Any keen photographers on here?.. Camera lens mounts question..

[Zico]

Can anyone tell me which specific camera lens mounts (ie K-mount) can you get adapters for to fit to a C mount camera?


Im planning to build a Night vision spotter scope using a 3 stage cascade image intensifier tube from an Israeli tank periscope. It will be quite bulky and heavy but having 3 stages should be equal or at least very close to a Gen 3 scope in performance terms.. at a tiny fraction of the price.

My problem is that Im a bit thick and know very little about lenses/lens mounts. I'd like a decent level of magnification but I know I'll need quite a fast lens to let as much light in as possible.. unless of course I also get myself an IR laser.
I've been advised to use a C-mount on the scope due to it having a set focal distance I've seen a few nice lenses on Ebay that would do the job but not sure which lens mount types I'll be able to get adapters for..

Would it be possible to get a C mount adaptor for something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CANON-FD-BAYONET-FIT-85MM-S-S-C-1-1-8-TELE-PORTRAIT-LENS-45967-/170834367826

[Zico]

Not even one view? You lot are useless.

:p

[MrJan]

I hovered over the thread title, got the little pop up thing that has the first few lines of the post and realised that it was out of my depth :D

[Mark]

Yeah, lost me on the first line too.

I recently just use my iPhone camera on holiday instead of taking the proper camera and it worked just as well :)

[schmenke]

Yeah, lost me on the first line too.

I recently just use my iPhone camera on holiday instead of taking the proper camera and it worked just as well :)


No. Nothing beats a half-decent DSLR for image clarity, sharpness and view angle.

Although resolution of a phone camera may be comparable (I believe the iPhone 4S has 8MP), the individual pixel size is tiny. For example, a typical sensor size on a DSLR is ~ 20mm x 15mm the iPhone 4s is a mere 4.5mm x 3.4mm.
Similarly, the crop factor on a DSLR is ~1.5 whereas on the iPhone it's 7.6 :s .

Having said all that, I have no idea what Zico is on about :p :

[race aficionado]

My iPhone replaced my still & video cemera.
And it does so much more.
I don't leave home with out it.

*advert paid for by satisfied customer.


Sent from my iPhone

[D-Type]

Zico,
I'm too out of touch with modern kit to offer any useful advice. But reading your question, I wonder if you are confusing the 'male' and 'female' halves of a lens mount.

[Zico]

Zico,
I'm too out of touch with modern kit to offer any useful advice. But reading your question, I wonder if you are confusing the 'male' and 'female' halves of a lens mount.

I hope not.. but I dont know much about mounts so its very possible! :D I'll attempt to clarify.

I had been advised to use a C mount (used by the various old cini cameras) because the focal length (plane) from the lens (at the mount side) to the film (or NV tube in my case) is a known figure, a K, KA, M42 etc adaptor would then be fitted allowing the use of different lens types without me having to re-calculate and cut new shims for the NV tube position (if I upgraded with a lens which required a different mount) in the future.

I've actually since been advised to ignore the C mount + adaptor idea, to just work out the correct distance required for the M42 type mount and I'll still have a wide enough selection of cheap lenses to choose from... and this is what I now plan to do.

I've also found an American forum where quite a few have actually built their own DIY 3 stage cascade spotter scopes using the exact intensifier tube model I actually have. This has given me a lot of ideas (and advice on what not to do).
Some of the results these guys are getting with their homemade scopes in terms of performance is quite remarkable and actually pretty close to the Gen 3 scopes which cost between £3-5k new, not bad when it wont cost me more than £150 to make.. and that figure even includes a 300mw IR laser illuminator with a focusable beam. ;)


See 14th post down on page 8 for single scene pictures/comparisons of the various generations of NV and the Cascade tube DIY NV scope (All pics were starlight, no moon, rural setting) here- DIY Cascade Tube Thread... - Page 8 - AR15.COM (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_18/359614_DIY_Cascade_Tube_Thread___.html&page=8)


I think I know where Im going with this now but thanks for the replies chaps... and if anyone else on here fancies making themselves one of these drop me a pm and I'll be happy to supply info, ideas and the best places to source the best components at the right prices. ;)

[D-Type]

I think I understand now.

It used to be possible to get sets of M42 extension tubes (intended for close up photography). If you can get some, it may help to get the focal length right.

Come to think of it, bellows giving variable focus were also around and I think there was even a variable length extendable tube.

