Lensbabies are fun
Fun, although not always practical if you are shooting in a fast paced, distracting environment. For me, anyway. I've yet to bring mine out at a wedding, simply because I don't feel confident enough with it yet. I like to use mine pretty wide open, and so that "sweet spot" of focus can be elusive if you are rushed, or working with moving subjects. Here's a couple that illustrates this--although I do like these photos for what they are, the focus is not spot on where I would have liked it to be:
I'm not good at technical writing (or the technical aspect of anything, really), so I won't contribute much here in that aspect. However, I'll give it a shot. The lens works on a similar principal to the fancy tilt/shift lenses (I think), where you can move the focal plane around until you get the area in focus that you want. This is easier to understand if you look at the lens, than me trying to explain it. It takes a bit of getting used to; moving the lens around with your fingers while trying to manipulate the other camera controls can be tricky. But with practice, it gets easier.
The lens comes with a nifty little set of aperture rings, which attach magnetically to the lens. So you actually chose and place the aperture manually, as opposed to turning a dial or something. Like I said, I like to use it pretty wide open for the greatest effect, but it comes with 7 different rings to choose from, or it can also be used with no ring whatsoever for the shallowest DOF. (I told you I'm not a tech writer).
There are a couple of different versions of the Lensbaby, one a bit fancier than the other. I've got the fancy one, I think, the 3G. See the website for more details and a better explanation than I can provide: They range in price from around $100 to $300, depending on which version you buy and what kind of camera you have.
I find that I have the most fun with it when I'm shooting just for myself, and have time to play around with it. Kind of like a holga, you're never absolutely sure what you might get--the results can be different every time, and that, to me, is the beauty of the thing.
Here are some of my fave shots done with it last fall:
I'm not good at technical writing (or the technical aspect of anything, really), so I won't contribute much here in that aspect. However, I'll give it a shot. The lens works on a similar principal to the fancy tilt/shift lenses (I think), where you can move the focal plane around until you get the area in focus that you want. This is easier to understand if you look at the lens, than me trying to explain it. It takes a bit of getting used to; moving the lens around with your fingers while trying to manipulate the other camera controls can be tricky. But with practice, it gets easier.
The lens comes with a nifty little set of aperture rings, which attach magnetically to the lens. So you actually chose and place the aperture manually, as opposed to turning a dial or something. Like I said, I like to use it pretty wide open for the greatest effect, but it comes with 7 different rings to choose from, or it can also be used with no ring whatsoever for the shallowest DOF. (I told you I'm not a tech writer).
There are a couple of different versions of the Lensbaby, one a bit fancier than the other. I've got the fancy one, I think, the 3G. See the website for more details and a better explanation than I can provide: They range in price from around $100 to $300, depending on which version you buy and what kind of camera you have.
I find that I have the most fun with it when I'm shooting just for myself, and have time to play around with it. Kind of like a holga, you're never absolutely sure what you might get--the results can be different every time, and that, to me, is the beauty of the thing.
Here are some of my fave shots done with it last fall:
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by KL Phy Photography on
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Permalink Reply by KL Phy Photography on
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Well crap. I don't know why it's not working. The site is http://lensbabies.com/index.php.
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Permalink Reply by Jen Chapman on -
I was just thinking about starting a discussion about lensbabies last night! I really want one sooooo bad. It's on my wish list.
I LOVE the fall shots. Amazing!
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Permalink Reply by KL Phy Photography on
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Thanks Jen!
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Permalink Reply by KL Phy Photography on
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Why can you only edit for 13 minutes after you post? I just re-read this and noticed 3 grammatical errors and 2 misspellings.
I keep replying to my own thread...
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Armbrust on -
It doesn't matter that you come of uneducated...
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Permalink Reply by KL Phy Photography on
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HA HA!!! You mean off???? :) :)
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Permalink Reply by Christina Gnadinger on -
i have always toyed with the idea of getting a lensbaby .. i love those fun lenses like that and the fisheye. thanks for posting examples .. i may have to add it to my wishlist .. :)
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Permalink Reply by Erin on -
I love the example pics Kathy. I've wanted a lensbaby for a long time, but alas, I'm poor. :(
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Permalink Reply by Douglas C on -
I was interested in the lens when I first read about it on b+h, but I was concerned that it was only useful on a tripod. The foliage photos are very compelling, very holga.
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Permalink Reply by Adam Lewis on -
I have the 2.0 and you definitely dont need a tripod to use it. I dont use it all that much really. I bought it for my fiance one Christmas because she wanted it but neither of us really ever take it out of the bag. Its really more of a gimmick than anything else and Id probably rather just try to replicate the effect in Photoshop if I had the choice to buy it again.
If you are going to get one, be sure to get the new ones that lock in place. Using your fingers and trying to hold it still can be a pain.
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Permalink Reply by Chris "Lunatock" McCrory on -
I thought you said "Lesbians are fun"
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