A couple months ago, I was experimenting with attaching small random lenses to a body cap I had previously used for digital pinhole. I came across one certain lens/focal length that worked great. Of course you have to focus by moving closer and farther away from your subject matter. I found that the effect was much like what you get from using some film toycamera's such as the Holga and Diana. Naturally, being a toy and vintage camera lover, I was pleased with my new do-it-yourself (DIY) invention. Later I would find that it could make some very pleasing portraits that I have posted here. Here are some sample photos: 
Portrait of Lia Created with Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera Digital RAW file - ISO 640 1/250 sec. exposure 
Portrait of Nikki Created with Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera Digital RAW file - ISO 3200, 1/4 sec. exposure 
Portrait of Dylan Created with Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera Digital RAW file - ISO 100, 1/25 sec. exposure 
Portrait of photographer/friend Nick Abadilla Created with Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera Digital RAW file - ISO 400, 1/60 sec. exposure 
Portrait of Aida Created with Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera Digital RAW file - ISO 400, 1/60 sec. exposure 
Portrait of Niki Created with Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera Digital RAW file - ISO 3200, 1/6 sec. exposure 
Portrait of Sara Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera Exposure 1/125 sec., ISO 1600 
Portrait of Photographer/Friend Junior Canon EOS 5D Digital Camera Exposure 1/50 sec., ISO 100 
Portrait of Adam Canon EOS 5D Digital Camera Exposure 1/60 sec., ISO 100 
Portrait of Brielle Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera Exposure 1/60 sec., ISO 200
Portrait of Brooke E. created with homemade lens and Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Unlike most lenses this lens is small enough to fit in your pocket. I also found that an old B+W lens filter box works nicely as a lens case.
Self-Portrait of Chris Keeney Created with Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera Digital RAW file - ISO 400, 1/60 sec. exposure Homemade 5D lens by Chris Keeney I'll try and post more images taken with this lens as I continue to experiment with it. Thanks for stopping by. -Chris Black and white conversions and image processing done using Adobe Lightroom 2.0 and Adobe Photoshop CS3 All images © 2009 Chris Keeney Photography and may not be used without permission.
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these turned out great
Monday, March 23, 2009Hello!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I'v just started to learn this language ;)
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
How did you make this lens?! I want to make one so badly now.
Friday, February 12, 2010Joshua
I found the lens as one of the elements in an old fixed focal length camera. I'm not sure which one, so I'm not sure I can be much help to you. But as you can see here, it can be done. The only problem with this lens is that it only focuses in the center of the lens.
Friday, February 12, 2010Wow... These shots are just amazing... So inspiring that I might just try to do this myself - *wish me luck*
Thursday, March 4, 2010Hey Chris!
I just came across these while catching up on your amazing pinholes. I love the combination of softness and sharpness you've achieved in one shot...I have a body cap for my Nikon D90 with a hole drilled in it..the beginning of a pinhole experiment. What else would I need to try to get effects similar to this? A lens from an old camera?
By the way, we're going to be doing pinholes in my class and I'm going to assign them to study you for homework! I hope you don't mind...
Keep up the wonderful work!
Kathy
Monday, April 12, 2010