How to use a $6 slide projector lens for stunning portraits
Jan 23, 2019
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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Photographer Mathieu Stern is passionate about finding and even making unusual lenses. This time, he hit a flea market and found a $6 treasure: Rollei 90mm f/2.4 MC. It’s a slide projector lens, but Mathieu adapted it to his Sony mirrorless camera and found out that it’s also great for portraits.
The Rollei 90mm f/2.4 MC has no diaphragm. However, Mathieu found out that it fits perfectly in an M52 helicoid tube, which gave him a possibility to adjust focus. Finally, he added an M42 to Sony E adapter, and went out to try out his new lens.
As it turned out, this cheap lens can produce awesome portraits, considering that it’s pretty sharp and creates a gorgeous bokeh. Check out some of the photos Mathieu took with this lens mounted to his Sony A7III:
Along with the M52 helicoid tube and the M42 to Sony E adapter, the whole build costs around $50, which is still pretty affordable for a lens. So, next time you’re at a yard sale or a flea market, watch carefully. You might find a super-cheap yet valuable lens like this, too.
[Using a cheap Slide Projector Lens for Portraits (Amazing bokeh) | Mathieu Stern]
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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2 responses to “How to use a $6 slide projector lens for stunning portraits”
Slide projector lens prices increase twenty fold overnight.
Mr Stern got a bargain. The prices for the better projector lenses have been high since at least 6 years ago when I came across the work of Mr. Yu-Lin Chan (“Lens Bubbles”).