STR8 RIPPIN'
01-05-2007, 06:56 PM
Well for all you guys that cant afford to lay down $600+ for an Mki or Mkii for under a $140 you can modify a Raynox MX3000 and get a larger image than the mkii and nearly as large as the Mki. (The quality isn’t as good but it’s not really noticeable and when you are saving at least $460 you cant complain.
Modifying the Raynox MX3000
All you need is
Raynox MX3000 pro semi fisheye (You can get a good deal from 41stphoto on ebay. They are a legit seller)
Sony .6x wide-angle lens, 37mm thread
Some elastic bands or smoothing to stick the lenses in place
Step 1
Unscrew the top or the Sony wide-angle lens like so. It can be a bit tight so I found by wrapping double-sided sticky tape around the top or the lens and around the bottom you can get a better grip and it just pops off.
Step 2
Next turn the wide-angle lens upside down and tap the back lens to make the front lens and the middle lens fall out (preferably onto a soft surface like carpet). It requires a bit of a hit but not so hard you smash the thing to bits. If you cant get the lens to come out then use a hair dryer to melt the glue.
Step 3
In the picture below for left to right you can see the part you should have off the Soy lens. From left to right there is the screw ring, the front lens, the middle lens and what’s left of the original wide-angle lens. You simply need the middle lens. The rest you can discard or do what you want with.
There are two ways you can modify the Raynox. By either attaching the middle lens straight to the Raynox or attach it to a stepping ring if required. Each way gives the same effect to the best of my knowledge. Because I was attaching mine to the VX1000 I attached the extra lens to the stepping ring.
Attaching straight to the Raynox
If you decided to attach it straight to the Raynox them make sure both lens are perfectly clean because if there is any smudges or marks then you will have to take it to bit start again.
Now place the Raynox face down on the ground and remove the back lens cover. Take the extra lens and place it so the concave side is facing out and the more flat side facing into the Raynox. Now get for of adhesive and fasten the extra lens to the inside edge of the Raynox (be careful not to let any glue or whatever get on the lens itself, only to the outside ring of it). Because I never used this method I don’t have any picture sorry. From what other people have said about this method shoe goo works best for holding it in place but hot glue guns and even tissue can be used. Be creative and se what hold it best
Attaching to a stepping ring
An alternate method, the one I used, which is good if you don’t want to touch the Raynox itself, is to fasten the extra lens into a stepping ring (if you require one). The advantage of this are that you don’t have to touch the Raynox itself and you don’t have to worry about cleaning the lens because it can be cleaned easily anytime. Also if necessary you can pop out the extra lens easily where as attaching to directly the Raynox makes it harder to remove.
To do this you will and elastic band and some super glue. The circumference of the elastic band needs to be smaller than the circumference of the extra lens to ensure a tight fit. Stretch the elastic band around the outside of the extra lens making sure that it is a tight fit and the that band is straight all the way around. (You don’t want the band twisted or kinked across the lens). Then using a little bit of super glue stick the rubber band to the outside of the lens being super careful not to get any on the lens itself. Once the glue is dry place the extra lens inside the stepping ring. The rubber band will ensure a tight fit so the lens won’t fall out when filming. If you want to though with a bit of pressure you can pop the lens out.
Step 4
Well that’s it. Attach the lens to your camcorder and go enjoi. If you have any questions the fire away.
As an extra i will post comparison shots and photos to support the walk through as soon as possible. I have them but am having trouble getting them on my computer. I wrote this a while ago and was waiting to post it until i got the shots up but i though **** it they can live with comparison shots for now. I will have them up as soon as possible.
Modifying the Raynox MX3000
All you need is
Raynox MX3000 pro semi fisheye (You can get a good deal from 41stphoto on ebay. They are a legit seller)
Sony .6x wide-angle lens, 37mm thread
Some elastic bands or smoothing to stick the lenses in place
Step 1
Unscrew the top or the Sony wide-angle lens like so. It can be a bit tight so I found by wrapping double-sided sticky tape around the top or the lens and around the bottom you can get a better grip and it just pops off.
Step 2
Next turn the wide-angle lens upside down and tap the back lens to make the front lens and the middle lens fall out (preferably onto a soft surface like carpet). It requires a bit of a hit but not so hard you smash the thing to bits. If you cant get the lens to come out then use a hair dryer to melt the glue.
Step 3
In the picture below for left to right you can see the part you should have off the Soy lens. From left to right there is the screw ring, the front lens, the middle lens and what’s left of the original wide-angle lens. You simply need the middle lens. The rest you can discard or do what you want with.
There are two ways you can modify the Raynox. By either attaching the middle lens straight to the Raynox or attach it to a stepping ring if required. Each way gives the same effect to the best of my knowledge. Because I was attaching mine to the VX1000 I attached the extra lens to the stepping ring.
Attaching straight to the Raynox
If you decided to attach it straight to the Raynox them make sure both lens are perfectly clean because if there is any smudges or marks then you will have to take it to bit start again.
Now place the Raynox face down on the ground and remove the back lens cover. Take the extra lens and place it so the concave side is facing out and the more flat side facing into the Raynox. Now get for of adhesive and fasten the extra lens to the inside edge of the Raynox (be careful not to let any glue or whatever get on the lens itself, only to the outside ring of it). Because I never used this method I don’t have any picture sorry. From what other people have said about this method shoe goo works best for holding it in place but hot glue guns and even tissue can be used. Be creative and se what hold it best
Attaching to a stepping ring
An alternate method, the one I used, which is good if you don’t want to touch the Raynox itself, is to fasten the extra lens into a stepping ring (if you require one). The advantage of this are that you don’t have to touch the Raynox itself and you don’t have to worry about cleaning the lens because it can be cleaned easily anytime. Also if necessary you can pop out the extra lens easily where as attaching to directly the Raynox makes it harder to remove.
To do this you will and elastic band and some super glue. The circumference of the elastic band needs to be smaller than the circumference of the extra lens to ensure a tight fit. Stretch the elastic band around the outside of the extra lens making sure that it is a tight fit and the that band is straight all the way around. (You don’t want the band twisted or kinked across the lens). Then using a little bit of super glue stick the rubber band to the outside of the lens being super careful not to get any on the lens itself. Once the glue is dry place the extra lens inside the stepping ring. The rubber band will ensure a tight fit so the lens won’t fall out when filming. If you want to though with a bit of pressure you can pop the lens out.
Step 4
Well that’s it. Attach the lens to your camcorder and go enjoi. If you have any questions the fire away.
As an extra i will post comparison shots and photos to support the walk through as soon as possible. I have them but am having trouble getting them on my computer. I wrote this a while ago and was waiting to post it until i got the shots up but i though **** it they can live with comparison shots for now. I will have them up as soon as possible.