alienmeatsack
Well-known
Lomography today announced a new product, a set of three lenses for all Micro 4/3 cameras called the Micro Four Thirds Experimental Lens Kit.
It retails for $89 USD and is compatible with any official "Micro 4/3" camera.
I personally do not own a M4/3 camera yet, but this kit makes me want to find one that is affordable to play with it.
The three lenses include:
Each lens can also accept color filter inserts (included) to mix things up as well. They are all manual focus and there is info that mentions multiple exposure etc. It sounds like each lens has it's own shutter that can be opened and closed separately from the camera's own digital shutter, allowing you to do multiple exposures using the lens itself. This means, you can technically put the camera into Bulb mode (if it has one) and then use the lenses shutter over and over to do long exposures, multiple exposures and all that.
Pretty much the typical plasticy dreamy creamy lenses you would expect from Lomography. Sounds like fun too.
See an official video here on Vimeo.
It retails for $89 USD and is compatible with any official "Micro 4/3" camera.
I personally do not own a M4/3 camera yet, but this kit makes me want to find one that is affordable to play with it.
The three lenses include:
- Standard 24mm lens
- Wide Angle 12mm lens
- Fisheye lens (160 degree)
Each lens can also accept color filter inserts (included) to mix things up as well. They are all manual focus and there is info that mentions multiple exposure etc. It sounds like each lens has it's own shutter that can be opened and closed separately from the camera's own digital shutter, allowing you to do multiple exposures using the lens itself. This means, you can technically put the camera into Bulb mode (if it has one) and then use the lenses shutter over and over to do long exposures, multiple exposures and all that.
Pretty much the typical plasticy dreamy creamy lenses you would expect from Lomography. Sounds like fun too.
See an official video here on Vimeo.
alienmeatsack
Well-known
The lenses:
They all appear to be f/8 fixed aperture best I can tell but I could be wrong. (Verified with their information. And the info on all the lenses. They are all a fixed f/8 aperture.
A How-To list with info on using the lenses, mounting them, using the shutter system, etc is here.
Specs for each lens...
They all appear to be f/8 fixed aperture best I can tell but I could be wrong. (Verified with their information. And the info on all the lenses. They are all a fixed f/8 aperture.
A How-To list with info on using the lenses, mounting them, using the shutter system, etc is here.
Specs for each lens...
mbisc
Silver Halide User
Great idea -- let's buy an expensive M4/3 camera and replace the all-plastic autofocus kit lens with an all-plastic manual focus lens with f8, so that manual focusing will be virtually impossible in anything but bright sunshine. Brilliant, really!
The result will be a digital version of a Holga camera, except no light leaks.
The result will be a digital version of a Holga camera, except no light leaks.
Gordon Coale
Well-known
Sounds like fun.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Kinda cool.
I like the idea of built in leaf shutter.
Can think of some applications where that would be of use.
Mostly I like the low tech innovation from the Lomonaughts.
They keep on going for it!
I like the idea of built in leaf shutter.
Can think of some applications where that would be of use.
Mostly I like the low tech innovation from the Lomonaughts.
They keep on going for it!
stompyq
Well-known
I'am sold. you just convinced me. Where do I pay??
daveleo
what?
alienmeatsack
Well-known
I would love to see an M-Mount version of this lens kit. I wonder why they chose M4/3 over M, Nikon, Canon etc? They have some lenses for the Nikon and Canon world already but this is a huge deal. (And pissed off some hard core Lomography people who believe it should all stay analog.)
Cheapest M4/3 camera I've found is around $200 new. I bet I can find one cheaper used. It could be fun to play with these lenses on something small and portable. There are times when I want the Lomography look but don't want to haul my big Nikon bodies for the Diana and Holga lenses.
Cheapest M4/3 camera I've found is around $200 new. I bet I can find one cheaper used. It could be fun to play with these lenses on something small and portable. There are times when I want the Lomography look but don't want to haul my big Nikon bodies for the Diana and Holga lenses.
JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
Actually, compared to the Olympus BCL-15 body cap lens (also fixed f/8 aperture), these sound pretty interesting, even price-wise. I don't expect image quality to be on par, however, but I know with Silky Pix raw editor (and other more mainstream photo editors) I can correct for CA and field curvature, as I also do with the BCL-15.
~Joe
~Joe
Godfrey
somewhat colored
How about a cheap mFT camera? ... I paid $90 for my Olympus Pen E-PL1. Used of course.
I use all kinds of wacky lenses on it, including the excellent little Olympus body cap lens ...
G
mbisc
Silver Halide User
I was trying to be sarcastic, and I failed miserably. :bang:
But hey, it's okay to be different, and I am glad (really!) that some folks find these lenes interesting. I just don't...
alienmeatsack
Well-known
Nice price on that E-PL1 there, Godfrey. I don't see any of them for any cheaper then $150-200. For $90, I'd grab one just to try these lenses and have a nice affordable M4/3 camera in my arsenal.
Rick Waldroup
Well-known
I ordered the set of lenses about a week ago and they should be arriving today. I plan on using them on a Lumix GF-1.
alienmeatsack
Well-known
I think it's worth noting that these lenses sparked a huge upswell of anti-digital posts at Lomography's site. This became even more noticeable when they added in an option in their uploader to tag your image as digital.
Quite a few of the people I follow have posted images noting their distaste for this new digital flood into their previously analog world. What most of them neglect to notice is that there have been digital photos on Lomography for years.
I've posted shots of my analog gear, taken digitally many times. They sell a Diana lens adapter for Canon and Nikon bodies, which Ive seen used digitally and posted with no comments against them. As well as their Holga pinhole and regular lens for same bodies, also used digitally and posted with no comments against them.
While I do think they need to make some distinction between the digital and analog, I think that these lenses are very much Lomography to their core and represent the exact same essence that the film lenses and bodies do. And I welcome the results from them. I've already seen some really fun images... and I hope to find a M4/3 body to try them myself.
If anyone here gets these, please post some images.
Quite a few of the people I follow have posted images noting their distaste for this new digital flood into their previously analog world. What most of them neglect to notice is that there have been digital photos on Lomography for years.
I've posted shots of my analog gear, taken digitally many times. They sell a Diana lens adapter for Canon and Nikon bodies, which Ive seen used digitally and posted with no comments against them. As well as their Holga pinhole and regular lens for same bodies, also used digitally and posted with no comments against them.
While I do think they need to make some distinction between the digital and analog, I think that these lenses are very much Lomography to their core and represent the exact same essence that the film lenses and bodies do. And I welcome the results from them. I've already seen some really fun images... and I hope to find a M4/3 body to try them myself.
If anyone here gets these, please post some images.
Rodchenko
Olympian
How about a cheap mFT camera? ... I paid $90 for my Olympus Pen E-PL1. Used of course.
I use all kinds of wacky lenses on it, including the excellent little Olympus body cap lens ...
G
How did you get my camera?
I've had the BCL (which is, of course, also a fixed f/8) for a while, and it's fun. I flatter myself I managed some decent photos with it. I got it for the same price as the Lomography kit.
Now, there is no way I would use the 24mm. But the wide angle or fisheye might be interesting to play with, and certainly cheaper than a 'proper' example of either.
Coloured filters? Oh dear. But they can be ignored.
I look forward to seeing what results people come out with.
Rick Waldroup
Well-known
I think it's worth noting that these lenses sparked a huge upswell of anti-digital posts at Lomography's site. This became even more noticeable when they added in an option in their uploader to tag your image as digital.
Quite a few of the people I follow have posted images noting their distaste for this new digital flood into their previously analog world. What most of them neglect to notice is that there have been digital photos on Lomography for years.
I've posted shots of my analog gear, taken digitally many times. They sell a Diana lens adapter for Canon and Nikon bodies, which Ive seen used digitally and posted with no comments against them. As well as their Holga pinhole and regular lens for same bodies, also used digitally and posted with no comments against them.
