Frustrated with the current budget lenticular offerings, I decided to make a test bench to test lens combinations.
After a few designs were considered and binned, I ended up with some aluminum angle and c-channel. A bit of epoxy (JB Quick) and some rubber coating to protect the lenses yielded the following:
I made several different holders to suit various lenses, and some spacers to adjust lens height.
As soon as I set up the meter and target area, I'll post some pics of those as well.
One of two (75mm and 78mm) DX lenses finally arrived. It is passable, but not great as far as focus. It will definitely fit the HF 109 w/ just a bit of sanding (if I pre-collimate).
That was the impetus behind this project. The bench allows for fairly precise measurements that were previously impossible.
I believe the small stuff is 1/4" channel and the angle stock is 1"
I cut the 1/4" channel at a 45-degrees and epoxied it to the 1" angle pieces. All metal-to-metal mating surfaces were masked off, and Plasti-Dip spray was (over) applied to the rest.
The large lens (81mm) was acquired from a projection TV array, courtesy of FleaBay. The latest Sony lenses are even larger, at 88mm.
Let us know the results of that build! I have the DX lens and have been eyeing that host everytime they put it on sale. I was hesitant to buy since I wasn't sure it would fit!
I sure will, but I've got so many projects going that it might be awhile;)
whoa - never heard or thought of that! which is too bad, since I've seen several projection TVs abandoned by the dumpster at the college where I work...
I don’t know how I feel about Lenticular offerings, but I’m not happy with the lenses I find out there at all! LOL.
Good Idea X!
Soon, when you start making flashlights from scratch, you will be able to determine the correct focal length as you build them and be able to build them custom, to suit your needs!