How to Make a Fisheye Lens

Photo taken with fisheye lens

A fisheye lens distorts images into a spherical shape. Imagine looking at a fish through the round glass of a fish bowl, and this will give you some idea of what a fisheye lens does for photos. This type of lens is often used when taking photos of round subjects such as stadiums, domes and coliseums. There are two ways to make your own fisheye lens to experiment with. Both sets of instructions use inexpensive items and take only minutes to make.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Peephole (a security device installed on doors) or old pair of glasses
• Toilet paper or paper towel tube
• Duct or electrical tape
• Scissors
• Pliers

Peephole Fisheye Lens

1. Cut the cardboard tube to 3 inches.

2. Slide the peephole into the cardboard tube so that it is 1 ½ inches deep. Make sure that the larger end of the peephole is sticking out of the tube.

3. Wrap tape around the part of the peephole that is still sticking out and the end of the tube so that the peephole will not slip out.

4. Slide the other end of the tube onto the camera lens and hold it in place with one hand while you shoot.

Eyeglasses Fisheye Lens

1. Pinch the rim of the glasses around one lens with the pliers, and hold the lens with your other hand.

2. Bend the rim back with the pliers until the lens is released from the glasses frame.

3. Cut the cardboard tube to 2 inches.

4. Place the lens on one end of the tube. The concave side of the lens should be against the tube.

5. Wrap tape around the edge of the lens and the cardboard tube to secure the lens.

6. Slip the other end of the tube onto your camera to use the lens. Hold it in place with one hand while shooting.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different sizes of cardboard tubes to find one that fits your camera lens best.

• Do not tape the lens directly to the camera.

Resources

• How to Make a Fisheye Lens From a Wide Angle Lens