Can I shoot a photo with my DSLR without the lens on?

Question

I thought it would be interesting to see what kinds of effects I could get by shooting a photo without any lens on my DSLR. However, when I take the lens off, it tells me that no lens is attached (obviously) and it won't let me take a photo. I have a Nikon D3100. Is it possible to do this? Can I change some setting or trick the camera in some way to allow me to take a picture this way?

Answer 1

There are two possible interpretations of this question:

1. Can you trigger an exposure with the lens removed:

   Answer: It's camera specific. Try setting the camera to manual mode. On my Nikon D80, it will not take an exposure with the lens removed except when in full manual ("M" on the mode dial).

2. Can you take a meaningful or interesting image without something acting like a lens.

   This is where things get tricky. For instance, I would argue that anything that projects some sort of pattern of light onto a surface (in this case, the sensor), effectively is a lens. Therefore, unless you want a flat, monochromatic exposure, you have to have some sort of lens.
   A pin-hole lens (as described by Hasin Hayder in his answer), is still arguably a lens, even if it is not a refracting lens. As such, you cannot shoot a meaningful image with out some manner of lens, even if it does not communicate with the camera, as lenses specifically designed for your camera do.

Answer 2

Yes, you can. Just make a very small hole at the center of your body cap (at your own risk :) ) and attach it. It will work just like the old pinhole camera.

Here is a how to - http://anttila.ca/michael/pinholelens/

Answer 3

Yes, you should be able to use your camera without a lens -- as long as you are in M (Manual) mode. There are a few sites that seem to confirm this:

• http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D3100/D3100A4.HTM
• http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/nikon_d3100_review/
• http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm#dslr

It sounds like your camera also won't meter. To get the right exposure, you'll probably have to take a few test shots and keep changing the shutter speed until you get the exposure you want.

Those sites do all mention using a lens. If your camera won't take a picture in Manual mode with no lens attached, you could look into getting a lens adapter for your camera. Just get one with no glass inside it. A T mount adapter for the Nikon mount should be relatively easy to find. Here's an example: http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Mount-Adapter-Nikon-Camera/dp/B001G4LOFE/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1331102374&sr=8-8 (personal note: in my one experience with Fotodiox products, the threads had a "grinding" feel to them when I attached them: it's a little distressing to put something like that on your expensive camera. You don't have to go all out, but this might be a case where you should spend a few extra dollars to get a precision-made adapter, rather than the cheapest one you can find).

Here's a picture of a bookshelf, resized but not cropped, taken from a couple feet away with no lens on my Canon 30D (which does meter in Manual mode, so I was able to get the exposure right on my first try):

I hope you'll come back and share your pictures with us if you come up with something cool!

Answer 4

if you do open your shutter with out a lens attached you are telling all the dust in the area to come to your sensor and stick around! so it may not be such a great idea. the pin hole though the dust cap is well tried and i think there is a pin hole camera day once a year. (may be 30th april) rings a bell. have fun, and look after that chip.

Answer 5

I own a Nikon D3100 and i have tried to shoot without my lens.

YES, you need to shoot in manual mode as everyone have explained . But i don understand the purpose, all you are going to get is white light or dark light image....

I would not suggest it because,

1- it exposes your sensor to dust(nightmare)

2- you don gave any subject... (it does not produce abstract images too ) doing which i feel is pointless but whatever your reason may be, just experiment it well i learned it that way, you too should :p .......

the lens is used to concentrate the light on the sensor resulting in an image but when u don't have a lens on, the sensor is exposed to every environmental light producing just plain images with nothing in it :p .

the only option you not will get to adjust is the aperture. your shutter speed and the ISO is in your control.

I appreciate your creative experimental thoughts :) happy clicking

Answer 6

Check out this video of Freelensing. You can create great effects by having the lens slightly away from the camera.

Answer 7

Yes.

Perhaps not all models since you said your Nikon would not allow you to do this, but I have done this with my Canon 60D and 450D.

This is most likely a software limitation that the manufacturer has decided to put in place.

Answer 8

Once you figure out how to get your camera to do it (usually simply by putting the camera in to M exposure mode), take a look at Rob Turney's Refractograph Tutorial (and the refractograph group on Flickr, which inspired himfor an interesting technique for creating images by projecting light directly onto the sensor rather than using a lens.

CC-BY photo by Nik Gaffney, aka "zzkt". There are many more colorful and detailed examples in the group under more restrictive licenses.