Another channel to explore might be bits for an enlarger. If I remember correctly, enlarger lenses use an M38 (Leica) thread.

[MrJan]

My iPhone replaced my still & video cemera.
And it does so much more.
I don't leave home with out it.

*advert paid for by satisfied customer.


Sent from my iPhone

I would suggest that your still camera wasn't up to much then :D :p : There's no way that I'd dream of replacing my DSLR with a phone camera, they just aren't up to the job, as Schmenke has already pointed out

[race aficionado]

I agree.
For me the case is that "I've been there -done that" in terms of 35mm photography and hi-numbered megapixels.
Right now I've found that I enjoy the simplicity of the iPhone camera and the aid when necessary of the Photoshop or iPhoto programs.
And the video quality is fine with me.

And I think it's cool that you enjoy your toys. It's fun.
:)


Sent from my iPhone

[Zico]

I think I understand now.

It used to be possible to get sets of M42 extension tubes (intended for close up photography). If you can get some, it may help to get the focal length right.

Come to think of it, bellows giving variable focus were also around and I think there was even a variable length extendable tube.

Another channel to explore might be bits for an enlarger. If I remember correctly, enlarger lenses use an M38 (Leica) thread.


I think Im going to mount the NV tube inside a slightly larger ally or SS tube and if I cant find out the exact distance required on the net I'll just experiment with spacer rings of different widths until I find the correct focal length for M42 lenses. Mounted inside a tube/pipe it will be much more robust than bellows and avoid the need to add another lens such as an enlarger which would further reduce the amount of light reaching the photocathode.
I'll simply add a potentiometer or rheostat to the NV tube circuit to control brightness/gain there and If I add a IR laser illuminator I wont need fast lenses and may even be able to get good results with zoom/telephoto lenses. I'll also look into building a PWM circuit for the 300mw IR laser to enable me to control its output also.
I've had a lot of interest from local shooters here, so if it works as well as expected it looks like I'll be very busy. I'll try and get some pics of its capabilities up once its complete.

Thanks for the replies. :)

[schmenke]

I agree.
For me the case is that "I've been there -done that" in terms of 35mm photography and hi-numbered megapixels.
Right now I've found that I enjoy the simplicity of the iPhone camera and the aid when necessary of the Photoshop or iPhoto programs.
And the video quality is fine with me.

And I think it's cool that you enjoy your toys. It's fun.
:)


Sent from my iPhone

I can’t post here using my camera :(

[Mark]

I've seen Race's camera, big massive bulky thing, assuming he's using the same one as in 2003 ;)

[Tazio]

I am on the cusp of buying an inexpensive camera with a decent zoom. I pulled this one up.. Sony Cyber-shot DSCHX30V/B Black 18.2 MP 20X Optical Zoom Digital Camera : Digital Cameras - Photo & Video | Dell (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A5862534&ST=Camera%20Photo%20Video&dgc=ST&cid=72662&lid=1838860&acd=s_pla_dhs:000001,,901pdb6671) and it sounds good, although I'm completely out of my depth when it comes to such devices, and would appreciate any guidance. I'm not opposed to paying less :rolleyes: while simultaneously would go a little higher if it makes a substantial difference.

[D-Type]

I'm also looking around (Christmas is coming) so can I chime in with a couple of other questions?

My problem is that having grown up looking through a camera viewfinder, I can't get used to taking pictures looking at the image on the back of the camera to take pictures - it reminds me of a box Brownie or a Rolleiflex. Is it only DLSRs that have an 'old-fashioned' viewfinder?

Next question: some digitals seem to have a time delay between pressing the button and actually taking the photo - difficult for action photographs of cars. Is this just my imagination?

[Malbec]

I'm also looking around (Christmas is coming) so can I chime in with a couple of other questions?

My problem is that having grown up looking through a camera viewfinder, I can't get used to taking pictures looking at the image on the back of the camera to take pictures - it reminds me of a box Brownie or a Rolleiflex. Is it only DLSRs that have an 'old-fashioned' viewfinder?

Next question: some digitals seem to have a time delay between pressing the button and actually taking the photo - difficult for action photographs of cars. Is this just my imagination?

The time delay isn't part of your imagination. Don't have time to look it up right now but I do think its because there needs to be a switch from projecting the image onto the screen at the back of the camera to taking the actual image. Digital SLRs do not have the same delay.

