'Modelscope' to use with a K10D

Does anyone know where I can purchase a 'modelscope' (optical system for eye level photography of models of buildings etc.) that will work with a K10D ? They were relatively common many years ago but now seem to have disappeared.

Are we talking about a rigid endoscope with 45 degree bottom mirror?.....I know that item used to be used for 'ground level' architectural model views.

That is exactly what I mean and its use. From memory they comprised a hollow stainless steel tube (about 10mm in diameter) with a 45 degree mirror at the bottom, but I cannot remember how they attached to a camera. The connection might have been via a screw thread onto the filter thread of the lens.

I guess the best hope is to contact an architectural modelmaker or hope that a Pentax owning architectural modelmaker reads this forum.

I have used that equipment, not for architectural use, but it is about 30 years ago. The endoscope is about 12 inches long and is detachable from whatever fittings one uses on either end. As I remember the particular instrument that I used was made by Olympus and fitted to camera via adaptors in the paarticular lens mount fitting,...the adaptor fitted to a conical prism which effectively enlarged the image to fill the frame. You could use the endoscope without this prism but with an eye-piece fitted in it's place. On the business end of the tube is the tiny lens that gives the 'view' in varying degrees of perspective / wideness according to which you use,...the mirror is mounted inside a collar which fits over this.

18 months or so back i remember seeing some of these instruments for sale at bargain prices and did think about aquireing one, however, I am racking my brains to remember where,....it wa a 'Proops' type of technical surplus outfit......

Something that comes to mind is one of those security door viewers with mirror.....there used to be lots of items in mags and on the web about using those viewrs to make uktra wide-angle lenses and fisheyes,....it would'nt cost a whole lot to have a try....provided you have room to get the camera between the 'buildings'....

......Gunsmiths use a viewer something like this to examine the inside of breeches where the rifling starts,...a very important area for gunsmiths...

What about one of those little conical viewers that vets and doctors use to look down ears,....i had a look thru the vets viewer once at the inside of my bull-terriers ear and the wideness and scale of the view was amazing....there are government suplus places at the moment with large stocks of ex-military surgical instruments going for a song.....just bought some very high tech tweezers.

Something like this:
http://www.tut.fi/units/arc/amltech/eaea/modelscope.htm

(Google'd)

Looks like the original went straight into the Olympus (ie it is the lens). However, it appears on quick inspection that a 52mm thread adaptor is possible (look at the digital section).

HTH!
Matt

Matt,

Thanks - that is a useful link. They now seem to be called endoscopes or boroscopes and are used for inspecting the insides of everything from humans to engines etc.

I have found a specialist Olympus site, but it appears that the item is sold for use with a specialist Olympus SLR body.

I shall contact some architectural modelmakers.