Lensbaby

Dogdots

I've been looking at the Lensbaby and see there are different kinds along with different attachments and optics.

My first question is -- are all the optics in the three lensbabies the same?

Then I see you can purchase other optics and accessories. Does the other optics and accessories work with all the lensbaby lenses? My interest is in the Composer. The Control Freak looks so funky :rofl

Hopefully someone out there will be able to help me so I have some knowledge of how this set up works.

Thanks

divamum

I'm curious about LB's as well. For instance, with the Muse do you have to hold the thing in position while you shoot, or does it stay where you put it?

Tim Kamppinen

I have a lensbaby. It's a 2.0, the older version with the fixed optic. The newer models (muse, composer, and control freak) all have interchangeable optics, so any of them can use any of the optics.

The muse is just like the 2.0 that I have, except that you can put different optics in it. That is, you have to hold it in place while you shoot. How difficult this is depends on what aperture you're using (at wide open, 2.0, it's pretty tricky to get sharp focus on your subject, but at f/8 it's much easier as there's less blur and a larger "sweet spot"). However, it absolutely DOES have a sharp spot, and it's actually very sharp *when you have it focused well*. I've seen people claim that there's no sharp spot on a lensbaby, and it's just not true. If they did use the lens, they probably just didn't get any shots which were in focus in the first place, and then concluded that.

So yes, all the current optics and accessories work with the three current models. Some of them will work with older models (not the optics but the wide angle converters, etc.).

I want to get a composer some day, because I think it would greatly increase my keeper rate with the lensbaby. As it is I have to shoot a lot of shots before I get one that's just right. It's probably easier with a full frame camera, since they have larger viewfinders. You could also try using live view mode with magnification to get the focus spot on. Again, it's easier at smaller apertures.

However, with a little practice you can get pretty good at it. I shot a bunch of shots at my last wedding with the lensbaby, and while most of them weren't keepers, the ones where I did get the focus nailed are really nice. These were mostly of moving people, dancing, which I think might actually be harder to do with the composer than with the 2.0 that I have or with the muse. You can swing the sweet spot around and focus all in one motion with those models, whereas with the compser it's split into two functions which makes it more precise but also slower I would imagine.

Here are a few shots I've taken with mine:

Miguel Delinquento

I also have version 2.0 of the Lensbaby. Tim summarized its functions pretty well and his fine shots demonstrate its capabilities. I like how it forces you to concentrate on composition and get more physically involved in the act of shooting. Too much of modern photography is automated to me.The Lensbaby is also just fun.

Seattle




What the kids will remember




M

Art Scott

by looking at the above examples and those of others I have seen, it seems to me this could excellent for portraits of the type I used to get with an old spiratone softfocus 90mm portrait lens....which was built on the style of the very old lenses that had a central sharp focus point and the rest of the lens was very much diffused........

Is this a fair assumption??

craig_d

divamum wrote:

I'm curious about LB's as well. For instance, with the Muse do you have to hold the thing in position while you shoot, or does it stay where you put it?

Yes, the Muse (the one that's just a lens mounted on a plastic bellows) requires you to hold it in place while you shoot.

From what I've read about the Lensbaby line (which includes an interview with the head honcho of Lensbaby), I think the Composer is definitely the one to get at this point. The Control Freak, with three screws to adjust every time you want to move the lens, looks like a real pain to operate, and the Muse won't stay where you put it. Composer has it all: it's easy to manipulate, it stays where it's put, and it's compatible with a wide range of optics, aperture inserts, and other options.

craig_d

This review tells you pretty much all you need to know about the Lensbaby, including the Muse and Control Freak, but focusing on the Composer:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Lensbaby-Composer-Review.aspx

Dogdots

I thank-you all for the information and the link. The link really showed me how it looks and what the double glass does. In my reading I've heard the double glass mentioned, but had not a clue how good it could be. The link showed the difference

If I were to get the composer...how would I attach the double glass optic?? That has me really confused Do any of you have other optics that you attach?

Your photos posted were just wonderful And it really showed me what the lensbaby is capable of doing. I thank-you for taking the time to post them

Tim Kamppinen

Since I have the older version, I can't switch optics. However the 2.0 had the double glass optic standard, so I guess that's what I use.

I don't know the specifics of how you swap them but I'm sure it's pretty simple and that they include instructions. Have you checked out their website yet? There is a lot of info there, including detailed example shots where you can select the optic and the apeture to see what effect you'll get. There are also discussion forums that you could check out too.

http://www.lensbaby.com

Tim Kamppinen

Art Scott wrote:

by looking at the above examples and those of others I have seen, it seems to me this could excellent for portraits of the type I used to get with an old spiratone softfocus 90mm portrait lens....which was built on the style of the very old lenses that had a central sharp focus point and the rest of the lens was very much diffused........

Is this a fair assumption??

Art, I don't know anything about that lens, but it sounds very similar. The difference would be that with the lensbaby the sharp spot can be moved around the frame wherever you want to put it, instead of being restricted to the middle. Also, the bokeh is sort of funny. It doesn't just blur the out of focus parts, it also sort of stretches them too. At times it resembles zoom blur, which some people particularly object to for whatever reason. It can also be a PITA to focus accurately unless you get the composer or control freak models that let you lock things in place.

