Selectable Focus and Buzz Lightyear

[articulate]

Lensbabies - ever heard of these things?

I really don't take much interest, but an advertisement in a magazine touted that Lensbabies have this sweet focus feature:

to infinity and beyond

As a marketer and advertiser myself, I can envision a peon copy writer in the background giggling because he got this line past the boss. Anyone see what I'm getting at?

Here's a visual:

With that out of the way, let's have a meaningful conversation about these things. The abstract (is that the right word?) focus creates some cool effects. Having "gone digital" within the last year, I certainly approve of performing photographic effects at the time of exposure rather than at the computer. Too much time spent there as it is.

Neat device. (Wide angle gallery here) Would you pay for it? Does it have a place in the travel photographer's kit?

Cheers
Mark

 

[PhoenixGSU]

They've been out for a while, does similar stuff as Tilt-Shift lenses.

What is cool about it is that you can do some cool perspective tricks, like taking a picture from high up of a cityscape and making it appear as a toy model with the tilted focus. It won't do as good of a job as a true tilt-shift lens though as its really a toy lens. The LB is really only for portraits of people and flowers though. I've considered getting one myself.

 

[BC Explorer]

I use the Lens-Baby for quite a few projects and really like for weddings.
It takes a bit of getting use to but it's worth it and it stays in my camera bag all the time.

 

[Lost Canadian]

Does it have a place in the travel photographer's kit?

Hey Mark, check out David Duchemin's recent work from Ladakh. Photo's #4-9 in his series were taken with a lensbaby by the looks of it.

 

[hks3sgte]

Seems like toys??? then again, most people think photo equipment are toys

 

[articulate]

Hey Mark, check out David Duchemin's recent work from Ladakh. Photo's #4-9 in his series were taken with a lensbaby by the looks of it.

Sweet galleries. This tool really changes the effect of a portrait, which is really cool. I also don't mind thinking of photo stuff as toys so as not to take it too seriously.

Um, speaking of which, anyone notice the connection to a certain toy above?

I think I'd like to rent one for a day, but own it? I don't know.

 

[Lost Canadian]

So I just got a lensbaby about an hour ago, here is the first shot.

A couple things to note. First is you'll have to know how to make a proper exposure without the camera as the camera will not meter with this lens. You change the aperture via little magnetic disks, and the lens sends no information to the camera. You have to know what you're doing in terms of exposure, auto shooters this lens will not be for you.

Second, it's not easy to get perfect focus. Static objects are OK, but you have to really play around, moving objects are a little difficult to shoot. This may become easier with time, but I tried shooting my dog and everytime she moved I had to change focus missing the shot.

I totally think this lens has its place, creative outdoor and macro shooters will love it, it's pretty cool, but it won't be for everyone. Tony Sweet said in an article that you'll have to relearn everything you know about photography to use this lens, I understand what that means now after using it. I'll report back with more thoughts after I've had a little more time with it.

Oh..., and Mark, I got your joke.

 

[articulate]

So I just got a lensbaby about an hour ago, ...
A couple things to note. First is you'll have to know how to make a proper exposure without the camera as the camera will not meter with this lens.

I'm honored you even remembered this thread, and then posted up within an hour. That puts you over the top :coffeedrink:

Great stuff. I can't wait to see more of your shots with it.

 

[Lost Canadian]

Ok, so I've had a few weeks with the lens and I must say, I really dig it. The way you use it is a lot different from the way you'd use a typical lens. Being able to use selective focus really allows you to simulate natural vision, and it gives you a little leeway with composition as well. A lens like this opens up a ton of visual possibilities, and it's much more than a toy or some kind of limited lens. The only limit with this lens would be ones imagination, there's just so much you can do with it.

Good news, moving objects have gotten easier for me to shoot. I think I just needed a little time with the lens. Another thing I've learned, make sure you're bracketing your shots. Figure out roughly where you want to be for a given light, take a sample shot and check the histogram, make sure things look good, then go up and down with your shutter speed, or ISO. The apeture is fixed unless you want to keep changing the little disks. Anyway, below are a few samples. I'll post more over time. Oh, and pardon the gloomyness of the shots here, I seem to be going through a bit of a dark period. It's the time of year,... I think.

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