Lensbaby

Andiline · 08-20-2008

Okay, this is something photgraphers might be interested in. I read about Lensbaby in a Fotocommunity and finally decided I needed to have one. Ordered it on saturday and they called me yesterday to tell me it had arrived so I went to pic it up today.

Lensbaby is basically a lense for DSLR which focuses on one point in your pic while the rest remains blurry. I did not have much time to check it out in detail but I played around with it a little bit and just love it. I think it is great as well for taking portrait pics. I fully intend to use it on Riley G. in North Carolina....

Here are four pics that might give you an idea of how Lensbaby works.

Phil in Ottawa · 08-20-2008

I've known about the Lensbaby for quite a while now but I've never been tempted to get one.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your photos with this lens. Maybe you'll inspire me to spend the money.

I like the first two images you posted since I could not currently get those results with my lenses.

But the last two look like something I could do with my existing lenses wide open since the main subject appears in focus with just the background blurry. Looks the same as many of my shallow depth-of-field shots.

Anyway, as I said, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your pictures with the Lensbaby.

Thanks for sharing. Your photography is always excellent

Anna Tortuga · 08-20-2008

FANTASTIQUE!

Andiline · 08-20-2008

Yes, I know that you can get the same result with 'normal' lenses when the focus of your pic is in the middle of it. The nice thing is that you can move the focus to the left and the right as well with Lensbaby... I know that Lensbaby is just a toy you don't really need. I bought version 2.0 which is about half the price of 3.0 and from what I saw today I think it is even better (more flexible). Will try to get more nice results soon.

And thanks for the compliment!

Can only give it back to you.

**Mindbender** · 08-20-2008

I has a visual migraine once that had a similar effect.

Although the centre was blurred, fringed with rainbow sparks

Phil in Ottawa · 08-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andiline

Yes, I know that you can get the same result with 'normal' lenses when the focus of your pic is in the middle of it. The nice thing is that you can move the focus to the left and the right as well with Lensbaby... I know that Lensbaby is just a toy you don't really need. I bought version 2.0 which is about half the price of 3.0 and from what I saw today I think it is even better (more flexible). Will try to get more nice results soon.

I just looked on the Lensbabies website and there's quite a difference between the 2.0 and the 3.0.

At my local store, I can get the 3.0 for $20 more than the 2.0. I think it may be mistake on their website since it's only the Nikon mount that's selling for $139. All the other mounts (Canon, Pentax, etc) are going for $239. Looks like they put a $140 discount on it instead of $40.

You say you prefer the 2.0 over the 3.0. But if you could get the 3.0 for almost the same price as the 2.0, do you think the 3.0 would the one to go for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andiline

And thanks for the compliment!

Can only give it back to you.

You're very welcome. Well deserved

And thanks for throwing the compliment back at me but I only wish I had as good a portfolio as yours. You seem to live in and travel to much more photographically interesting places than I do.

I'm not spending as much time with my camera these days (it's golf season). Maybe what I need is a new piece of gear to re-ignite the passion. The Lensbabies may just be what the doctor ordered.

Thanks again for sharing

MaripositaII · 08-20-2008

That's painful on my eyes

They can keep their baby.

Thor Henning · 08-20-2008

Great pictures Andrea!

You can also do effects like this in Photoshop.

lolabella · 08-20-2008

Really great pics!! I do enjoy seeing all your photos when you post them!!

The second one gave me a sense of vertigo though when I looked at it.

Andiline · 08-20-2008

Phil, it all depends on your own preferences. If you look at the pics of lensbaby 2.0 and 3.0 you can see that the 3.0-version can be fixed so you can use a tripod. When playing around with 2.0 today I thought that using 3.0 is much more complicated as with 2.0 you just adjust it so the pic is sharp. The tubus of lensbaby 2.0 is like an accordion so you can adjust it till it is sharp. With 3.0 you have to adjust and fix everything. Might get better results but it IS more complicated.... For me the difference in price was about USD 130 so about double the price I paid for Lensbaby 2.0. Since I had to pay a lot of money for new glasses recently I DO have to look at prices and this was the main reason why I bought 2.0. But looking back it might have not been one of the worst decisions....

