DIY Super Macro Camera for FREE

Make your camera phone into a super macro camera for a cost next to nothing! Super easy to make with basic tools and stuff around the house.

The phone used is Samsung Galaxy S2

Things you will need:

A good magnifying lens,

2 screws and one spring

and if you want, a back cover (used or new)

Tools needed:

Screwdriver

Wire cutters

This is the key "ingredient" to the project. The lens can be found basically anywhere where a lens is used. From magnifying glass to a old video camera.

When you find a good lens, make sure that it will serve the purpose of your needs. Different lenses have a different magnifying qualities. Keep this in mind when harvesting lenses.

I found the perfect lens for my needs from an old and broken video glasses. The lens is really big witch means it gathers light very easily so it will work even in a darker lightning and since the lens is made for looking a very small LCD screen the magnifying is also really good.

In some cases removing the lens can be a difficult process since the lens is meant to stay in one place.

carefully remove the lens. Do not use sharp tools so you won't scratch the lens.

After removing the lens try it on your camera. Be sure to test the lens before installing. Do this by just holding the lens over the camera and put the camera on.

For this lens to stay in one place, i used it's own brace since it is made for it.

I used my old phones back plate for this. Keep this in mind when doing this project--> do you want to use the camera without macro? I do. That is why i made the lens easily removable.

After deciding let's start building the mount for the lens.

Find all the parts that you need for the build. I made the lens adjustable. This sounds very difficult but its not. The screws i used were from some old laptop and the spring was from a ballpoint pen.

Use your screwdriver (or something you have) to puncture two small holes to the back plate. Make sure the holes are big enough for the screws. To make it adjustable the screws must be enabled to move freely in the holes.

Do not make bigger holes for the lens mount. Like in my case, your mount will be made from plastic. Just screw the screws in the plastic to make threads to the plastic.

Finally a spring is needed for the adjustable lens. Cut the spring at the right length so it will be just a tad longer than the screw. This will make sure the lens mount stays in place and that it will be adjustable when tightening the screws.

The first picture is taken without the lens and the other pictures are taken with the lens. The difference is huge. The camera won't even focus in the macro settings this close without the lens. After the lens the picture is clear and it will focus at almost 1-3 mm distance from the target! The pictures are not edited in any way. Just took these pictures with the macro lens in different lightning.

The build is easy to make and also a very cheap to do. I didn't use any money for this.