I got a Canon G11 which is a high end compact with a viewfinder. Bought it to supplement my DSLR but the truth is that it has consigned it to the cupboard attracting dust because the image quality is almost as good and its a whole lot more versatile. I'd recommend its replacement the G12 but there are also a whole load of brand new compact DSLRs arriving for the same price range from various makers. These have a body the size of a compact but with replaceable lenses. I'd take a look at those too to see if you like them.

[schmenke]

I am on the cusp of buying an inexpensive camera with a decent zoom. I pulled this one up.. Sony Cyber-shot DSCHX30V/B Black 18.2 MP 20X Optical Zoom Digital Camera : Digital Cameras - Photo & Video | Dell (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A5862534&ST=Camera%20Photo%20Video&dgc=ST&cid=72662&lid=1838860&acd=s_pla_dhs:000001,,901pdb6671) and it sounds good, although I'm completely out of my depth when it comes to such devices, and would appreciate any guidance. I'm not opposed to paying less :rolleyes: while simultaneously would go a little higher if it makes a substantial difference.

Hey Doc, that Sony does seem to have a decent optical zoom, but at its full 500mm you’ll likely need a tripod to capture a steady image.
Not sure what the size is on that camera, but as I’ve mentioned above, all point ‘n shoot cameras use tiny sensors compared to DSLRs. I’m no professional photographer but the best advice I can give is that image quality, in general, is dictated by three parameters:
1. Lens quality
2. Sensor size, and;
3. Resolution.

The choice of lens quality doesn’t isn’t really a factor in point ‘n shoot cameras as they aren’t interchangeable so ignore that for now.
What you want to look for in a point ‘n shoot the largest physical sensor size you can find. This allows larger individual pixels which capture the light entering from the lens. The larger the pixel size, the more light they can record on the sensor, the better image quality.
Sometimes sacrificing a high megapixel count for a larger sensor size results in a better picture quality (it’s not all about MP!).

Because a larger sensor size is able to capture more light, it’s able to “expose” the frame better in low light conditions. In DSLRs this allows the use of a “faster” lens, that is, a faster shutter speed for a given aperture, ideal for action photography (e.g. sports, chasing kids, etc.).

I’d suggest taking the time to research cameras, and talking to a salesperson in a decent camera store who can recommend specific equipment to meet your needs. If you’re in the U.S. camera stores like Vistek would be a good start. Also, B&H is from where I often order my camera goodies.

Sorry to drone on and I’m sure there are others on this forum that could probably provide more elaborate advice :mark: .

[schmenke]

...Next question: some digitals seem to have a time delay between pressing the button and
actually taking the photo - difficult for action photographs of cars. Is this just my imagination?

Is the delay not the time it takes to auto-focus? All cameras, even DLSRs, will experience a time delay when the auto-focus is enabled.

[Malbec]

Is the delay not the time it takes to auto-focus? All cameras, even DLSRs, will experience a time delay when the auto-focus is enabled.

Here we are:

Shutter lag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_lag)

BTW I second your post above regarding what to look for.

[schmenke]

Here we are:

Shutter lag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_lag)

...

Good explanation. Thanks.

On the flip side (no pun intended), I believe most DSLRs have a function to purposely increase the shutter lag. This is typically used for extreme long exposures (e.g. “bulb” mode) to allow the camera to stabilize after the slight movement caused by the mechanics of the mirror flipping out of the way.

[Tazio]

Thanks for all the help dudes very informative :up:

[Malbec]

Thanks for all the help dudes very informative :up:

Just a word of caution, if you're buying the camera to get closeup pics of F1 cars in action forget it. You're better off getting a DSLR or even dusting off an old film SLR. The shutter lag will ruin anything you take unless you learn how to press the button in advance of the car getting into shot. And then there's the vibration, if you've got a serious zoom on your camera you'll need a tripod to keep it sharp.

[Tazio]

Just a word of caution, if you're buying the camera to get closeup pics of F1 cars in action forget it. You're better off getting a DSLR or even dusting off an old film SLR. The shutter lag will ruin anything you take unless you learn how to press the button in advance of the car getting into shot. And then there's the vibration, if you've got a serious zoom on your camera you'll need a tripod to keep it sharp.TBH I'm starting to lean toward something a little less advanced. I am planning on taking it to Austin, however I am not going to delude myself that I will be able take professional grade pictures with my limited experience, I can always get those from others. I just need something that will chronicle my personal experience, yet has a decent enough zoom for imaging somewhat distant objects.

