3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

How to convert your pocket camcorder to wide angle

How to convert your pocket camcorder to wide angle
«
  • DSC_5442.JPG
  • DSC_5413.JPG
  • DSC_5414.JPG
  • DSC_5416.JPG
  • DSC_5417.JPG
This project will take you five minutes to complete. If you have your lenses, and a glue gun already hot, it can be done in under a minute. The equipment is inexpensive and is not destructive to the camera. I take no responsibility for what you do to your camera...

Cost:
about $30

Why you need to do this:
Pocket camcorders have no protection for their lenses (keeps lens clean), lens adapters allow you to change the focal length of your cameras (film closer to your subjects), and digital zoom is awful.

Reason for project: In 2002 I bought a Canon MiniDV camcorder. It worked well, but it's sound stunk, and it took forever to transfer video to my computer. In November 2009, I bought the Kodak Zx1(HD) to use in my classroom. I've found quite a use for little clips but I've been disappointed in the wide angle capabilities of my camera. I already had the wide angle (0.42x) and zoom (2x) lenses from my old camcorder so I figured I would try to put them together. The result is what you see in the first image. It worked so well my buddy said put it on Instructables. So, here we go...
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Gather your components

Gather your components
«
  • DSC_5419.JPG
  • DSC_5417.JPG
  • DSC_5416.JPG
  • DSC_5414.JPG
  • DSC_5423.JPG
Necessary Components:
1. A pocket camcorder
2. A screw type lens adapter/uv protector (make sure their sizes match)
3. A wide angle lens, and or a zoom lens
4. A glue gun (I like hot temp for this)

A quick search on Ebay should yield a combo of all the lenses and adapters you need for close to $30.

**Note that our project is non-destructive to the camera. I pulled the hot glue off mine several times with no damage. However, I do not take any responsibility for damage to your camera.

« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
1 comment
Jan 3, 2010. 11:52 AMBadger_Man says:
 Excellent idea, and i like the vague comicality of having a lens almost as big as the camera.

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
0
Followers
1
Author:mikeythev