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Removing lenses from old film video cameras.
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 3:24 pm    Post subject: Removing lenses from old film video cameras. Reply with quote

Hello, it may seem like stupid question, but is it possible to remove lenses from old film video cameras ? And if so, do they have specific mount ?
For example :

Is it possible to take them off or use them ?
Seems chinon have some kind of CHINON REFLEX ZOOM lenses on them and they are generally pretty bright f1.3 or f1.7
There are quite a lot of old Super 8 format film cameras selling cheap. (I guess there can be found larger film size too)
I have seen on ebay similar lenses appearing and seems they have ~46mm screw (diameter)
But so as super 8 format seems to be 4*5.8 mm, but regular, even crop body sensor is quite a bit bigger I dont think there is point to try...

So at end is there any point to look more into this ? I guess if lens ir removable it could make light circle big enough for compact camera size sensors ? Anyone tried, know anything about this ?


PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can break the camera and remove the lens assembly. Super8s are usually some kind of zooms. There is no overall mount system in them. They are designed fixed. Super8-size is usually too small to cover any sensor size other than the one in Pentax Q and Pentax Q10 cameras.
If You want to try adopting a lens, You may want to try a short bellows between the lens assembly and the camera and mount the whole system on bellows rails. If You can find a sweet spot, You can start designing a permanent fix. Go ahead. Smile

Larger cine cameras (with lenses of any user value) are 99% with mountable lenses and there are adapters to digital bodies for almost every mount. There is some 16mm cameras with fixed lenses of quality that might be adaptable if ripped from the cameras. Canon Scoopic and some Krasnogorsk models come to my mind.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yea, I think I will try something if I find something real cheap could be fun side project to try in free time Very Happy One of other ways what come in mind is to glue some king of simple metal converter to the back of removed lens (if focus is good)


PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hacking an old Canonet or similar film camera will yield a lens that is readily adaptable to mirrorless.


PostPosted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 1:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tried one of those Chinon zooms that I hacked off a Super 8 by free lensing it on my Sony NEX, and it wasn't worth the effort. The image was way too small, and there is no mount at all.


PostPosted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Wed May 11, 2016 8:42 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

bernhardas wrote:
As written above the image circle of the lenses is usually too small to do something useful.

Bjorn Rorslett described on his old website how he used "format conversion" to use such a lens nevertheless.

The idea is that you use an extreme macro lens as a lens to "transmit" the smaller image circle and enlarge it in the process.
(But a reversed lens might just do as well)
It is a large set up in the end, but could be worth the effort, as you might gain a very unusual perspective, with the wide angel lenses.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/roll_your_own_lens.html


It is called a "relay lens" but the image will be upside down - not many like having that.