How to Make a Telephoto Lens

A telephoto lens allow the photographer to take pictures from a distance. However, they are expensive. But there's hope: You can make your own telephoto lens. Believe it or not, you may well have all the pieces needed already inside your house.

Instructions

1. Cut a hole in the middle of the cardboard so that the "belly" of the binoculars can sit in it snugly. The ends of the binoculars, or the objective ends, should extend just beyond the end of the piece of cardboard.

2. Poke holes in the cardboard and slip the twist ties through them, and use the twist ties to lash the binoculars to the cardboard as you make a telephoto lens.

3. Make two cuts in the cardboard (the same end from which the binoculars extend), and fold the resulting flap down. Here is where you will snug your camera up against one of the objective ends of the binoculars.

4. Insert the bolt through the flat box with the bolt end sticking up through the box. The flat box will form the platform on which the camera and the binoculars will rest as you make a telephoto lens.

5. Screw the bolt into the tripod hole in your camera, backing up the cardboard so that the camera's lens fits snugly against one of the binoculars' objective lens. You can, if you like, use more twist ties to secure the binoculars to the flat box as well for further stability.

6. Take some pictures with your new telephoto lens. You will be amazed by the results.