Thanks Carol.
I had seen that types of photos and I always wonder how did they do that. Then I thought well, must be the photoshop effect. Since I don't have a good knowledge of photoshop. Now I see where those photos are coming from!!
I think I have found another piece to spend my money on.
who else has got them on his wish list?
Hey Mohammad its perfect for out of focus and distorted photos! It’s like an expensive Holga camera only less plastic!!! All kidding aside you can get plug-ins now for Photoshop to create the same effects at little or no cost. I think if you look on the web for effects/filter plug-ins you can have out of focus images for free or you could just shoot at 1/30 of a sec and shake the camera but be sure and have a tilted horizon line or you wont be part of the “lens baby or Holga” club;-) This stuff goes through the news photographer circles and they copy each other making a huge market for this stuff. Right now in PJ is the super fast (really expensive) fixed focal lens like the 35mm 1.4 shooting everything wide open to create a really shallow depth of field. Its a fad and it comes and goes just like any fashion.
I think the images are very artistic and quite cool. They are a lot of fun, but surely not for everyone.
Here is a good review if you're interested:
http://www.diyphotography.net/the-lensbaby-composer-a-review-by-kirk-tuck
Here is one of my lensbaby images that sells quite well:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=158361&CGISESSID=1a8420999c4bf50375ff8f9751e51c1b&u=10655
I used a custom aperture with my lensbaby "composer" for this one, but lensbaby now has a brand new version that has a very similar aperture.
Sandy
Posted by Ramamohan Pai on June 18, 2011 at 11:37 PM
Mohammed, Every tool is great - provided you know how to use it and when to use it. This selective focus thing (an el cheapo Tilt Shift Lens) is the oft used application for the Lensbaby - I'd give a gentle slap on the wrist of photographers who misuse/abuse/overuse this effect .
Used properly it can give some cool effects - I use it for close-ups along with diopters and you would have real problems (if you did not see the EXIF or if I did not tell you) that a Lensbaby was used. Its a real lousy optic (relative to good lenses) and hence it gives a "airy" feel to the photos.
Thank you all for your help.
With your help I got some ideas about LB.
Dough, thank you for your explanation but, I didn't know what you meant by PJ (I think it is PJ contest)!!!
Sandy, thanks for the link. Your photo is great I love that effect. Vine leaves are blurred and grape is very sharp. That draws the attention of the viewer.
Ram, Than for your explanation. Actually after seeing your One and Five, photos I decided to find out about LB. I had seen your photos before this thread.
The best thing I like about the LB is that you can blur the areas in the same plane of sharp focus which I think it is impossible with a normal lens.
I alway though this is an adopter to be used with other lenses. But as I understood from the reviews it is a lens, I mean it is a stand alone lens and can be used by itself!!
Mohammed, keep am eye on EBAY. There are often used LB's there, as people don't like the effect or (more often) don't have the patience to learn the LB techniques.
Sandy
Posted by Lorna Taylor on June 20, 2011 at 10:31 AM
I am a little late to the party here,sorry ! Have been recovering from a recent surgery and not keeping up with the site. Could not miss out on this topic though as I am addicted to my Lensbaby , it's as much a part of my photography as my arm is to my body. Mohammed I am including a link to my Lensbaby gallery , it is a great site with so many fantastic Benders. There are so many wonderful images on the site by photographers much better than myself and worth your time to check out if your thinking about a Lensbaby. http://lensbaby.com/forum/profile.php?0,14248 . Bending is not for everyone and that is totally cool, to each your own. The Lensbaby is a fabulous creative tool and a great addition to your lens bag. It is not a tilt and shift lens and really nothing like one. I gives an artistic blur to your images by the degree that you bend the lens with a one perfect sweet spot. The sweet spot of focuses depends on which aperture ring you use. I know you can achieve something similar in PS but it is not the same as when you are in control of the lens and the bending ,you can see the effect in camera and the distortion and are better able to create the image as you see it in the field. I know I can't convert the non Lenbaby users who are so apposed to this wonderful little lens but you just have to beat to your own drum on this one .Lensbaby images can take a lot of flack on this site sometimes but most times everyone can appreciate your photographic vision even though they are not a fan of the lens. I found support here from many who really have no desire to own a Lensbaby but who understand it is an intricate part of my images. I know I have not given you much on the specks of the lens but more my passion for my Baby. You can find all the tech stuff anywhere on line. It is essential part of my lens bag and forms up to 85% of my images. Hope to see you Bending soon ! Cheers
Sandy I sure will do that but, not when my wife is around. Just kidding, She doesn't like the shopping around, so she would say just buy it!!
Lorna, Thank you for your post. And hope you are recovered completely from the surgery. I felt your passion about LB on your post. It is very genuine. I checked some of your work including your site, you have created so many great images. And you have made another image and that is LB on my mind.
But still I don't know if you use them only by themselves or stacked with another normal lens like tube?
Posted by Ramamohan Pai on June 20, 2011 at 11:37 AM
But still I don't know if you use them only by themselves or stacked with another normal lens like tube?
