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Lensball in an optical tube

Started Sep 18, 2018 | Discussions thread
OP SmoothOperator Regular Member • Posts: 386
Re: Lensball in an optical tube

ProfHankD wrote:

SmoothOperator wrote:

l wonder if anyone has tried using a lensball in an optical tube. Possibly in conjunction with a macro lens.

The idea would be to fill the frame completely with the lensball, to get a fisheye effect. Only problem, I can think of is the depth of field of the macro lens.

I've done plenty of things reflecting off a shiny ball, but nothing with an optical glass ball. Where did you see one for cheap?

Ah. I found them on eBay. Ordered a 30mm and an 80mm... we'll see if there's anything good from it.

Can I be first author?

The lensball makes me wonder about the fisheye adapters.  I've avoided the adapter, though I want a fisheye lens, but maybe a high quality distortion can be accomplished in just a few elements? If I went the adapter route for a fisheye lens, what would the best pairing be?  I'm guessing a lens that has both a flat and deep field, would impart the least amount of additional distortion.  The Lensball clearly produces nice results by itself, even with extraneous light reflections.

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