[MrJan]

Just a word of caution, if you're buying the camera to get closeup pics of F1 cars in action forget it. You're better off getting a DSLR or even dusting off an old film SLR. The shutter lag will ruin anything you take unless you learn how to press the button in advance of the car getting into shot. And then there's the vibration, if you've got a serious zoom on your camera you'll need a tripod to keep it sharp.

Not the type of photo you'd have in a magazine but I took this:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5300/5534699889_101ecfbbb2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjanyeo/5534699889/)
DSCF0512 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjanyeo/5534699889/) by Jan Yeo (http://www.flickr.com/people/mrjanyeo/), on Flickr

with one of these Fujifilm FinePix AV130 - Digital camera - compact (http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=Fujifilm+FinePix+AV130&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D17&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=10140940232510064812&sa=X&ei=OEhgUPOFE-Wb1AXe_IHIBg&ved=0CCwQ8wIwAA)

Zoomed right in, a heavy load of cropping when I got it on to the computer but all in all not too bad a shot. I'd have got a much better result with my DSLR if I'd had it (and I wouldn't have had to delete so many of the pictures I took), but it just goes to show that you can get a reasonable shot with a bargain camera.

[Tazio]

OK dudes this is what I settled on.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/01/31/Panasonic_DMCZS20_ZS15_DMCTZ27_TZ25ZS@)_Launch
ZS20 (Black) I decided to go for a Compact Zoom for convience. I have loaded the software and taken 2 pictures but I can't seem to get them to load from that software using our image format. At any rate this should be fun for a while! Thoughts?

[schmenke]

See my latest PM :)

[janneppi]

Next question: some digitals seem to have a time delay between pressing the button and actually taking the photo - difficult for action photographs of cars. Is this just my imagination?
I bought Nikon J1 couple of months ago, it's one these trendy half-dslr's. It's pretty fast for the price, I took it with me when I went to watch a Downhill race. I actually managed to get few decent shots of biker going fast close by. It's not as good a real dslr, but for the size and price it works out pretty well.

[schmenke]

I’ve owned an Olympus E-520 for a few years now. It’s an entry-level DSLR but I can’t figure out what features it doesn’t have that some of the higher priced Nikons and Cannons include. It’s quite a decent camera for the cost.

The only down-side to it is the relatively smaller sensor size due to the four thirds lens mount. This mount also restricts the availability of lenses, but as I’m not a professional photographer it suits me just fine.

[Tazio]

first pic with DMCZS20
Panasonic goes that bit further with DMC-ZS20 and ZS15 travel zooms: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/01/31/Panasonic_DMCZS20_ZS15_DMCTZ27_TZ25_Launch)

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s480x480/548970_367226996699080_1211986824_n.jpg

[Tazio]

My second is your worst freakin' nightmare :eek: :p :


http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s480x480/318924_367270960028017_2049018440_n.jpg

[Malbec]

I’ve owned an Olympus E-520 for a few years now. It’s an entry-level DSLR but I can’t figure out what features it doesn’t have that some of the higher priced Nikons and Cannons include. It’s quite a decent camera for the cost.

The only down-side to it is the relatively smaller sensor size due to the four thirds lens mount. This mount also restricts the availability of lenses, but as I’m not a professional photographer it suits me just fine.

I have a Nikon D70s and while I'm happy with it for most things, I've noticed that in comparison with newer cameras the images are very grainy in low light to the extent that my Canon G-11 compact outperforms it for indoors shots. And thats despite me using fast (1.8) lenses with the DSLR too.

Still, it performs well enough that I couldn't justify upgrading the body quite yet.

[schmenke]

I have a Nikon D70s and while I'm happy with it for most things, I've noticed that in comparison with newer cameras the images are very grainy in low light to the extent that my Canon G-11 compact outperforms it for indoors shots. And thats despite me using fast (1.8) lenses with the DSLR too.
...

Are you using a high ISO sensitivity, or is it set to auto? High ISO sensitvity values will produce grainy images.

[Malbec]

Are you using a high ISO sensitivity, or is it set to auto? High ISO sensitvity values will produce grainy images.

I usually use ISO 1-200, maybe 400 at most, no flash as I prefer natural lighting but with maximum aperture. My camera is noted for being grainy at low light levels regardless of the ISO, I suspect that light sensitivity is something that has improved markedly over the years.