Today, we have a pretty cool project, I'am going to show you how to create a super simple macro lens for you cell phone. You might even have the part you need laying around your home.
Quarter up close. |
Cheap laser pointer, less than $2.00 at my local Drug Store. |
We need to acquire a marco lens, the cheapest method to get one is to get a hold of a cheap laser pointer. That's right, a laser pointer. I'am not entirely sure why this works but it apparently has something to do the focusing of light. A more expensive pointer would probably have a glass lens but the cheap plastic one's that comes with a $2.00 laser pointer works just fine.
STEP 2:
Disassemble the laser pointer, remove the batteries, cap and batteries.
STEP 3:
Inside the case of the pointer there's a small circuit board and the lens
On the other side of the case, there a small cap, take a pair of plyers and pry the cap off, the plastic lens should just fall out.
STEP 4:
It's kinda hard to see in the photo, but the method I found best to attach the lens to my camera, was to tape the lens to the phone. I then took a razor blade and removed the tape from the center of the lens.
The Iphone my phone is not. |
But it still took some pretty amazing photo's and video's, Yes that's right you take macro video's with this setup. Be sure to check out a collection of the images I've take with this setup.
(hint: You stack a second lens on top of the first lens to get another step of zoom. This does narrow the depth of field.)
Ball point pen Macro Video