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Railroader · Mar 15, 2007, 07:43 PM

Any one own or use a Lensbaby?

I am contemplating a Lensbaby 2.0 for portrait work and just plain old messing around.

Are they easy to use? What's the learning curve like for using one?

I'd greatly appreciate a few picture samples if you have used one before.

Thanks.

design219 · Mar 15, 2007, 09:01 PM

Hey, that's cute. It's a simple little view camera bellows for a digital slr. I would think it would be easy to work with, at least a lot easier than working with a view camera. I suspect it is not a high precision optic, but it does look like fun. Notice the term "sweet spot." That means everywhere else, the lens is soft. You also have to change the aperature by changing discs.

I would think it would have very limited application, but could be fun.

mac128k-1984 · Mar 15, 2007, 10:33 PM

Looks kind of cool but did you see the price for this little toy.
270 for the f-mount (3g model) Version 2 cost 150 (f-mount). For the use that it makes it impractical to purchase (for me).

Railroader · Mar 15, 2007, 10:37 PM

$150 for 2.0 was not bad. Cheap actually. The 3.0 seems geared more towards still life photographers or landscape pictures. But its price isn't too bad either.

I do not really consider it a toy as it will become a tool in my camera bag for capturing portraits that are a little bit more unique.

rjenkinson · Mar 15, 2007, 10:46 PM

a piece of plastic held in front of the lens or some vaseline on a filter will get you the same effect.

-r.

Mithras · Mar 15, 2007, 11:00 PM

Let me be the first to say, but not to think: This thread is a complete disappointment from what my hurried read of the title led me to expect.
Nevertheless, best of luck in your photographic ventures.

flyordiedays · Mar 15, 2007, 11:02 PM

I've had the Lensbaby 3G at the top of my most wanted gear list for a while now.
You can tag-search Flickr for "lensbaby" and get some great samples.

Railroader · Mar 15, 2007, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by rjenkinson

a piece of plastic held in front of the lens or some vaseline on a filter will get you the same effect.

-r.

No. It. Won't.

Railroader · Mar 15, 2007, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by flyordiedays

I've had the Lensbaby 3G at the top of my most wanted gear list for a while now.
You can tag-search Flickr for "lensbaby" and get some great samples.

Buy one and tell me about your experiences. Now. I'll wait here.

I'll try, but flickr has begun to really suck. Too many people tag their pictures with nearly every word in the dictionary so searching has become nearly useless there.

Railroader · Mar 15, 2007, 11:33 PM

OK, I went the flickr route.

I will be picking one up next Tuesday (or Monday) when I next go to Kalamazoo.

design219 · Mar 16, 2007, 10:29 AM

If you get one, please report back on how you like it.

Peter · Mar 16, 2007, 10:35 AM

I have one.
very very very cool, well recomended.

Railroader · Mar 16, 2007, 02:19 PM

ARG! Where were you during the 20 minutes when I was wavering on whether or not to get one?!?! If I knew YOU had one...

Just kidding Peter, which one do you have? Have you tried the Macro or Zoom adapters?

Yose · Mar 16, 2007, 02:23 PM

I bought one for my uncles wedding in St. Lucia last year. Fun to learn how to use, and at times awkward.

Here's a pic of my ex from that trip taken with the LB2.

Railroader · Mar 16, 2007, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Yose

I bought one for my uncles wedding in St. Lucia last year. Fun to learn how to use, and at times awkward.

Here's a pic of my ex from that trip taken with the LB2.

[IMG]http://www.ericnowina.com/shannon.png[IMG]

Thanks! I like the bokeh it produces. Very nice effect.

Please explain what is awkward? Is it the manipulation of the lens while trying to push the shutter release? What model of camera(body) do you have?

mdc · Mar 16, 2007, 02:32 PM

It looks neat and the example in this post looks a little like you zoomed the lens while you took the shot, except she stayed in focus.

If the price comes down I'd buy one to play around with.

Mastrap · Mar 16, 2007, 02:48 PM

I don't particularly care for the effects you can achieve with the lensbaby, but that's just a matter of personal preference.
I do like the Holgamod lens however. Similar, but different.

Railroader · Mar 16, 2007, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

I don't particularly care for the effects you can achieve with the lensbaby, but that's just a matter of personal preference.
I do like the Holgamod lens however. Similar, but different.

Now that, to me, looks easily replicable by putting vaseline on a filter.

Mastrap · Mar 16, 2007, 03:52 PM

I can see why you'd say that, looking at a number of the black and white images in their gallery. But take a look at the colour work and things change.

centerchannel68 · Mar 16, 2007, 03:52 PM

Why not just do all this in photoshop?

Mastrap · Mar 16, 2007, 03:53 PM

Why drive a car? Just use a simulator. Part of the fun with these lenses is that the result is somewhat unpredictable.

Gossamer · Mar 16, 2007, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

I can see why you'd say that, looking at a number of the black and white images in their gallery. But take a look at the colour work and things change.

Those remind me of Top Gear's footage, I've always wondered what they use to do that.

Screen cap:

centerchannel68 · Mar 16, 2007, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Those remind me of Top Gear's footage, I've always wondered what they use to do that.

Screen cap:

That's a good call man. Very similar, but I always thought this was done digitally, by shooting with one of those funky lens hoods, and then just upping the contrast.

Railroader · Mar 16, 2007, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

I can see why you'd say that, looking at a number of the black and white images in their gallery. But take a look at the colour work and things change.

[img]http://www.holgamods.com/gallery/gallery7/oiltruck.jpg[img]

[img]http://www.holgamods.com/gallery/gallery2/brosig.gif[img]

They look like the bumped up the saturation (which can be done in camera) and used a long lens hood. I have to say, I do not like the results of the holga lens. And it looks like a pain to use (last picture):

Railroader · 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Those remind me of Top Gear's footage, I've always wondered what they use to do that.

Screen cap:
[img]http://www.2dayblog.com/images/topgear_mad.jpg[img]

They use graduated filters and a longer lens hood which causes vignetting in the frame. It makes the sky look dramatic even on dull overcast days (which they have a LOT of).

centerchannel68 · Mar 16, 2007, 04:29 PM

Sweet, so I was right about the hoods. Awesome.

Gossamer · Mar 16, 2007, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

They use graduated filters and a longer lens hood which causes vignetting in the frame. It makes the sky look dramatic even on dull overcast days (which the have a LOT of).

That's really cool

Railroader · Mar 16, 2007, 05:19 PM

Here's a crash course on graduated filters: Essential Filters: Neutral Density and Graduated ND - Photo Tips @ Earthbound Light

Mastrap · Mar 16, 2007, 09:59 PM

Interesting. Thanks.

d4nth3m4n · Mar 16, 2007, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Mithras

Let me be the first to say, but not to think: This thread is a complete disappointment from what my hurried read of the title led me to expect.
Nevertheless, best of luck in your photographic ventures.

tell me about it.

it was the bracketed "possibly JPEGs inside™" that got me all hot and bothered.

awaspaas · Mar 17, 2007, 11:36 AM

As a fan of the US "The Office" - the thread title made me think of this: