26 DIGITAL CAMERA^ DECEMBER 2019 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
Make your own lens
Dan Mold modifies an old film lens to creative ef fect
P
5 | PRACTICALremium lenses often come with a
hefty price tag, and that’s certainly
no different when it comes to
tilt-shift lenses. These specialist
optics feature the ability to adjust the focal
plane by physically moving and pivoting the
lens in a way that isn’t possible with standard
lenses. Normally costing several thousands
of pounds, these high-end lenses are out of
reach for many of us – but you can make your
very own lens with the ability to be tilted for
a stylish ‘freelensed’ look. You need an old
film lens and a few other affordable pieces
of kit – I put mine together for about £30!
The results speak for themselves. By tilting
your lens you’ll be changing the foc al plane,
creating all sorts of weird and wonderful
focus effects that work well with a plethora of
subjects, including portraits and landscapes.
By moving the lens around, you’ll be able to
find a sweet spot where just your focal pointis in sharp focus, and the rest of the frame is
thrown into a blurr y wash of beautiful bokeh.
Stock up on the tools and materials over
the page to see how you can do it, then put
aside about an hour to make it. Then go
out and start taking some pictures!TURN OVER TO SEE HOW TO MAKE
YOUR OWN TILTABLE LENS!