Make a free lensmate adapter

If anyone's curious how to make a lensmate-style filter adapter for the S90/95/100 (probably other point and shoots too! ), here's a simple 10-minute way. Note that I love lensmate, and am not trying to take business from their awesome products. Their gear is well worth it. However, some people simply can't afford it, but could benefit from filters.

Two years ago I purchased a lensmate for my S90, but my S90 kit was stolen last year. I made an old-style lensmate replacement for free using the filter screwcap that came from a 37mm filter, as described below. You can probably also find these caps super cheap ($1?) or free extras from camera stores.

Note that what I'm showing is not the new-style adapter by lensmate, which has a bayonette-style connector. Rather, this is the old style adapter where the filter threads always stay on the camera.

1) First I marked the center of the cap, center-punched it, and drilled consecutively larger holes in the middle of the cover using a uni-bit. Make sure to have wood behind it, use gloves, etc, to make sure it's done carefully so that you don't hurt yourself. The hole should be just barely larger than the rectangular opening on the front of the lens. This allows the image to be taken without obstruction, but also gives maximum remaining area to fix the adapter to the barrel.

2) Since I want only 2-3 threads on the adapter, but the screwcap was about twice as thick (with 5 threads), I shaved the top few millimeters off of the thread section. Now the screwcap is just as thin as a lensmate and fits in the pocket much better.

3) All that remains is to mount it. I made a small ring of adhesive using moderately strong but thin 3M double-sided tape. Not too strong, so that this can be removed if needed. The easiest way to do this was to just place a piece of this tape on the entire back side of the adapter, and then cut out the hole carefully with a sharp blade/etc (plus remove a little extra inwards, so that the tape doesn't show). Then cut out the perimeter to be as wide as the barrel. This leaves a thin ring of tape.

Remove the film from the remaining side, and with the lens retracted, carefully place it centered on the barrel. Rotate the camera a few times as you do this to get different perspectives which helps with more accurate alignment.

4) Summary: 3 steps (drill, shorten, tape). When done well this is virtually indistinguishable from the old-style lensmate.

I've had mine on for about 7 months now, taken it on trips, slipped it forcefully into cases, etc., and have had no issues.

Hope this helps some people who want a filter adapter for their S90/95/100 (or other point and shoots?? ), don't mind an old-style version, but can't afford the excellent lensmate.