Tele Conversion Lens Mount
The idea is to mount this camcorder Tele conversion lens to a Sony DSC S40 digital camera using the tripod mounting hole.
About the lens: the lens is for an old JVC camcorder (the type that still uses tapes).
The idea is to mount this camcorder Tele conversion lens to a Sony DSC S40 digital camera using the tripod mounting hole.
About the lens: the lens is for an old JVC camcorder (the type that still uses tapes).
Part 1: base
I used an aluminum heat sink from an old VGA monitor I had scavenged the fly back transformer from. This aluminum was fairly thick and was in a flat sheet. First I made a paper template, making sure that the Batteries and memory stick were still accessible. I then traced my template onto the aluminum and cut it out using tin snips (a dremel tool with an abrasive cutting disk will do fine). I then bent the newly cut metal using a bench vise, a rubber mallet, and pure persuasion. When I had the metal in the shape I wanted I then drilled a hole in the bracket so that it could be attached to the camera.
Note: the smaller hole on the right is not necessary, it was for mounting the IC's to the heat sink.
After you have made your bracket be sure to sand down any rough edges using either sandpaper or a dremel tool.
Part 2: Lens holder
The S40's lens extrudes about 1/8th of an inch from the camera, so obviously the Tele conversion lens can not mount flush against the camera. I was digging through some of the PVC pipe fittings that Zach and I saved from destruction at DI Global Finals (HERE) and found a PVC elbow that fit over my lens nicely.
I cut off a piece about 3/4ths of an inch wide. and then 'dremeled' the one side so that it fit against my camera more flush (my camera's front bows out wards, like this ) ).
Step 3: The Union
To attach the PVC to the aluminum, drill 2 holes (making sure they line up with one another), then tap them using the right size thread tap (the right size being the same as the screws you are going to use). Screw the two pieces together to ensure that they fit properly.
Step 4: Paint
Remove the PVC from the aluminum and sand any rough spots that you may have created in the cutting process (using higher grained sand paper as you go). Now add the silver spray paint (or purple as the case may be) Krylon Fusion works best for plastic, but is expensive... any kind will do... Apply in light coats, drying with a hair dryer after every coat (not necessary, just makes things 991923414 times faster). 2-3 coats should be plenty. Now take some flat black baint and a paint brush and paint the inside of the pipe black (flat as opposed to glossy). Let the paint dry, they re-assemble, this time inserting the lense.
The lens should fit snug with the added paint.
Part 5: The Product
Attach to the camera using a small bolt the same size as the tripod mount. Done.
Test shots:
This picture was taken from across the parking lot at the YMCA...
These pictures were taken behind my house...
The Sony DSC S40 is a 4.1 megapixle digital camera with 3x optical zoom and a 1.5 inch LCD...
I used an aluminum heat sink from an old VGA monitor I had scavenged the fly back transformer from. This aluminum was fairly thick and was in a flat sheet. First I made a paper template, making sure that the Batteries and memory stick were still accessible. I then traced my template onto the aluminum and cut it out using tin snips (a dremel tool with an abrasive cutting disk will do fine). I then bent the newly cut metal using a bench vise, a rubber mallet, and pure persuasion. When I had the metal in the shape I wanted I then drilled a hole in the bracket so that it could be attached to the camera.
Note: the smaller hole on the right is not necessary, it was for mounting the IC's to the heat sink.
After you have made your bracket be sure to sand down any rough edges using either sandpaper or a dremel tool.
Part 2: Lens holder
The S40's lens extrudes about 1/8th of an inch from the camera, so obviously the Tele conversion lens can not mount flush against the camera. I was digging through some of the PVC pipe fittings that Zach and I saved from destruction at DI Global Finals (HERE) and found a PVC elbow that fit over my lens nicely.
I cut off a piece about 3/4ths of an inch wide. and then 'dremeled' the one side so that it fit against my camera more flush (my camera's front bows out wards, like this ) ).
Step 3: The Union
To attach the PVC to the aluminum, drill 2 holes (making sure they line up with one another), then tap them using the right size thread tap (the right size being the same as the screws you are going to use). Screw the two pieces together to ensure that they fit properly.
Step 4: Paint
Remove the PVC from the aluminum and sand any rough spots that you may have created in the cutting process (using higher grained sand paper as you go). Now add the silver spray paint (or purple as the case may be) Krylon Fusion works best for plastic, but is expensive... any kind will do... Apply in light coats, drying with a hair dryer after every coat (not necessary, just makes things 991923414 times faster). 2-3 coats should be plenty. Now take some flat black baint and a paint brush and paint the inside of the pipe black (flat as opposed to glossy). Let the paint dry, they re-assemble, this time inserting the lense.
The lens should fit snug with the added paint.
Part 5: The Product
Attach to the camera using a small bolt the same size as the tripod mount. Done.
Test shots:
This picture was taken from across the parking lot at the YMCA...
These pictures were taken behind my house...
The Sony DSC S40 is a 4.1 megapixle digital camera with 3x optical zoom and a 1.5 inch LCD...