Mohammed, A Tube is not a Lens - it has no glass elements in it. Its basic job is to spread the imaging circle bigger thereby increasing the magnification. Most people joke that the price we pay for the tubes is for the Nikon, Canon or Kenko Air inside the tubes .
Lensbaby sells two diopters - +10 and +4 power. Stacked they bring you close to 1:1 but not quite - but its close enough for most day to day requirements. I have tried using a tube in addition but the photo just breaks - understandble considering the "lousy" optic that a Lensbaby is to begin with.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Lorna Taylor on June 20, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Hey Mohammad, I use extension tubes with my Lensbaby as well as the macro kit with the 10x and 4x. But mostly I use the lens by it's self with no other attachments. I also from time to time use the wide angle lens and telephoto lens attachments. Have even from time to time stacked the extension tubes with macro attachments . I also use the step-up shade a lot with a polarizer. I have the Lensbaby Composer and find that it alone suits most of my needs.
Thanks again to you both, I know TUBE is not a lens and there is nothing inside it.
Maybe i was clear with my question! My question was about LB. I learned that you can use it by itself as stand alone lens. But I wasn't sure if you can use it with any other lens stacked on it? For example using a canon 100mm macro with a LB?
As I understand form Lorna, you can use it with other lens. Am I right?
Posted by Ramamohan Pai on June 21, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Mohammed, No, you cannot use it with another regular SLR Lens (to the best of my knowledge). I don't see how you can assume that from Lorna's reply. Lorna seems to be using Lensbaby with standard Lensbaby accessories like the +4/+10 diopters, wide-angle attachments and so on.
Posted by Lorna Taylor on June 21, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Sorry Mohammad for not being clearer, Lensbaby has a lot of add on accessories or you can just use it by its self. Other than extension tubes you can not stack it with your other lens out side of the attachments that are made for the Lensbaby itself. Hope that helps. Thanks Ram for the explanation.
Thank you Ram and Lorna for your great explanation and being so patient. I have learned lots of things from all of you here in NPN.
I think as my photographic knowledge is getting better my credit card payment is getting worth Well, that was just a little humor. I have to go and check Lorna's LB photos to learn more about the effect of it. I appreciate your inputs.
Discussion
19 repliesYou are quick-witted.
Mohammad, It's also yet another way to spend money!!
Here's a review that might help.
I too have been intrigued, but not enough to buy one ;^)
Carol
I had seen that types of photos and I always wonder how did they do that. Then I thought well, must be the photoshop effect. Since I don't have a good knowledge of photoshop. Now I see where those photos are coming from!!
I think I have found another piece to spend my money on.
who else has got them on his wish list?
Here is a good review if you're interested:
http://www.diyphotography.net/the-lensbaby-composer-a-review-by-kirk-tuck
Here is one of my lensbaby images that sells quite well:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=158361&CGISESSID=1a8420999c4bf50375ff8f9751e51c1b&u=10655
I used a custom aperture with my lensbaby "composer" for this one, but lensbaby now has a brand new version that has a very similar aperture.
Sandy
Used properly it can give some cool effects - I use it for close-ups along with diopters and you would have real problems (if you did not see the EXIF or if I did not tell you) that a Lensbaby was used. Its a real lousy optic (relative to good lenses) and hence it gives a "airy" feel to the photos.
Some examples : One, Two, Three, Four and Five.
With your help I got some ideas about LB.
Dough, thank you for your explanation but, I didn't know what you meant by PJ (I think it is PJ contest)!!!
Sandy, thanks for the link. Your photo is great I love that effect. Vine leaves are blurred and grape is very sharp. That draws the attention of the viewer.
Ram, Than for your explanation. Actually after seeing your One and Five, photos I decided to find out about LB. I had seen your photos before this thread.
The best thing I like about the LB is that you can blur the areas in the same plane of sharp focus which I think it is impossible with a normal lens.
I alway though this is an adopter to be used with other lenses. But as I understood from the reviews it is a lens, I mean it is a stand alone lens and can be used by itself!!
Sandy
Sandy I sure will do that but, not when my wife is around. Just kidding, She doesn't like the shopping around, so she would say just buy it!!
Lorna, Thank you for your post. And hope you are recovered completely from the surgery. I felt your passion about LB on your post. It is very genuine. I checked some of your work including your site, you have created so many great images. And you have made another image and that is LB on my mind.
But still I don't know if you use them only by themselves or stacked with another normal lens like tube?
Mohammed, A Tube is not a Lens - it has no glass elements in it. Its basic job is to spread the imaging circle bigger thereby increasing the magnification. Most people joke that the price we pay for the tubes is for the Nikon, Canon or Kenko Air inside the tubes
Lensbaby sells two diopters - +10 and +4 power. Stacked they bring you close to 1:1 but not quite - but its close enough for most day to day requirements. I have tried using a tube in addition but the photo just breaks - understandble considering the "lousy" optic that a Lensbaby is to begin with.
Hope that helps.
Maybe i was clear with my question! My question was about LB. I learned that you can use it by itself as stand alone lens. But I wasn't sure if you can use it with any other lens stacked on it? For example using a canon 100mm macro with a LB?
As I understand form Lorna, you can use it with other lens. Am I right?
I think as my photographic knowledge is getting better my credit card payment is getting worth