Flexible lens

Does anyone know of a product that would attach to a 35mm or digital camera
that is essentially a flexible lens for getting into small spaces? What I
have in mind is something that can be inserted into a crack in masonry or
through a hole in a wall. I am trying to get close-up photos of some birds
that have nested inside a brick column at my office and just can't get a
shot from outside the entrance to the area where the nest is.

Eric Miller

 

Try http://www.edsci.com Edmund Scientific, they have sold borescopes for
years. These may be adaptable to your camera.

 

Or a door security viewer.

 

I remember back in the day, I saw an article in one of the photo
magazines suggesting fitting a door viewer (at the time a fairly new
product) into a hole drilled in a lens cap. I tried it, and even by my
secondary school standards, the quality was very poor. Door viewers may
have improved though, in the intervening decades.

Lisa

 

If such a device exists, it would not be a good idea to advertise it
on here - because of several less-than ethical alternative uses to
which it might be put.

 

Have you tried a medical supply house. Although it might be expensive.
You could also try a rental tool center. There are systems used by
inspectors to look in plumbing and sewer lines.

 

Eric,
The device you describe is called an endoscope. If you search on that
you may find something, but you may well find that they are generally
slow in the focal ratio sense and also not of very high quality for
35mm (normally used with video). They come in rigid and flexible
forms, and with the lens looking straight out of the end or at 90
degrees. I've never tried hooking one to a 35mm camera.
Mark

 

I don't think they have improved enough. I built one -- from that
article, in fact (I think it was in Petersen's) and it was truly lousy for
most uses - but with my eye for the out of focus, distorted and bizarre, I
had a lot of fun with it. I can tell you you need to use a "hard" lens cap -
rubber won't do.

 

Don't give Canon any ideas - they'll come out with an EF USM f2.5 door
security device that lists for $1200. Photodo will only give it a 3.5
rating because it's not part of the 'L' series... (just kidding...)

-Chris

 

Your best bet is an endoscopic lens from Olympus. They have made them
for 30 years or so, and many were issued in the OM-system mound. They
were not just used for medical purposes.

The Minolta dimage EX camera has a detachable lens unit with a cable,
and a special wide-angle lens was made for this. I used it to photograph
the interior of guitars. However, it is long obsolete and the wide angle
lens was rare, and the file size is very small though quality is good
enough for a 6 x 4 print. It would be a matter of finding one.

David

 

Lisa Horton wrote:

Only Carl Leitz door viewers are acceptable.

;-)

 

If you refer to our occasionally unwelcome contributors, a few American
middle-class family housecats getting some surprising attention is about as
close to "less than ethical" as it gets. Unless this particular device comes
in bargepole-length form... in which case, watch out ladies!

 

Schneider Apochromatic WA door viewers are much better, but Leitz does make
excellent circular saw blades. (only half kidding...you guess which half)

 

And soon after hotel staff at the Dorchester will be seen with pots of red
paint, putting thin red rings round all the door viewers...


Peter

 

current security accessories list such things
the quality of image is so poor you can't use it for decent photo
kind of watching too old vhs video
and the price is unreal afaik

--

ian green

Xeto : photo & graphic project : http://xeto.front.ru
photo galleries @ BlurryImage : http://www.blurryimage.com/user/ian green
selected photography : http://ian_green.photosight.ru/
..
EOF

 

Nikon already put it out and charged $6,000 for it.

 

You mean they are only half circular saw blades?

 

Other than Gastric cameras, of which there are more modern video versions,
there are also flexible cable lens set-ups for some Sony video cameras.
Another option would be to get a microscope attachment set-up for your camera.
Nikon and I think Zeiss should have some modern gear that allows the viewing
you need. The Olympus is also available in more modern construction.

 

How come George has not replied that Sigma makes a much better one?

Jean

 

A fiber sigmoidoscope would do what you want, but I don't think the
doctor would let you borrow it.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


Capsizing under chute, and having the chute rise and fill without tangling, all while Mark and Sally are still behind you