Jump to Navigation

Putting Old Lenses on a Canon DSLR

Fri, 03/04/2011 - 14:50 — Jake von Slatt

While digging through my old camera equipment I came across my Grandfather's 35mm Exa . While I have absolutely no desire to revisit the days of film, I was kind of interested in what sort of image the old German made lens would produce on my modern Canon DSLR so I went in search of a way to attach it. 

I found machined custom metal adapters, and adapters made with scavenged old Canon lens, but I was looking for something cheaper and easier to mod.

It all came together when I spotted an inexpensive plastic adapter made to mount the plastic lens from a Diana camera on a Canon DSLR.

 

Articles:

A Lens of Yesteryear

Fri, 02/18/2011 - 00:06 — Isa Farnik

If I had a nickel for every time the digital vs. analog photography debate has landed in my lap, I'd be rich. At those argumentative junctures, I reassure myself that it's not the medium, but the subject which is

 important. It also underscores the importance/rewards in possessing such a disregard. As the typewriter becomes the keyboard, the camera obscura, the DSLR and the root cellar, the refrigerator, it's important to keep in mind that while we are moving forward, we can always look back. It also means that encoded in each incarnation of a tool are remnants of it's predecessors, if you have the patience to look. There is also the opportunity to re-inject this essence back into tools or decode it where it already exists. This is the heart of labours of technological love like the entirety of the Steampunk sub-culture and more concisely, projects like on the right. 

What you're looking at is the shnoz from a Zeiss Ikon Ikonette altered to sit on a Jonas Kroyer's Nikon D300. Even modernized, it manages to maintain it's early 20th century mystique. Examples of photos taken with, blueprints and condensed build log of: http://www.jonaskroyer.com/photography/photoref/archives/1049 viahttp://hackaday.com/2011/02/11/bellows-camera-to-dslr/

P.S. Jake informed me that a post in on the way which in which he implements the practicum of the theorem read here. You guessed it, rails and bellows for a DSLR. Stay tuned!

Articles:

Awesome, strange, weird mash-up micro-fad at Thingaverse

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 15:39 — Meredith Scheff

Over at the Thingaverse, the free 3D model download community centered around the Makerbot, strange things are afoot. Or a leg, with a whistle sticking out of it on top of a gun. 

It seems a mash-up fad has broken out, with people taking 2 or more models and literally mashing them together, to strange and glorious effect. 

I'm so in love with this fad it makes me squeel. It's a hyper-specialized community, highly nerdy in all respects, playing and having silly fun with what is in all rights one of the most novel  and high-tech forms of makery (that's a word. I made it up, just now, for this fad). I imagine kids being able to do this simply, mashing up robot-bridge-firetruck-spaceship toys and printing them out. It's so sci-fi it just hurts.

Read more about it on the MakerBot Blog.

 

Image right: Dalek-whistle-canopener by Rplumley

Articles:

Greetings and Salutations

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 05:17 — Annie Dennisdót...

Good day, gentlepeople. I am Annie, and I am thrilled to be here among the contributors at Steampunk Workshop. This is especially exciting for me because though my day job also involves writing (and a lot of editing), it's generally pretty topical (and that topic is videogames). While I do love games-related things with the fiery passion of Eta Carinae, I also believe that variety is the spice of life, and PS3 controllers make my wrists hurt. So in short, I'm enthused to have the opportunity to cover things outside the usual realm of work, and more inside the realm of the unique and handmade. And yes, the obvious intersection here would be steampunk casemods, so if you've done them, let me know!

In the meantime...

Articles:

Michele Lynch Art mixed media

Mon, 01/31/2011 - 14:59 — Brian Rowe

Dark steampunk goth art just in time for valintines day.  Michele Lynch is a mixed media artist with a touch of steampunk.  Her creations have wonderful anime eyes that play well on the reused bodies of savleged machinery.

 

Another one of my favorites, the Surgeon piece is just after the cut.

Articles:

A Scarf a Day!

Thu, 01/06/2011 - 10:06 — Jake von Slatt

Hey y'all! SPWS' own Meredith Scheff is doing a "Scarf-a-Day" project that you should definitely check-out!

Starting january 1, 2011, I will make one scarf a day each day in the month. I'll be using everything from traditional techniques and materials to the experimental, the new, the weird, the possibly edible. At the end of the month there will be an art show and interactive scarf making session.

Why a scarf a day? I love the idea of wearable art, silly but functional. I'm also really inspired by the works that have come out of the various [ ]-a-day projects- they push you to your limits and make you think of things you never would otherwise. Jewelry is OK for some, but for me, personal adornment is best when it's warm and fuzzy. And silly. And fun. Or weird.

This project is the recipient of an Awesome Foundation grant, but I need help to really pull this off with style. I'll be using all sorts of tech and materials- laser cutters, cnc machines, soft circuit tech, anything I can get my hands on!

I'll also be blogging the heck out of the project at www.ladycartoonist.com

Articles:

Magnolia Pearl

Wed, 01/05/2011 - 10:59 — Jake von Slatt

I love small spaces, tiny houses, and non-traditional campers, so the Magnolia Pearl, an Airstream trailer, pushes all of my buttons!  Add to the lush sensuous interior the fact that the tow vehicle is a classic Rolls Royce on what appears to be a 4 wheel drive truck chassis and I am lost. Lost!

I'm starting to do some work on my bus again and these have photos inspired me to do something special for the master bedroom, there are some hints as to my plans after the cut!

Articles:

Steampunk New Year's Eve

Thu, 12/30/2010 - 18:52 — Brian Rowe

 

What are you up to for New Years?  I may be dropping by the Abney Park Show in Seattle:

The event is 21+  Doors open at 8
$30 in advance, $35 at the door  Tickets are avalible online at Abney Park's website
@ STUDIO SEVEN: 110 south horton street, seattle, wa

Please feel free to post other interesting steampunk / maker hacker events for new years in the comments.

Fire dancing video from Abney Park's End of the World Show after the cut

 

Articles:

Things used to be prettier: The Slant-O-Matic 500

Sun, 12/26/2010 - 15:30 — Meredith Scheff

Just look at it.

I'm spending my holiday getting ready for my Scarf-a-Day project, which means lots of looking at lots of fabric and sewing machines. I've thus far just been using a 1940's singer, but I think it's time for a change, and I want a machine that can do different stitches. 

In my research I ran across this beauty: The Singer Slant-o-Matic 500 Rocketeer. No joke, that's what it's called.  I immediately fell in deep machine-love, but I've learned my lesson and decided to do some more research. Turns out, the Rocketeer is kind of interesting- not only is all metal gears, it's only gears and no timing chain at all. Like a lot of sewing machines from this era, you change your stitch shape by using different shaped metal cams. Again, this machine does something different- there's a stack of cams, and you can select multiples to customize stitches. 

Ok, that's enough blabbing. Unfortunately, he's made his videos un-embedable, so check out the sweet action, over on BrianSewes. 

 

Articles:

Steampunk Etch-a-Sketch

Sat, 12/25/2010 - 15:55 — Meredith Scheff

Reddit user HaloKitty made this as a Christmas present for a friend. Well done!

Articles:

Pages

Subscribe to The Steampunk Workshop RSS