In 1832, Belgian Joseph Plateau and Austrian Simon von Stampfer, independent of one another, gave to the world nearly identical devices that would, in a relatively short time, alter how we view it. Literally.
Plateau’s Phenakistoscope and von Stampfer’s Stroboscope would soon be improved upon by William George Horner with his Zoetrope, or as he called it, the daedalum.
Moving pictures. How far we’ve come.
But, the question should be asked, if Plateau, von Stampfer, Horner, and all the way down the 19th century line to the Lumiére brothers, want to see still images in motion, why? Well, this is easily answered – though not thoroughly – with another question: Why not?
The technology hadn’t existed until they created it. That is, until they located the pieces floating there in the ether and rightly removed them for assembly. Those things that are missing, that we are missing, that we don’t know we’re missing, will be found, i.e. made.
Lo and behold, it’s happened again.
Eric Ho of Shapeways recently posted a gallery of 3D printed camera lenses and camera accessories . Ho says it himself. “Searching for that particular camera accessory but you can’t seem to find it anywhere? That’s probably because it doesn’t exist.”
Not until now.
Did you need a 3D printed hood for your Zeiss ZM 50mm f2 Planar lens like the one you see here designed by AnalogueRobot?
Or maybe you’re more of an adapter ring for Canon 50mm F1.8 lens with the HONDO Garage 50-Dollar Follow Focus kind of gent or gal.
It’s called the “Nifty Fifty (Canon 50mm F1) Follow Focus Adapter” by its creator, a one wileydavis.
Are you always losing your lens caps like I would if I were a photographer? Well you’re in luck. Spruce 3D printed this customizable lens cap holder with you in mind.
But the most impressive of the assortment (and you’ll find out why in a minute) is scottkrebs’s Fuji X mount double lens cap.
It’s the best of a good bunch because of Eric Ho’s addition.
“It didn’t exist so this Shapie created it!”
A “Shapie,” just in case you were unaware, is the inclusive lingo for someone associated with / using Shapeways. Ho precisely resounds my initial sentiment. If it doesn’t exist, someone’s bound to bring it into being.
For better or worse.
