Within the latest DIY Perks challenge, Matt constructed a big format digital camera utilizing an previous episcopic lens that produces the identical outcomes as a 35mm f/0.4 lens (full body equal) for a complete price of $190.
Matt from the DIY Perks youtube channel can be a very inventive man. Beforehand we offered his work; You would possibly keep in mind when he made the Canon EOS R5 shoot uncooked 8K with none limits by swapping the digital camera’s inside warmth sink for his personal improved design. This time, Matt determined to make a big format digital camera (or a VERY quick lens, relying on the way you have a look at it) and the ensuing footage seems distinctive.
That is shallow DoF
The seek for a shallow depth of discipline that leads to a blurred background filled with bokeh and helps separate the topic and provides the viewer a way of depth has all the time been a part of the lifetime of the filmmaker (and naturally the photographer). ). Though a shallow depth of discipline alone doesn’t assure outcome, it is among the instruments that’s supposed to assist inform the story and make the photographs extra enticing.
If I simplify issues a bit, there are mainly two methods how you can (optically) obtain a shallower depth of discipline with a given angle of view (and a hard and fast subject-to-camera distance):
- Greater “sensor” – A bigger sensor (or projection airplane) permits us to make use of an extended focal size lens to realize the specified angle of view. Due to how a lens works, an extended focal size lens (with the identical aperture) produces a shallower depth of discipline.
- quicker lens – The quicker the lens (or smaller the aperture worth), the much less depth of discipline we are able to get. An inexpensive and cheap normal is f/1.4 aperture prime lenses on a full-frame sensor. There are quicker lenses, however every step quicker than f/1.4 normally comes at a really excessive price. There are additionally bodily limitations: One of many quickest full-frame prime lenses ever made is the Carl Zeiss 50mm f/0.7, which is a really costly piece of glass.
The primary possibility utilizing a bigger projection circle (a bigger “sensor”) is extra fascinating, as there are various inexpensive classic specialty lenses that enable for fascinating outcomes.
In reality, we already reported on an analogous DIY challenge again in 2018 when filmmaker Zev Hoover constructed a big format digital camera. Matt’s challenge works in an analogous method, however his setup is a bit neater and extra sensible for my part.
episcope projection lens
The lens Matt used for his challenge is an previous Episcope 432mm f/5 lens that was utilized in early projection gadgets to challenge gentle that bounces off actual objects. This large lens produces a big picture circle round 500mm in diameter. For reference, trendy massive format cine lenses produce picture circles with a diameter of round 46mm.
building
The problem right here is how you can seize your complete circle of the picture. Clearly, there aren’t any digital picture sensors that may seize such a big picture. The thought Matt used for his challenge is to position a skinny semi-transparent display screen within the projection airplane of the lens, after which seize the picture on that display screen from the opposite facet with any digital camera.
Photograph diffusion sheet is the fabric that Matt selected, because it has a reasonably high quality construction and traits appropriate for this function. The sheet was then sandwiched between two items of acrylic glass. Within the means of constructing, Matt found that the picture on the diffusion sheet had a number of vignetting, so he had to make use of two flat Fresnel lenses to direct the sunshine rays in direction of the digital camera within the again.
The following enchancment in digital camera design was to create a mechanical focus system to have the ability to change focus exactly. Matt used two threaded rods linked with a low rev motor and to be trustworthy it seems fairly good and appears to be working nice.
Lastly, to dam undesirable gentle from getting into the lens system from the facet, Matt made a brief bellows sleeve out of black paper.
I need to admit I am very impressed with the ensuing clips and the look of the shallow depth of discipline pictures that Matt captured for the video. This whole system transforms this Episcope 432mm f/5 lens right into a 35mm f/0.4 because of a crop issue (relative to full-frame) of 0.08x.
Value and availability
Since this can be a DIY challenge, any such system will not be offered commercially, after all. For these of you who, like me, are tempted to construct such a tool, Matt promised that he’ll put collectively a bundle with fashions designed for all of the 3D printed components, all of the measurements, and so on. On the time of writing this text, nevertheless, was not but out there. Hopefully Matt will embrace the hyperlink as quickly as doable. The opposite important gear is after all a correct Episcope lens, which could really be a bit difficult to return by.
The entire materials price for this challenge is, in response to Matt, about $190. Nonetheless, this can depend upon the value of the lens. I can think about that the costs of comparable lenses elevated considerably after Matt launched the video.
What do you consider the most recent DIY Perks challenge? Are you tempted to construct this your self? Tell us within the feedback part under the article.
Building a Large Format Camera with 35mm f/0.4 Lens Equivalent – DIY Perks
