FrankenCamera: 18 year old digitalizes old Konica Auto S3 Analog Camera

I simply love interesting DIY-projects, certainly also because I´m completely untalented myself when it comes to handiwork. For me any kind of work that requires more than the use of some duct tape and scissors is too complicated already. That´s why I´m thrilled like a child when I get the chance to look over the shoulder of a gifted and ambitious craftsman…at least virtually. The latest DIY-story involves 18-year old Ollie Baker, who dissembled his NEX5 in order to build its components into an old Konica Auto S3 rangefinder camera.

© Ollie Baker

As you can imagine, this undertaking is far from easy. At first, the digital camera needs to be dissembled to identify the parts crucial for its functioning.

© Ollie Baker

Then, the back of the analog camera has to be removed. A new one that leaves enough room for the digital parts inside of the new Frankenstein-camera has to be designed and 3D-printed.

© Ollie Baker

The back of the digital camera along with the sensor, LCD and other components is then connected to the analog shutter button, so the sensor can be activated synchronously with the Auto S3s leaf shutter.

© Ollie Baker

Finally, all these parts need to be reassembled, which is a lot more complicated than one would think. Trying handiwork myself I’ve always had to discover there are spare parts. 😉 And by the way: because the photo is projected onto an APS-C-sensor instead of a 35mm film, the lens and the rangefinder have to be adjusted accordingly.

© Ollie Baker

The pictures the camera is able to capture are nothing to sneeze at. Here are two sample images:

© Ollie Baker

How the camera looks and works is shown in the two following videos.

You can find more information on Ollie Bakers FrankenCamera-Blog.