While I do think they need to make some distinction between the digital and analog, I think that these lenses are very much Lomography to their core and represent the exact same essence that the film lenses and bodies do. And I welcome the results from them. I've already seen some really fun images... and I hope to find a M4/3 body to try them myself.
If anyone here gets these, please post some images.
Well, I am about to walk out the door and will be gone most of the day. I was hoping Mr. Fed Ex would come before I leave, but so far, no luck. The lenses should arrive today but I may not get a chance to play around with them until Saturday. My work schedule sucks the next few days.....:bang:
alienmeatsack
Well-known
Rodchenko - I think that like any lens, each of these will reach people in its own way and the users will make favorites. You might not like the 24mm for your reasons but others might enjoy the living daylights out of it for day to day photos, and same with the wide and fisheye. I think the fact that all three can be had for so cheaply is the big thing here. I mean, heck, you could pick the lenses up and then sell just the 24mm and color filters if they weren't your taste to someone who wants them, making a little of your investment back. And it's win win for both parties
Rick - that stinks. I always hate when I have a fun new toy waiting for me and can't get to it due to work, being out of town, etc.
I had a line on a Lumix this past weekend for $90 in good condition but it got away. Still hoping to find something with 10-12MP for using these lenses. The lenses look fun and I want to be part of that fun
Rick - that stinks. I always hate when I have a fun new toy waiting for me and can't get to it due to work, being out of town, etc.
I had a line on a Lumix this past weekend for $90 in good condition but it got away. Still hoping to find something with 10-12MP for using these lenses. The lenses look fun and I want to be part of that fun
Rodchenko
Olympian
Rick, give us your boss's phone number. We'll give him a bell and tell him you've got some vital experiments to do.
Rodchenko
Olympian
Rodchenko - I think that like any lens, each of these will reach people in its own way and the users will make favorites. You might not like the 24mm for your reasons but others might enjoy the living daylights out of it for day to day photos, and same with the wide and fisheye. I think the fact that all three can be had for so cheaply is the big thing here. I mean, heck, you could pick the lenses up and then sell just the 24mm and color filters if they weren't your taste to someone who wants them, making a little of your investment back. And it's win win for both parties
Oh yeah, absolutely. I didn't mean to dismiss the idea. I mean, I have the BCL, FHS!
I'm seriously tempted to buy this kit and have a play. I've always wanted a go with a fisheye, but never been able to afford one.
But I've spent my photography budget for the month already.
alienmeatsack
Well-known
I don't know how this fisheye will perform on M4/3 cameras, but it has one advantage over many others out there... It was designed for these cameras and their sensor size.
That fact alone coupled with the Lomography plastic fantastic look and feel makes it a winner. Add in the fact that there is no fisheye for any platform that is in the price range of this whole kit and you have a winner for that alone. (*No proper fisheye anyway)
I've had several online friends who are M4/3 fiends who've never used a film camera and never used a Lomography camera talk about these lenses and how fun they sound. I think that means they hit their audience and then some with the kit.
There are some rumors going around that they are going to sell them as separate lenses for around $30 each with a basic color filter selection. I don't know if that's true, but I think you could buy the kit and resell the parts you didn't want to help cover your costs just as easily. Plus it's not that pricy in the first place for the whole thing.
I do know this, this kit makes me want to go shoot M4/3 and have some fun with the MX and filters etc!
That fact alone coupled with the Lomography plastic fantastic look and feel makes it a winner. Add in the fact that there is no fisheye for any platform that is in the price range of this whole kit and you have a winner for that alone.
(*No proper fisheye anyway)I've had several online friends who are M4/3 fiends who've never used a film camera and never used a Lomography camera talk about these lenses and how fun they sound. I think that means they hit their audience and then some with the kit.
There are some rumors going around that they are going to sell them as separate lenses for around $30 each with a basic color filter selection. I don't know if that's true, but I think you could buy the kit and resell the parts you didn't want to help cover your costs just as easily. Plus it's not that pricy in the first place for the whole thing.
I do know this, this kit makes me want to go shoot M4/3 and have some fun with the MX and filters etc!