My M8 Macro Adapter

[johnalex141r]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

So, here at work, we have been trying to photograph small items for X3D worlds. Our Nikon Coolpix camera does not work for this, and our old Sony is ok, but is very resolution limited.

 

So, on my own time I picked up a Voigtlander body cap (Thanks Stephen Gandy!), and, with an old enlarger (Omega B600), Copy Stand Adapter, old Canon FD to T mount adapter, super glue, and the smaller of my metal lathes, I have created an adapter.

 

Now, I have less than an hour into this so far; so things like lighting and focus still need to be worked on, but here's the first few pics. 1) full frame, 2) cropped image, 3) a picture of my adapter when on trial fit.

 

JohnS.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[marknorton]

So this is in effect an extension ring, I can imagine it being useful on a copy stand where you can use trial and error to get the focussing right and then photograph a series of objects.

 

Beyond that, how do you intend to focus? The real macro adapter has a plunger to transfer the focussing cam in the lens to the roller in the camera and the lens is mounted upside down to present a different focussing cam profile to the camera. Then there's the goggles and the lenses so that the view of the viewfinder and rangefinder is tilted downwards.

[johnalex141r]

Hi Mark;

 

Sure, focusing and framing is going to be a bit of a problem - it's either that, or purchase a DSLR just for doing some pics.

 

What I quickly did was click a couple of photographs, turning the "enlarger" focus knob until I got one that was ok. Then I stopped down. Framing/focus is a problem, but was easier to figure out than I thought - the LCD display on the back was great for that. Cable release in the M8 shutter release socket; trial and error.

 

Hopefully, for me, once focused, many pics can be taken without changing the setup.

 

Anyway, the $15.00 for the body cap sure beat $1,000 for a Canon XTi just for some closeup pics - I don't know about anybody else, but *I* thought it was an hour well spent!

 

(there's no budget for a DSLR at work, and, after purchasing a M8 with some lenses, that would not fly right now at home, either)

 

JohnS.

[gesper]

Make sure you are totally rid of filings and debris or you will explode your shutter.

[farnz]

John,

 

Great to see some ingenuity being used to solve a problem and thanks for posting.

 

Pete.