Art Scott

Tim Kamppinen wrote:

Art, I don't know anything about that lens, but it sounds very similar. The difference would be that with the lensbaby the sharp spot can be moved around the frame wherever you want to put it, instead of being restricted to the middle. Also, the bokeh is sort of funny. It doesn't just blur the out of focus parts, it also sort of stretches them too. At times it resembles zoom blur, which some people particularly object to for whatever reason. It can also be a PITA to focus accurately unless you get the composer or control freak models that let you lock things in place.

THANX.....gotta be better than using clear filters with vasoline or even center spot filters.......and it would be more fun to play I bet:D:D

Dogdots

Tim Kamppinen wrote:

Since I have the older version, I can't switch optics. However the 2.0 had the double glass optic standard, so I guess that's what I use.

I don't know the specifics of how you swap them but I'm sure it's pretty simple and that they include instructions. Have you checked out their website yet? There is a lot of info there, including detailed example shots where you can select the optic and the apeture to see what effect you'll get. There are also discussion forums that you could check out too.

http://www.lensbaby.com

I'll check out the site in more detail. Took a look at it with the optics and was confused -- Serious reading time for me

Thanks

Tim Kamppinen

I shot a bunch of lensbaby shots at my last wedding. Pics here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=1235456#post1235456

Dogdots

Tim Kamppinen wrote:

I shot a bunch of lensbaby shots at my last wedding. Pics here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=1235456#post1235456

These photos turned out well Looks like the lensbaby is very versatile.

AlbertZeroK

Dogdots wrote:

If I were to get the composer...how would I attach the double glass optic?? That has me really confused Do any of you have other optics that you attach?

I just got the composer and the accessory kit with lenses, macro kit and apature kit. The lenses screw into the inside of the lens baby barrel. Also, the apatures are just metal disks and you have to change them out with a little tool included. I don't think the kit is worth what I paid for it, but it's the only game in town. Also they have a minimum sales price policy with their retailers, so it was the same price at my local camera store as it was at adorama.

Dogdots

AlbertZeroK wrote:

I just got the composer and the accessory kit with lenses, macro kit and apature kit. The lenses screw into the inside of the lens baby barrel. Also, the apatures are just metal disks and you have to change them out with a little tool included. I don't think the kit is worth what I paid for it, but it's the only game in town. Also they have a minimum sales price policy with their retailers, so it was the same price at my local camera store as it was at adorama.

Thank you so much for the information -- it is very helpful.

You mentioned that the kit might not be worth the cost you paid for it. Is it because of what it's made out of? Cheap build maybe?

Art Scott

AlbertZeroK wrote:

Also they have a minimum sales price policy with their retailers, so it was the same price at my local camera store as it was at adorama.

On ebay the prices range from approx 250 to almost 400 for the composer new.....so some one isn't playing fair or by the rules..................

Miguel Delinquento

Consider a used Lensbaby
Used Lensbaby v 2.0 are pretty common on camera sales boards. You can also post a WTB here.
I got mine used for about $85 and feel that it's been worth that at least.

M

Art Scott

they have quite a racket going on.....gotta by the Lens body and then the lenses separately.....so the new models selling for ~$270 and to that a $95 for a set of lenses.....what a racket......but after seeing a lot of results I will wind up with either a composer or CONTROL FREAK in the future.........looking for that vintage softfocus something wicked this way comes effect of the old softfocus portrait lenses of days gone by.............................

BeachBill

Art Scott wrote:

they have quite a racket going on.....gotta by the Lens body and then the lenses separately

Nope, the composer (or any other model) includes the double optic. That is all you need to get started.

Then later on, if you want a pinhole lens, or plastic lens, or single optic lens, $95 will get you all three without having to purchase another composer. It's like 4 lenses for the price of one.

P.S. I posted some car show lensbaby shots a few weeks ago here.

divamum

Art Scott wrote:

they have quite a racket going on.....gotta by the Lens body and then the lenses separately.....so the new models selling for ~$270 and to that a $95 for a set of lenses.....

Don't they come with the lens - at least the muse/composer say "with double optic lens installed". I thought that was included in the price? dunno

Art Scott

BeachBill wrote:

Nope, the composer (or any other model) includes the double optic. That is all you need to get started.

Then later on, if you want a pinhole lens, or plastic lens, or single optic lens, $95 will get you all three without having to purchase another composer. It's like 4 lenses for the price of one.

P.S. I posted some car show lensbaby shots a few weeks ago here.

divamum wrote:

Don't they come with the lens - at least the muse/composer say "with double optic lens installed". I thought that was included in the price? dunno

i APPOLOGIZE for not readingthe FEATURES @ BH....I was looking at the "in the box" section and there is no mention of a lens there nopt is there mention of the body either:D..............

Bad Night I just ruined my card reader.....3 pins bent beyond repair.....cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap no name reader had a lot of up down and side to side slop but have used it for alsmost a yr and I sneezed as I was loading a card....actually I was trying to hold a sneeze back....damncrycry