I then used epoxy to attach the PVC to the camera, making sure there was no vignetting before doing so. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vignetting )

[july302001]

1. Great!

That's groovy! Show some more zoom shots!

[qnr]

2. Well, it's midnight, and overcast, but here are 2 zoom and 2 macro from inside

A Coast Guard flag from about 20 feet (It's also using the digital zoom)


Some DVDs from about 20 feet


And a couple of macro shots (nothing major, just quick tests)

[qnr]

3. By-the-way, welcome to DU! :) n/t

[kysrsoze]

4. Hey, nice work. Is it pretty solid? I'm a little afraid to do that to my Canon

You're pretty brave. Looks like the optics are working fairly well. I'm assuming you can still use the camera without additional lenses/filters.

[qnr]

5. Yes, it's very solid. I'll need a new case though, the one I have would put constant

pressure on it (it's a small one that attaches to your belt). There is no impact at all on the regular lens. As far as I can see, the optics are working well, yes. Full digital zoom brings them out a bit, but with optical zoom only, things look wonderful to my (very far from professional) eye.

I'm guessing the only real problem will be that the accessory lenses will interfere with the built-in flash, but I don't use the flash with zoom or macro shots anyway.

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. CLEVarrr!

Nice work — especially since you're still getting decent resolution. :thumbsup:

Some quick, sloppy math and guesstimation tells me your new lens is in the area of 160mm (35mm equivalent).

[qnr]

7. Thanks :) ... yeah, that sounds about right. I'm going to look into trying some

reversers and see if they function well too.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. Hey, FWIW

I can't afford the DSLR I want, either. Hell, I can't even afford the one I'd settle for. And all the film, manual-focus gear that cost me thousands is now worth about $7.50. :cry:

[qnr]

9. Yeah, I gave up on it many years ago, after having every print and negative I

owned (from all seven continents) stolen, but I remember very well how expensive it was. Digital is fun, and I can play all I want, since it's not meant to be professional or anything :)

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. Ouch!

That musta left a mark. :( How many thousands of shots did you have?

I once figured that with the cost of film and paper, every time I fired the shutter it cost about 11 cents. That went way up when making several prints of the same frame to get it just right. Then I saw a thing on PBS about Ansel Adams; he was making test strips with 16x20 paper. I'm like, "DUDE! That stuff's like two bucks a sheet!"

Hell, my entire darkroom — lumber (it was in the garage), enlarger, timer, trays, everything — cost me like $530. A modern "darkroom" costs a little more, but it also lets me get the news, watch videos, listen to music and ball games, write, post on DU and a lotta other stuff, and I don't have to buy any chemicals. :D

[qnr]

11. I really can't say, more than 8, conservatively. The cost was a little more manageable

for me, since I was able to use the facilities on my stations and ships, though I tended buy my own supplies.

Talking about your current darkroom makes me think of the fact that my very first computer is still being used in a darkroom, over in Italy. A 1979 Atari 400. They asked me for it ages ago, since the flat, monopanel keyboard laughed at spilled chemicals. Still going strong, and they've been using it since 1984.

[Maestro]

13. Oh man, that does hurt.

I am sorry that you lost that. Man, I feel for you.

[qnr]

15. Thanks, it was a long time ago though :) n/t

[Maestro]

12. Ingenious

I admire anyone who can do work like this. The tinkerers of the world are also the inventors of the world. I'm impressed.

[qnr]

17. Well, of course, it's only because it really worked that I'm showing it, failures

aren't posted, for the most part LOL

[mainegreen]

14. Very cool!

Except now it's clear your fan is haunted by an evil blue aura!
:D

[qnr]

16. Yeah, well, I knew something was up, the way it growled so much while

not actually accomplishing anything.

Forgot I had "vivid color" on when I took that, which contributed.

[cwydro]

18. Pretty cool.

Though I do NOT buy your "pretty simple" comment. Not for me it wouldn't be..:hi:

[qnr]

19. Well, that's relative. I didn't end up breaking the television while working on the

camera, so it was a good day :) :hi: