lZr
L&M
I want to introduce to you this small American wonder, called Lensbaby. It is already a year in my hands and mounted on my SLR Maxxum 7 and also Maxxum 7D.
Let me know what you think about. I have huge collection of shots using this controversal 50 mm lens and I mount over it macro rings and wide angle converter to get 22 mm shots. Incredible mood and gorgeous character.
See some samples attached. I think you will hate it from the very beginning.
Reading so much stuff from Leica aficionados in the forum, I am really afraid of your immediate feedback. But I am ready. You can visit the site and also get in touch with the inventors of the idea. Nice forum.
This is manual lens, open up to f/2 and to focus it, you must push/pull, bend to left/right and look for the focus you need. Also, the blur can be deep into the frame - not one usually plane focus.
I have only the LB 2.0, but there is LB 3.0G totaly loco lens
http://www.lensbaby.com
Let me know what you think about. I have huge collection of shots using this controversal 50 mm lens and I mount over it macro rings and wide angle converter to get 22 mm shots. Incredible mood and gorgeous character.
See some samples attached. I think you will hate it from the very beginning.
Reading so much stuff from Leica aficionados in the forum, I am really afraid of your immediate feedback. But I am ready. You can visit the site and also get in touch with the inventors of the idea. Nice forum.
This is manual lens, open up to f/2 and to focus it, you must push/pull, bend to left/right and look for the focus you need. Also, the blur can be deep into the frame - not one usually plane focus.
I have only the LB 2.0, but there is LB 3.0G totaly loco lens
http://www.lensbaby.com
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sebastel
coarse art umbrascriptor
honestly, those pictures do not tell me much, so please allow me to just shut up. 
from the comments i hear from many different sides, using it must be quite some fun, though.
still i have one question: why do you emphasize it being an "American wonder"?
cheers,
sebastian
from the comments i hear from many different sides, using it must be quite some fun, though.
still i have one question: why do you emphasize it being an "American wonder"?
cheers,
sebastian
lZr
L&M
Thanks for your opinion, sebastel. It is American wonder, because there is not so much cameras or optics one can get from America.
lZr
L&M
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Well
I've seen many images with the lensbaby, starting with the "review" some year(s) ago on photo.net, and i've always found the results a bit cheesy.
Just my honest oppinion.
I've seen many images with the lensbaby, starting with the "review" some year(s) ago on photo.net, and i've always found the results a bit cheesy.
Just my honest oppinion.
lubitel
Well-known
i thought the lensbaby was made by some russian guys.
S
Simon Larbalestier
Guest
Pherdinand said:
I'd agree i had one for a Nikon F3, used it alongside a Holga and when i returned from my trip i sold the Lensbaby straight away not a single shot was a keeper.
The Holga won hands down.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Simon,
Funny - I also thought about mentioning the Holga as the easier alternative, but then I thought it's a different animal so let's not mix. (Medium format, and, very limited as to shutter speeds, apertures.)
Funny - I also thought about mentioning the Holga as the easier alternative, but then I thought it's a different animal so let's not mix. (Medium format, and, very limited as to shutter speeds, apertures.)
S
Simon Larbalestier
Guest
Yes but i got the lensbaby so i could supposedly control the soft glow which i couldn't with the Holga. Also to be able to use it on 35mm film and just swap lenses seemed a good option. How wrong i was.....
lZr
L&M
Thnaks for your honest opinion. The LB blur can't be PS reproduced. I like it because every shot can't be done twice. I have some shots that got high ranking in Sibir Bienale for b&w photos. Photog that use 'regular' lenses most of the time can't afford himself shooting LB, because....better to shut up
I see dif. dimension while using the LB.
I can't understand what exactly is bad about the lens. Is that inconsistent focus, or unexpected blur?
It can take time to internalize the LB mood.
I see dif. dimension while using the LB.
I can't understand what exactly is bad about the lens. Is that inconsistent focus, or unexpected blur?
It can take time to internalize the LB mood.
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S
Simon Larbalestier
Guest
lZr said:
For me lZr, it comes down to the fact that the shots i took with this lens just weren't natural. They felt too contrived.
With the Nikon's 100% view screen and a Beattie Interscreen installed the OOF areas were just too severe.
lZr
L&M
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Well, the thing is, I have many "unique" shots that are still worth nothinglZr said:
)I don't need a lensbaby to produce them, so that's why.
I'm sure it can be used creatively, and a good photographer can produce great shots with it, but then, that photographer also can produce great shots without it...
Feel free to show us more, maybe you convince me about its usefulness! I'm open...
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Ah i see you posted some more shots in the meantime.
Let's see. The first one: I like it but it would be a good decorative shot without the lensbaby effect already.
The second one: i find it weird, don't know what to think about it. The blur itself on the left and right distracts my attention too much from the real subject.
The third one: it is exactly what I was referring to in my first reply. Please don't take it as an offense.
The fourth one: is an interesting shot, but most of the interest (for me) comes from the subject and the tonality, not the blur around the subject.
A controlled "lensbaby" effect is sometimes used by large format photographers with deliberately tilting the lens versus the film plane to achieve a focal plane which is at a weird angle. Sometimes this is done to get things out of focus. It might help keeping focus on some detail but it looks extremely unnatural so it is difficult to get a pleasing effect. Somehow i feel the same is the case with the LB.
Let's see. The first one: I like it but it would be a good decorative shot without the lensbaby effect already.
The second one: i find it weird, don't know what to think about it. The blur itself on the left and right distracts my attention too much from the real subject.
The third one: it is exactly what I was referring to in my first reply. Please don't take it as an offense.
The fourth one: is an interesting shot, but most of the interest (for me) comes from the subject and the tonality, not the blur around the subject.
A controlled "lensbaby" effect is sometimes used by large format photographers with deliberately tilting the lens versus the film plane to achieve a focal plane which is at a weird angle. Sometimes this is done to get things out of focus. It might help keeping focus on some detail but it looks extremely unnatural so it is difficult to get a pleasing effect. Somehow i feel the same is the case with the LB.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
What's "fake light" by the way?
lZr
L&M
Thanks Pherdinand for the in depth analysis. I think (and you understand) the blur and focus are dif. issue. The tilt/shift lens has nothing in common with blur, only with the focus. LB has 3 dimensions to consider: focus, DOF and blur. 'Regular' lens DOF is inretwinned with blur. So, not easy life.
By fake light I mean inforced dispersion and reflection of the light by th LB.
The fourth shot is more dramatic using the LB blur (I think). If the blur adds to softness, I like it
(the second shot is from Sony center in Berlin)
By fake light I mean inforced dispersion and reflection of the light by th LB.
The fourth shot is more dramatic using the LB blur (I think). If the blur adds to softness, I like it
(the second shot is from Sony center in Berlin)
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Duncan Ross
Say it with flashbulbs
A lot of rangefinder users in this forum; probably not the most likely people to buy a lensbaby. I liked this sort of photography when I had a lomo, it was great fun and very refreshing. Not so sure if it would have the same appeal if I was waving an SLR around.
BTW are you involved in the sales / promotion of the Lensbaby?
BTW are you involved in the sales / promotion of the Lensbaby?
rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
for the relatively low price, I could see throwing one into my SLR kit bag, just to have as an option. But I doubt it would get much use. Still - if I sold one photo made with it, I more than paid for it.. so I may at some point.
Obviously, it wouldn't really make sense to go with the rf's.
Obviously, it wouldn't really make sense to go with the rf's.
MikeL
Go Fish
To me, the blur you've created with the lensbaby gives a stong sense of motion in a lot of the photos, but then the motion doesn't seem to make sense in a photo and my brain gets tweaked. Or something. Probably an aquired taste.
lZr
L&M
Thanks all and sure, not for RF cameras.
No, Ross I am not, but I like its mood, that's all
No, Ross I am not, but I like its mood, that's all