Quick and Easy Macro "attachment"

Intro: Quick and Easy Macro "attachment"

This is to get the really small things on camera. It works for almost any digital camera and I found it works really well for mine.

Step 1: So...

You will need:

• An x-acto knife or a verrrrrry sharp rock. An x-acto knife works best though. (Not shown)
• A piece of cardboard
• A convex lens. (I got mine from an old microscope)

What is the difference between convex and concave you ask? Concave goes in and convex goes out. The one I use went out on both sides.

Step 2: Cut!

Trace around the lens on the cardboard with an x-acto knife or sharp rock. Cut out the circle.

Step 3: Easy As 1,2,3!

Now put the lens into the hole in the cardboard, and make sure it stays in. If it doesn't stay in the hole you may need to use some glue to hold it in.

Step 4: Done

Ok so you're done. To use this you can just hold it really close to the camera lens, not touching it, and take a picture. However, this is for reallllllly close up pictures, so you probably wouldn't use it to make an instructable. You would need a different lens, one that didn't magnify everything so much.

Here are some pro's and con's of this thingamajig.
Pros:

• Small, compact, can fit in pocket or wallet
• Inexpensive
• Easy to make

Cons:

• You need to be careful you dont hit the camera lens with it.
• You need to hold it on (It can be changed so that you don't have to hold it on though)
• (This one anyway) You have to be really close up to whatever you're taking a picture of.

Comments

[killerjackalope]

Nice one sunbanks, also I now understand the butter dog better...

[Sunbanks]

You do? How? I barely even understand the butter dog!

[=SMART=]

The butter dog cant be understood. Its a physical impossibility... :D

[Sunbanks]

I agree! :D

[killerjackalope]

I just have a vague understanding of why...

[Sunbanks]

And that is....?

[GorillazMiko]

Sweet, I'll need to do this when taking pictures of coins.

_{Brennn10 might need to as well...}

+1 vote.
+1 rating.

[Sunbanks]

Thank you!

[Transquesta]

Cool idea! I always used a free-standing loupe, but this has advantages of portability. Another idea might be to use one of those fold-out magnifiers--but probably with a little sacrifice in image quality.

[Sunbanks]

Thank you :) That's a good idea, you also wouldn't have to worry about scratching it in your pocket if you used a fold-out magnifier.

[rimar2000]

Nice job. I put a similar instructable a time ago:

https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-take-clear-pictures-for-Instructables-with-/

[Sunbanks]

Thank you! I like yours, I need to try it sometime for the not so close up things :)

[joejoerowley]

Cool! Great Instructable! Nice to see another instructable from you Sunbanks:) Thanks Joe

[dsman195276]

nice, my cam stinks so it does not have macro on it(or a good zoom, flash,timer ext.)

[Sunbanks]

Thanks! I hope this helps!

[LinuxH4x0r]

Nice! looks like it works really good

[Sunbanks]

Thanks! It does work well, I was surprised.