Element for modular attachment of camera accessories

Abstract

A camera accessory mounting element includes attachment elements configured to mount to a component of a camera, such as a lens or a flash device. One or more peripheral devices may be attached to the camera accessory mounting element using attachment elements such as magnets. Peripheral devices include a grid, a light directing dish, a lens hood, a lens adaptor, a step-ring, a lens filter, a lens extension tubes, a light diffusers, a light filter, and a light directing device.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A lens modification system comprising:
 an apparatus having a face and an apparatus opening, wherein the apparatus is coupled to a lens element of a camera such that light may be directed through the apparatus opening to the lens element, wherein the apparatus face includes a ferromagnetic attachment element;   a first additional device comprising:
 a body having a first base opposite a first face, the body defining at least one opening from the first base to the first face through which visible light is capable of passing, wherein the first base is removably coupled to the apparatus face using the ferromagnetic attachment element such that the first base and the apparatus face are substantially flush and at least a portion of the apparatus opening overlaps with at least a portion of the at least one opening. 
   
     
     
         22 . The lens modification system of  claim 21 , wherein the attachment element comprises at least one magnet. 
     
     
         23 . The lens modification system claim of  21 , wherein the attachment element comprises a ferromagnetic metal, and further wherein the first base comprises at least one magnet in magnetic communication with the ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         24 . The lens modification system of  claim 21 , further comprising a second additional device comprising a second base that is magnetically coupled to the first face. wherein the first face and the second base are magnetically coupled. 
     
     
         25 . The lens modification system of  claim 24 , wherein the second additional device comprises a second opening, and further where the second base and the first face are substantially flush such at least a portion of the second opening overlaps with at least a portion of the at least one opening. 
     
     
         26 . The lens modification system of  claim 21 , wherein the body of the first additional device is a light filter body in which a light filter is permanently housed in at least a portion of the at least one opening. 
     
     
         27 . The lens modification system of  claim 21 , wherein the first additional device comprises a lens filter body adapted to receive a lens filter, wherein the lens filter body defines the first base. 
     
     
         28 . The lens modification system of  claim 27  wherein the lens filter body is made of a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         29 . The lens modification system of  claim 27  wherein the lens filter is a translucent filter. 
     
     
         30 . A camera lens adapting system comprising:
 a lens element having a body, the lens element associated with a camera;   an apparatus having an apparatus opening removably coupled to the body of the lens element, wherein the apparatus includes an apparatus face through which the apparatus opening passes on an apparatus plane that is substantially parallel with a face of the lens; and   a first additional device magnetically coupled to the apparatus, the first additional device comprising a first opening and a first base on a first plane, the first plane substantially parallel to the apparatus plane, wherein the first opening and the apparatus opening are aligned such that light is capable of passing through the first opening and the apparatus opening to the lens element.   
     
     
         31 . The camera lens adapting system of  claim 30 , the system further comprising:
 a second additional device removably coupled to the first additional device, the second additional device comprising a second base on a second plane, the second plane substantially parallel to the first plane.   
     
     
         32 . The camera lens adapting system of  claim 30 , wherein the apparatus is removably coupled to the body lens element by at least one portion of the apparatus elastically deforming about the body of the lens element. 
     
     
         33 . The camera lens adapting system of  claim 30 , wherein the apparatus face and the first base are capable of forming a magnetic coupling. 
     
     
         34 . The camera lens adapting system of  claim 31 , the first additional device further comprising a first face disposed opposite the first base, and wherein the second base is removably coupled to the first face of the first additional device face. 
     
     
         35 . The camera lens adapting system of  claim 34 , wherein the first face and the second base are capable of forming a magnetic coupling. 
     
     
         36 . The camera lens adapting system of  claim 30 , wherein the first additional device lens filter. 
     
     
         37 . The camera lens adapting system of  claim 30 , wherein the first additional device comprises a lens filter body adapted to receive a lens filter, wherein the lens filter body defines the first additional device base. 
     
     
         38 . A camera lens system comprising:
 a lens element with a body having a lens face, the lens element associated with a camera;   an apparatus comprising:
 a body defining an apparatus opening, the body having an apparatus face through which the opening passes, wherein 
 the apparatus face is on an apparatus plane that is substantially parallel with the lens face; and 
   a first additional device with a first base and a first opening on a first plane, wherein the first base is magnetically coupled to the apparatus face such that the first plane is substantially parallel to the apparatus plane and the first opening and the apparatus opening at least partially overlap.   
     
     
         39 . The camera lens system of  claim 38 , wherein the first additional device further comprises a first face opposite the first base, and wherein the system further comprises:
 a second additional device with a second base on a second plane, wherein the second base is magnetically coupled to the first face such that the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane.   
     
     
         40 . The camera lens system of  claim 39 , wherein the first additional device and the second additional device are each a lens filter.