I. The Bokeh Cheat Code
Modern photography obsesses over bokeh arms races—f/1.4! f/0.95!—while forgetting 1970s optical witchcraft. Enter macro extension tubes: hollow metal rings that turn humble f/2.8 lenses into bokeh dragons. Mount a Yashica ML 35mm f/2.8 via $30 adapter, add 16mm of extension, and suddenly:
- Focus distance shrinks from 0.3m to 0.15m
- Effective aperture blooms to f/1.2 (mathematically)
- Backgrounds melt into Van Gogh swirls
Science? More like smoke and mirrors with EXIF data.
II. Gear Alchemy: From Trash to Treasure
1. The Poverty Spec
| Item | Cost | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Yashica ML 35mm f/2.8 | $80 | Bokeh engine (Contax CY mount) |
| Fotodiox CY-E Adapter | $25 | Frankenstein’s neck bolt |
| K&F 16mm Macro Tube | $18 | Aperture loophole pick |
| Total | $123 | vs. $5,800 Leica Noctilux |
2. The Math of Deception
Extension (mm) = (Desired Magnification) × (Focal Length)
For 0.5x mag: 16mm tube + 35mm lens = portrait alchemy