Lensbaby...Why Do I Love Thee? by

Posted in Lenses

Thank you, Sarah Williams, for inviting me to share a little on why I love my Lensbaby systems.

Hmmm ...where do I start?

#1


#2


There is an obvious difference between the above 2 images...which one is more suited to your preferences?

#1 was done with a normal 50mm | f2
#2 was done with Lensbaby Sweet 50 | f2.5

It's a question that I face most of the time when someone asks me - why do I love my Lensbaby. I have to be honest, because Lensbaby lenses are not for everyone.

What???!!! You heard me correctly...

I have my own preferences. I love selective focus. I love the dreamy effect. I love sharp images. I love to give my images an ethereal look. I embrace grain...wait...that's another story for perhaps when we talk about film ;)

Lensbaby lenses are certainly not your "go-to" or everyday lenses for some. Not because they are manual ~ because most of you awesome togs are great at handling your lenses manually - but rather it is the in-camera effect that is being captured by these optics. It can throw some photographers off, and some simply don't like the final product, and that's fine.

My mentor often gave me harsh critiques on my use of Lensbaby ( I still adore and respect him though, because he made me think!). He said, "Why do your images have that horrible 'sucked-in' bokeh, and why do the people in the image look ghostly?" The list goes on... I retaliated (at times - i'm a little rebellious) with the fact that Bresson's images are often not sharp either, and he had captured the emotions and the thought perfectly! Don't get me started on images made with pinhole or bellows! LOL It was all a great discussion in the end, and I learned a lot.

But back to Lensbaby - I love them because they break the "norm" for me. I love shooting wide - and I find that with Lensbaby, when shot wide, my images have that extra depth with excellent bokeh. I'm a huge fan of creative bokeh, selective focus and most of all - I LOVE freelensing! When I fist saw the in-camera effect that Lensbaby created through an image by a girl in another FB group - I was sold on my first Lensbaby creative kit, because you can almost create a "free lensing" effect with the Lensbaby system if that's something you are into( Ana and I went on to became BFF's ).
I digress...

If you like tilt-shift effect without breaking the bank, then Lensbaby is for you.
If you like freelensing, with the lens still attached to your camera body, then Lensbaby is for you.
If you like selective focus with either a sweet spot or an oblique focus, then Lensbaby is for you.
If you like manual focus lenses...then Lensbaby is TOTALLY for you.

It can be frustrating at first when using it, because a few of my friends literally sold their Lensbaby lenses because they couldn't nail the tilt-shift focus. The focus plane with Lensbaby is different from my normal lenses, and it takes a little adjustment to master, but it CAN be overcome! Defocussing in some spots while having several other spots in focus can throw some photographers off, but that's where the creativity aspect comes in.
Julia Margaret Cameron is one of the many photographers that I often look to for my inspirations on selective focus.

Sweet spot or oblique focus - I love them all.






With children portrait photography, Lensbaby can get you frustrated, because as all children photographers know, you need a fast lens to capture those fleeting moments, and autofocus can be a lifesaver. Lensbaby lenses - being manual focus - can cost you some time to adjust...but it makes you think :) How would you compose prior to pressing the shutter in order to make your image work?

Notice the bokeh in this image ... this is from my normal 50mm prime


Lensbaby systems comes with a lens mount for any DSLR or mirrorless called the Composer Pro. It is a ball and socket system that allows you to drop in any Lensbaby optic.


Once you get the Lensbaby mount - you are free to choose from Sweet 35 ( which is 35mm), Sweet 50 (50mm) - reason it is named Sweet is because of its unique curved plane with bokeh surrounding the point of focus - or the Edge 80 ( 80mm) that gives you an oblique focus with bokeh on either side of the focus (more like a slice)...or single glass/ double glass optic.


E80


E80


E80

Lensbaby also created a stand alone lens called the Velvet 56.


taken with V56

It has a halation and ethereal effect that I adore so much in early 19th century photography. It's spherical aberrations are very unique.


V56


V56 reversed macro

Do you want to create some fun images? The creative apertures that can be dropped into your optics are fun to have too!

Here are some in camera Double exposures using the single glass optic with composer pro and creative apertures

What about Fisheye? Lensbaby has something for you too!


Or are you into cell photography?? :) I pack these little gems in my purse every day, because you never know what kind of photo opportunity might come up!


The Lensbaby system is fun and unique. It's not for your "straight forward" photographer, but rather for someone looking to break some rules, show a little extra artistic flair, or maybe even create a few of those images that people will either love or hate, but at least they make you feel something!


V56


V56

Personally, I love the entire system, and as I mentioned earlier, what are your photographic preferences? How do you like your images to be presented? If you like the idea of seeing the world in a new way, and for others to see your artistic vision in a new way, then take the dive. Most importantly, have fun and be passionate about whatever you shoot and whatever you shoot with. I'm passionate about the Lensbaby system, and that's what makes it the most fun. Also, for all of the possibilities, the systems and even the stand alone lenses are very affordable in comparison to a lot of what is out there...just another little plus.

http://lensbaby.com/usa/
Lensbaby official website has a library full of tutorials and useful information and tons of images.

You can also check out my Blog to see some great things that I, and other people, have done with the Lensbaby.
http://www.oaktreeshutterbug.com/oaktreeshutterbug/2015/4/6/i-am-loving-it
Tagged With: #lensbaby, #oaktree shutterbug, #bokeh, #comparisions, #lenses, #sampleimages
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Comments

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Thank you Sarah Williams , Jade Lyf and Scott Smith ! You guys are so kind!😚
Posted by Pauline Putt, about 3168 days ago
User avatar
Well said Pauline, great article and informative. Honest too, and that's a big deal!
Posted by Jade Lyf (moderator), about 3168 days ago
User avatar
Wonderful article, Pauline. Love the sample photos and your own unique take on the system as a whole. Now I have more lenses and optics on my wish list!
Posted by Sarah Williams (co-founder), about 3169 days ago
User avatar
Excellent article and fantastic sample images!
Posted by Scott Smith (co-founder), about 3169 days ago