{"id":379444,"date":"2025-11-14T23:43:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T23:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/379444\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T23:43:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T23:43:15","slug":"photographer-adds-wheels-to-a-probe-lens-to-make-weirdest-lens-even-weirder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/379444\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographer Adds Wheels to a Probe Lens to Make &#8216;Weirdest Lens Even Weirder&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n<p>Paris-based photographer and filmmaker Mathieu Stern, known for his experimental photography and creative YouTube tutorials, has once again pushed the limits of lens experimentation. This time, Stern put wheels on a probe lens to create unique, super-low, moving POV footage.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mathieustern.com\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">Mathieu Stern\u2019s<\/a> latest project revolves around a groundbreaking <a href=\"https:\/\/laowacine.com\/product\/po-laowa-probe-zoom-15-24mm-t8-15-35mm-t12\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">periscope probe zoom lens from Laowa<\/a>, a brand synonymous with unusual and inventive optics. But Stern didn\u2019t stop at simply reviewing the lens; he transformed it into a rolling, low-to-the-ground cinematic tool that opens entirely new possibilities for photographers and filmmakers.<\/p>\n<p> A Weird Lens Made Even Weirder <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is without a doubt the weirdest lens I have ever used. But I wanted to make it even weirder,\u201d Stern explains.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, Laowa has produced some of the most unique lenses available, and Stern partnered with the brand to explore the potential of their new periscope probe zoom lens. Unlike conventional lenses, this optical marvel enables cameras to reach previously inaccessible spaces, inspired by the original naval periscope invented in 1854 and refined during World War I.<\/p>\n<p>The lens consists of two primary elements: a removable probe and a main body housing manual controls, including focus, zoom, and aperture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe probe itself can rotate horizontally or vertically, while accessories can be attached for added flexibility,\u201d Stern says.<\/p>\n<p>With a close focusing distance of just half a centimeter, the lens excels at macro work, allowing small subjects to appear larger-than-life. Stern also notes that the probe is waterproof, enabling striking underwater shots.<\/p>\n<p><img data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Laowa-Probe-Zoom-Lens-800x714.jpg\" alt=\"A set of four long, black periscope-style camera lenses are displayed on a dark surface; one lens is attached to a camera mounted on a tripod, and three stand upright beside it.\" width=\"800\" height=\"714\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-826015\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathieu-Stern_0003_Layer-1-800x466.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a camera with a long lens on a tripod, pointed at a mossy tree stump on a forest floor covered in fallen autumn leaves. Tall trees with yellow and brown foliage are in the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"466\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-826016\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathieu-Stern_0003_Layer-2-800x466.jpg\" alt=\"A tripod stands in a shallow forest stream, surrounded by fallen autumn leaves and branches, with trees in the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"466\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-826023\"  \/><\/p>\n<p> Stabilization and Innovation <\/p>\n<p>Given its size and complexity, the <a href=\"https:\/\/laowacine.com\/product\/po-laowa-probe-zoom-15-24mm-t8-15-35mm-t12\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">Laowa Probe Zoom Macro Lens<\/a> requires stabilization to avoid magnified shake. Stern employed tripods, sliders, and tabletop setups to test its potential.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut my most inventive modification came when I added wheels to the lens support, transforming it into a low-angle, mobile rig capable of following subjects at ground level. By adding wheels, I\u2019ve unlocked so many new possibilities,\u201d Stern says.<\/p>\n<p>The periscope probe lens also offers zoom capability, enabling dolly zoom sequences. Stern anticipates even more creativity from future probe heads that Laowa plans to release, hinting at unexplored ways to capture dynamic perspectives.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathieu-Stern_0002_Layer-2-800x466.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing red pants and green sneakers holds a camera mounted on a small dolly with an angled arm, positioned low above a wooden floor in front of a white door.\" width=\"800\" height=\"466\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-826017\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathieu-Stern_0000_Layer-4-800x466.jpg\" alt=\"A camera with a long lens is mounted on an adjustable arm attached to a small wheeled dolly, positioned on a wooden floor near a crib and white walls.\" width=\"800\" height=\"466\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-826018\"  \/><\/p>\n<p> Macro Creativity Meets Rolling POV <\/p>\n<p>The rolling periscope setup, combined with Stern\u2019s inventive approach, reveals the playful, experimental side of modern photography and filmmaking. The lens allows creators to explore unseen angles, peek into tight spaces, and achieve fluid low-to-the-ground shots that were previously impossible.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mathieustern.com\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">Mathieu Stern\u2019s<\/a> Paris-based experiments reaffirm his reputation as a boundary-pushing creator, blending technical ingenuity with artistic curiosity. His work goes beyond simply testing lenses. It challenges conventional ideas of how cameras can interact with the world. By combining inventive rigging, unusual optics, and a fearless approach to experimentation, Stern continually discovers new ways to capture perspectives that were previously impossible, emphasizing the limitless possibilities that emerge when creativity meets innovation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith a lens that can peek into impossible spaces and roll across the floor for unique point-of-view shots, I hope to inspire photographers and filmmakers to rethink what\u2019s possible behind the camera,\u201d Stern says.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Image credits:<\/strong> Mathieu Stern<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Paris-based photographer and filmmaker Mathieu Stern, known for his experimental photography and creative YouTube tutorials, has once again&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":379445,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[648,1032,1033,171,181990,181991,53628,67,132,68,181992],"class_list":{"0":"post-379444","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-design","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-laowa","13":"tag-mathieustern","14":"tag-probe","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-us","18":"tag-wheels"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115550711772260233","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379444\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/379445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}