Below is a picture of the lenses I currently (June 2009) am playing with:
This is a listing with the lens descriptions. The top two are the aperture blanks. The others are numbered from the top left to the bottom right.
June 9, 2009
June 7, 2009
Kodak Bimat Lens Images Added
There is a new page in the right hand column with six images taken with a Kodak Bimat lens. The lens was attached to an M42 extender tube, then to the end of a bellows. The bellows was attached to my Canon XTi with a focus confirming adapter.
March 31, 2009
Kodak Bimat Lens Is Finally Mounted and New Pinhole Lens Almost Done
It took longer than anticipated due to my midstream change to using a bellows for future mounting of old lenses to my Canon XTi.
The original method I was using involved purchasing an old lens, then removing all the optics, then getting the focal length set correctly, then taking the optics out of the old lens, and mounting the old optics. This was very time consuming.
Now I have a M42 screw type bellows mounted to the XTi via a focus confirming adapter (soon to be replaced with one of the new custom settings version). Then all that is needed is to directly glue the lens to an M42 screw type macro tube. Then screw on the lens to the bellows and shoot. Much easier and cheaper. As a bonus the lens is not harmed except for the glue used in the mounting.
Today I have finished the old M42 135mm mount for the pinhole project. All that is left is a quick visit to Mr Pinhole’s Website to get the dimension for the pinhole itself and then just get it mounted to try it out. I hope to be able to use this for Pinhole Day 2009.
Photos will follow when the Sun comes out (sometime in June I believe).
March 15, 2009
Pinhole Update
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER ADAPTER INFORMATION ON MY BLOG
Since I have been ‘collecting’ quite a few M42 135mm lenses to use as ‘host bodies’ with the various old Kodak lenses, I find myself with an ‘extra’. I am going to put a pinhole holder inside on the helical focusing section. This will allow me to easily use various size pinholes at different focal lengths with my Canon XTi. The dismal body cap pinhole images I have gotten after several tries at pinhole sizing are making me rethink how best to use a DSLR and a pinhole. I am going to make sure that I use the RAW format in an attempt to circumvent the JPG software gremlin inside.
The very best images from any of my pinhole cameras come from the Yashica A conversion. I am fairly sure this is due to the twin lens system it has. I am able to focus and frame the shot with the top lens. I feel that since both lenses move on the same platform and both lenses are very close to the same distance from the film plane, that the focus does actually work. Using this premise, I will build the above mentioned lens for use on the DSLR’s.
With the upcoming Pinhole Day 2009 on April 26, 2009, I have a month to build and experiment with the concept. How to make the changeable holder for the pinholes seems to be the toughest part of the project.
This pinhole project and putting the Kodak Bimat lens in a 135mm host body are on the ‘to do’ list today.
March 11, 2009
I Never Learn
The Bimat project is off another day at least. Today I went back to my favorite photography store, just to look. Right. I wound up with a set of macro rings for the FujiFilm S1 and three old 135mm lenses to be used as donor bodies for the vintage Kodak lenses I have on the workbench.
I took some images with the VPK Meniscus and the 2A HawkEye lenses. Getting used to focusing lenses that are in themselves soft focus will take some time. Hopefully the next couple days will have some Sun so I can try some exterior shots. The pictures (one from each lens) of the Amaryllis that just now opened in the kitchen window are in the HawkEye and VPG pages.
March 9, 2009
HawkEye Lens From Kodak 2A Folder
I am getting a little out of order I know. The 135mm Soligor was the first one I picked up to modify. It went so well, that I figured I would just go ahead and mount the HawkEye lenses from a Kodak 2A folder before I went on to the Soligor zoom. There is a page for the initial and future images from this lens.
I did manage to remove the optics from the Soligor zoom today. Perhaps tomorrow I will begin putting the Kodak Bimat lens inside.
March 6, 2009
Another Old Kodak Lens To Mount On My DSLR
On eBay I found a lens simply described as a Kodak BIMAT f11 to f32 lens with front lens focus and five shutter settings in a Kodex No.1 shutter; focal length or usage unknown. The main thing that caught my attention was it appeared that the aperture was being restricted to f11 in the same manner as Kodak used on the VPK lens and other lens models. To me this meant lens flare, which follows that it was probably uncoated, which follows that I wanted the lens. However, as is not my usual mo, I looked around on the Internet first and found two very nice references. The first had a very clear picture of the lens and the information that it was a 103mm lens that was meant for usage on at least one Kodak model – the Senior Six 20 – placing it at ~1939. The second website, in Japanese which Google would only translate the first third of the rather large page, showed opening the lens to allow re-positioning the aperture limiting ring. This resulting in an f6.0 to f32 aperture range.
In retrospect, I believe that by putting the front lens in the close-up position and just loosening the four mounting screws, it just might be possible to move the limiting ring with a small screwdriver tip. Use the pictures on the website below as reference.
Now for the best part- the lens was new in the box old stock ! For $19.95 and free shipping ! How could I possibly go wrong !
I received the lens yesterday and this morning I spent an hour doing the aperture modification. The hardest parts being not to loose the miniscule screws holding the front plate and determining which of the multiple starting points to use when re-attaching the screw on front lens. The threads allow at least three chances – all of which I found – too loose, too tight and just right.
This lens is a little past halfway down and just after the Graflex Optar 135mm section.
Also yesterday, I went to my favorite camera store Hendricks Photo in Syracuse, New York and picked up, in M42 screw mountings via T4 PX adapters, two lenses. A Soligor 75-260mm -It can also be used as a hand sledge- and a Soligor 3.5 135mm. Both will be used as mountings for old lenses once the optics and aperture sections are removed. The zoom has a nice tripod mount.
