What can I do with a "ruined" autofocus SLR zoom lens? Anything cool/neat I can turn it into? Any fun optics demonstrations I can do with the lenses inside? [more inside]
posted on Nov 20, 2007 - 5 answers

I'm interested in fitting odd lenses -- and making custom lenses -- to/for digital cameras and digital video cameras. I'm not terribly concerned with the electronic side of things, so you shouldn't be either. What I'm looking for is a crass/crash course in optics -- something (a book, a video, a class, a kit) that will teach me the basics of optics and allow me to force photocopier lenses, telescopes, and microscopes onto unsuspecting recording devices.
posted on Dec 28, 2006 - 12 answers

Let's say I find a shiny spherical object and under point lighting, I move it very close to my eye. I then focus on the bright spot, but focus at a distance of 1-2 feet until the patterns are in focus. At this point, it looks like a bad microscope. Am I looking at part of my own eye? Is this a documented phenomenon I could read about?
posted on Oct 21, 2006 - 19 answers

Attention optics geeks: Will a flat water/air port affect a lens' minimum focus distance? [more inside]
posted on Apr 20, 2006 - 6 answers

Selective Depth-of-Field in Six Feet Under, and a question about lens flares. [more inside]
posted on Oct 4, 2005 - 12 answers

Canon 350D Digital Rebel XT: Should I get it with the kit lense or without? If without, what lense would you recommend? [more inside]
posted on Jul 7, 2005 - 10 answers