How to make your own 3D Printed Tilt-Shift Lens Adapter. Tilt-shift lenses are used to create a miniature effect or a very shallow depth of field in your photography. This has long been a great and well documented DIY project, mostly because professional tilt-shift lens and adaptors are very expensive (we’re talking $1000- 3000). I have created several plunger type adapters following this tutorial, much love to Bhautik Joshi's project which got me into tilt-shift photography and is a great and much used resource. After a lot of experimentation and some impressive results, I decided it was time for a more durable solution that I could print at home on my 3D printer.
The results is a simple, cheap, lite, and durable adapter designed to fit a micro 4/3 Panasonic GF1 to Nikon e-series mount. All files are up on thingaverse and 123D gallery under creative commons, so you can download, edit, and remix to fit your needs. Be advised that to have the best results you need to use a micro 4/3 camera with a standard 35mm lens. I really think this is just the beginning for printable adaptors and hopefully the community will take the idea and create deviations for all different kinds of camera/lens combination.
******All votes appreciated :)*******
The results is a simple, cheap, lite, and durable adapter designed to fit a micro 4/3 Panasonic GF1 to Nikon e-series mount. All files are up on thingaverse and 123D gallery under creative commons, so you can download, edit, and remix to fit your needs. Be advised that to have the best results you need to use a micro 4/3 camera with a standard 35mm lens. I really think this is just the beginning for printable adaptors and hopefully the community will take the idea and create deviations for all different kinds of camera/lens combination.
******All votes appreciated :)*******
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The things you'll need for this project are pretty simple the only difficult part is selecting a proper camera/lens combo, which your can find more information on here.
- DSLR Body - This will help you get the appropriate measurements for creating the adaptor and also help you in selecting the right lens. For this tutorial I’ll be using a Panasonic GF1 micro 4/3 camera.
- 35mm/Medium/Large format Lens - This depends on the type of camera body you have. 35mm and Medium format lens can be found on eBay pretty cheap, and the size lens you're looking for will depend on the type of camera you’re using. For guide-on camera body lens combinations check out this guide. However, you'll get the best results using a lens that is design for a larger format camera then you currently have. more about this here. Example: Micro 4/3 camera with a 35mm type lens or Canon Rebel body with a medium format lens type. For this project I’ll be using a Nikon series E 50mm 1.8 which I picked up on eBay for less than $30.
- Calipers - Used to take measurements for the lens and camera for 3D model.
- 3D printer or Access to one - While it’s easy to print this off on your own printer at home, if you don’t have a printer you still have options. Look for a local hacker/maker space in your area using hackerspaces.org/map if nothing is close or they don’t have access to a 3D printer you can upload your project files to ponoko.com, and have your part mailed to you. I use them a lot for laser cut projects and have never had any issues, great service.
- 3D modeling program - http://www.123dapp.com/ (PC only) or http://sketchup.google.com/ (mac + PC)
see more of their DIY tips at http://www.youtube.com/user/indymogul
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When I have some time I will try to make an adapter for a sony nex 5n.
Nice work!
but please explain to me how is it a Tilt-SHIFT adapter, as there is no shifting adjustment?!?
Or to be more precise no adjustment whatsoever!
As there is no shift, forget architectural photography, etc. and the tilting beeing fixed, you cant adjust your focal plane, so the tilt is useless if you want to carefully compose your frame AND control apparent depth of field, be it for 'creative' portraits, packaging shots, products shots, scenery..
Apart for allowing you to participate in the fad of
"hey, it looks like a model train scenery" for everything else, This could be known as 'The utterly useless cone of garbage, with adaptey bits in the ends" But certainly not as a Tilt-Shift Adapter...
The other toy T-S adapters geared towards funny photography are way better:
You cant really shoot serious crap with them, but for so called creative photography, they give you some control on the effect you produce!
This one doesn't!
You really should call it a fixed tilt adapter, as it it what it is...
The base idea is still a great one though, and you're absolutely right that once the idea's out there anyone can run with it to make the real thing, so I'm still very appreciative, rather than vitriolic like Siouxsette. I just feel calling this tilt shift is at best a wee bit of a tease/chain-yank for people who already know what tilt shift is, and at worst completely misrepresenting what tilt shift is and what it's actually used for to people who haven't heard of it before.
I'd love one for my G3 but unfortunately I'm in the uK.
It gives me chills to see your camera sensor exposed for so long >_>
A very nice project, some sort of mechanical join would be more useful for at least a tilt movement, I wonder if a not overly complex system is possible.
Good job, you have my vote!
Do you think to sell them? I would love to buy one if possible.
If it is possible, do you do Canon mounts too? Thank you :)
I have been looking at these and you are right the cost heaps.
I'm in Australia though :(
I've just got a new 3/4 camera, and due to lens costs....well, you know how it is, it's just the thing to get the old hamster in the skull working!
I've got an old point and shoot camera with great glass, and I'm starting to toy around with the idea of gutting it from the old camera and adapting it to the new 3/4 mount.
Any Ideas?