Cameraphone DVD macro lens hack

macro_1.jpg

macro_2.jpg

macro_3.jpg

Even if you've got a newer phone with an auto-focus lens you may still be able to take advantage of this resourceful macro lens hack. Disassemble an old DVD player for the lens, fabricate a lens holder out of cardboard, and place it before the standard lens with some poster mount, and you've got yourself a decent DIY macro lens.

[cnflikt via DIYphotography]


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Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: salsa on August 25, 2009 at 10:54 AM

Also: disposable camera lenses

Very nice! I like the vignetting on these shots. I've gotten great results with my iPhone using a lens from a disposable camera-- it's a little plastic dome with a lip, so it's easy to keep one nearby with a little duct or gaffer tape. Example close-up here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/salsaviz/2474038774/
(yes, makers always seem to have scrap PCBs around...:)
Stores with photo developing stations usually have a bin of disposable cameras, and people who work there have been happy to hand over a few when I explain I'm working on projects. CAREFUL when taking them apart since they have big capacitors which are usually partially charged-- easy to discharge with a screwdriver.


Posted by: Anonymous on August 26, 2009 at 5:13 AM

Does this work with CD player lenses, too?


Posted by: NERD on August 26, 2009 at 8:09 AM

Will this work with a lens from a gaming system?\

Ex: PS3, PS2, Xbox.. etc.


Posted by: Morten Skogly on September 25, 2009 at 12:23 PM

It works!

Nice! I tried this with my iPhone and it works great. The pictures turned out really interesting, you can see them on my blog over at http://pappmaskin.no/2009/09/diyhow-to-make-your-own-iphone-macro-lens/

I used the lens from an older cd-rom drive, but it magnified the image way more than the examples on this page, which I find really interesting. I think I will have to test different lenses, and perhaps try to find some kind of solution for holding several different lenses to make it easy to swap them?

I am also curious about the black vignette around the edges. I just taped my lens with clear tape straight to the phone, which works well, but I like the effect of the vignette here, I suppose it comes from the cardboard that perhaps is a little higher than the lens and therefore casts a shadow? Must be experiented with!


Posted by: Damian on November 29, 2009 at 8:22 AM

..and here is my try :)

www.makroshots.com


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