where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
I am considering a lensbaby for macro work in my garden. I use the new 105/2.8 extensively and very happily, but I would like to experiment with shifting the plane of focus.
I'm considering the lensbaby composer (with toys).
I'm also thinking about the 85 perspective control lens.
Anyone here have experience with these? What are there strength, limits, etc...?
Well I wouldn't really say that a Lensbaby shifts the plane of focus, just the focus sweet spot ... or I just don't know how to use it :D ... I doubt in the latter.
Maybe I have the vocabulary wrong, but to me shifting the plane of focus, means tilting the area in focus i.e. you put three bottles in a triangular formation and shot them from a 45degree angle and all the rims are in focus but everything else isn't. With the Lensbaby you can shift the focus to either of the bottle neck rims leaving the others out of focus.
Now coming back to Lensbaby, that is one lens you can really have fun with. I have thought about using an extension ring with it and try some macro shots but haven't got around to it as I find manual focusing with my D40x a bit difficult. There are also extra lens adapters (macro, wide and tele) for the LB but I don't know how much they affect the IQ.
Unless you have a D300 or higher, the camera will not measure the light.
If your camera body has only three focusing points like the D40x and a small viewfinder, then it will be difficult to determine whether you have focus or not.
Thanks Monty. Been thinking of adding the new D300s to meter with my old AIS Nikon lenses and the lensbaby composer.
btw: Lensbaby does have close-up lenses as well as other toys in kit form. If/when I get a lensbaby, I'll try it with my old manual extension tubes and let you know.
I worry most about the image quality with the plastic lens...(no offense meant).
Because the extension tune simply adds physical distance between the lens elements and the film plane (?) )in the same way that lens's focusing mechanism (changes/adds) distance) it should work just fine. I would think this might be a area where DX has more latitude than FX (albeit at 1.5 times the focal length).
I had the impression that the LB macro lens kit was made of glass, but I can't find any info about the material on the lensbaby.com site nor have I held it in my hand. The only plastic lens I know of comes with the Optic Swap Kit.
If the macro lens kit is indeed made of plastic, then that is even more reason to use the extension tubes.
Maybe I'll give it a try this weekend, as it is an animal photo workshop, it will mean a lot of sitting and waiting so a couple of clicks with the LB won't hurt anyone :)
The impression I get from the lensbaby sight is that all the attachment lenses (.42x, .6x, 1.6x, +4 and +10) are glass.
I was joking about the plastic lens and image quality. Someone should start a discussion about how much resolution you should have for your digital Holga? 12, 18 or 24 mps... I'm sure someone would think you need 24!
Have fun at your workshop, share results if you can.
I just found out about lensbaby when i discovered Mike Kobal's work. Check it out if you want a good example of Lensbaby's effect on stills and film (nikon d90 and d3000)
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