Teleconverter or just bin it?

[ChrisKten]

Well I was bored, so I took apart an old 35mm SLR. It was an Olympus IS 100s, which means it had a fixed 4x zoom lens.

So I'm sitting here with bits all over the table, and one of those "bits" is the lens assembly. Now I know you will laugh, but here comes the stupid question:

I was wondering if it is possible to convert the lens into a teleconverter.

(I'm thinking of cardboard or plastic tube, painted black inside, fitting what I need of the lenses in the tube)

So, am I mad, or is it possible?

[666taz]

Dont think making it in to a converter will work but you could get a reversing ring and use it as a close up lens if you have another camera to use it with.

[ChrisKten]

Dont think making it in to a converter will work but you could get a reversing ring and use it as a close up lens if you have another camera to use it with.

Thanks for replying, I've just realised that I missed something out in my post. I meant a TC for a superzoom or compact, not for a DSLR.

[postcardcv]

Thanks for replying, I've just realised that I missed something out in my post. I meant a TC for a superzoom or compact, not for a DSLR.

I have no idea if it's possible or not but as you have the bits there it's got to be worth having a go.

[ChrisKten]

I have no idea if it's possible or not but as you have the bits there it's got to be worth having a go.

Well I have been, sort of.|=)|

I have all the lenses in the correct order, and I've worked out how to use it as a rather cumbersome magnifying glass. What I've not worked out yet is the distances between the 5 lenses. I haven't figured out what the focus should be; like when I look through the assembly when it's not attached to a camera, should it be in focus?

It's quite fiddly, but it would save me £100 if it worked, so I've not given up yet. I've considered how much light it would gather, and thought that as it's a 52mm lens it might not be terrible, especially if I lock it at 2x zoom.

EDIT:

I should add that these lenses really are impossible to take apart intact. No matter how many tiny screws I removed it still wouldn't budge. So I ended up with lots of pieces, but I didn't damage the lenses (just everything else ;)).