Use a Mouse Pad To Throw Cookies
A few weeks back we shared a tutorial on how to convert your old film camera into a background projector (AKA Cookie Projector). Seems like this project grabbed a lot of attention, with one comment that kept coming back over and over: "Why Kill The Poor Camera?"
Even a reference from Strobist seems to hint that if one goes through the agonizing process of un-hinging the back of a camera, they should "use it for good".
Of course the initial intent was to use a camera that is unserviceable (as RC Hill did with the project we featured), yet, there had to be another way, a way that does not involve un-hinging or pliering the back of a camera. And indeed there is. (or actually Are, as there are two solutions found).*
(* no cameras were heart while making this post)
The Sushi Projector
The first way, suggested by Sheng Huang on the comments of the previous post has to do with making a sushi roll with
A mouse pad for Nori; A Nifty 50 for Avocado; A strobe for Salmon; A Laser printed transparency for Ginger and Red gel for Wasabi
I would actually be kinda scared to put the full weight of a lens on a strobe like this, but the results are pretty satisfying to take the risk with one hand under the far end of the "snoot".
The Rubber Drain Projector
The other invention courtesy of Keith Loh uses a drain pipe connector and a zoom lens to deliver similar results. The contraption seems a bit sturdier and it uses ball bungees to hold the thing together.
Would You Buy?
I was toying around with the thought of making a similar contraption the next DIYP Kit, I was wondering if there is any demand for it?
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Comments
Keith Loh's appears to have a
Keith Loh's appears to have a pattern from the frensel lens of the strobe, whereas Sheng Haung's does not. If you make a kit, probably try to avoid having the pattern.(Check out twk100's work in the strobist thread)
I think the idea of using it with the cookie as an option is also worth highlighting. It'd probably make a pretty useful snoot, or could even be used when you need to shoot the light a long way (compare to the "better beamer" which uses a frensel lens in place of the actual lens).
If you're making a kit it would probably need to have a way to swap lenses easily and to swap cookies easily and to remove it from the flash easily. Probably sturdy too. This would give it a clear advantage over a mousepad and string.
re: fresnel
Hi Adam,
Thanks for hi-lighting the pattern thing, if I understand the optics correctly, the "amount" of pattern depends on the distance between the focal plane of the lens and the flash.
Since Keith Loh's cookie is very close to the strobe, it picks up some of the patterns. The first design by Sheng Huang puts the cookie close to the lens and avoids this.
Will definitely look into the input as far as the kit goes.
I like the fresnel pattern,
I like the fresnel pattern, especially in the sample given--gives it a very high-tech look. It could definitely be considered a "feature".
hard to gauge this one
think you might need more examples/applications/uses to make a convincing compelling case....but that could just be me.
Camera destruction
I found when making the camera projector you dont have to destroy it. Put the shutter on bulb, depress the shutter button, lock it, open the back door, attach flash and tape the door to the flash so it doesnt swing around. Also, I think the round, soft edges of these projectors look much better.
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