Thor, yes I know but it is less work if you do it right while taking the pic.

Vanessa, these were just examples.... I dream of a pic like that of Ms. Riley... (this pic has NOT been taken with lensebaby! I met the photographer on sunday and asked him) Kinder ab 2: :-)

08-20-2008	#1 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 8,432	Lensbaby Okay, this is something photgraphers might be interested in. I read about Lensbaby in a Fotocommunity and finally decided I needed to have one. Ordered it on saturday and they called me yesterday to tell me it had arrived so I went to pic it up today. Lensbaby is basically a lense for DSLR which focuses on one point in your pic while the rest remains blurry. I did not have much time to check it out in detail but I played around with it a little bit and just love it. I think it is great as well for taking portrait pics. I fully intend to use it on Riley G. in North Carolina.... Here are four pics that might give you an idea of how Lensbaby works.

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08-20-2008	#2 (permalink)
Phil in Ottawa life=playa Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 820	I've known about the Lensbaby for quite a while now but I've never been tempted to get one. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your photos with this lens. Maybe you'll inspire me to spend the money. I like the first two images you posted since I could not currently get those results with my lenses. But the last two look like something I could do with my existing lenses wide open since the main subject appears in focus with just the background blurry. Looks the same as many of my shallow depth-of-field shots. Anyway, as I said, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your pictures with the Lensbaby. Thanks for sharing. Your photography is always excellent

08-20-2008	#3 (permalink)
Anna Tortuga añejo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: playa del carmen...urgh Posts: 5,876	FANTASTIQUE!

08-20-2008	#4 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 8,432	Yes, I know that you can get the same result with 'normal' lenses when the focus of your pic is in the middle of it. The nice thing is that you can move the focus to the left and the right as well with Lensbaby... I know that Lensbaby is just a toy you don't really need. I bought version 2.0 which is about half the price of 3.0 and from what I saw today I think it is even better (more flexible). Will try to get more nice results soon. And thanks for the compliment! Can only give it back to you.

08-20-2008	#5 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 3,661	I has a visual migraine once that had a similar effect. Although the centre was blurred, fringed with rainbow sparks

08-20-2008	#7 (permalink)
MaripositaII añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5,274	That's painful on my eyes They can keep their baby.

08-20-2008	#8 (permalink)
Thor Henning añejo Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Drammen, Norway Posts: 3,556	Great pictures Andrea! You can also do effects like this in Photoshop.

08-20-2008	#9 (permalink)
lolabella añejo Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: One foot in WI, the other in PDC Posts: 5,303	Really great pics!! I do enjoy seeing all your photos when you post them!! The second one gave me a sense of vertigo though when I looked at it.

08-20-2008	#10 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 8,432	Phil, it all depends on your own preferences. If you look at the pics of lensbaby 2.0 and 3.0 you can see that the 3.0-version can be fixed so you can use a tripod. When playing around with 2.0 today I thought that using 3.0 is much more complicated as with 2.0 you just adjust it so the pic is sharp. The tubus of lensbaby 2.0 is like an accordion so you can adjust it till it is sharp. With 3.0 you have to adjust and fix everything. Might get better results but it IS more complicated.... For me the difference in price was about USD 130 so about double the price I paid for Lensbaby 2.0. Since I had to pay a lot of money for new glasses recently I DO have to look at prices and this was the main reason why I bought 2.0. But looking back it might have not been one of the worst decisions.... Thor, yes I know but it is less work if you do it right while taking the pic. Vanessa, these were just examples.... I dream of a pic like that of Ms. Riley... (this pic has NOT been taken with lensebaby! I met the photographer on sunday and asked him) Kinder ab 2: :-)