Lensbaby - anyone got or tried one - maybe even want to sell one ?

[stevewestern]

So, as per the title - what can you tell me about them ?
I have just been loking at some pictures that I think were taken with one, and like the results, so may look into getting one - what are the pro's and con's ?
Also, if you have one you don't use or want, let me know !

 

[swanseamale47]

I have tried them but didn't buy, the lensbabys a bit of a one trick pony, great for a few shots then the novelty wears off. You can fake the effect fairly closely in photoshop, see pic here. Wayne

 

[Twentyten]

Do a search. There's 78 results come back!!

I've always fancied one but never got round to it, they look like fun, but i think the novelty may wear off.:shrug:

 

[Flash In The Pan]

I had a Lensbaby Original, but the novelty wore off.....after about a week

The new Composer model looks a bit more user-friendly, but it's £165....

 

[stevewestern]

I did do a search, read the results, and wanted to know more, and see if anyone had one to sell on.

For the money that original ones fetch, I don't care if the novelty wears off, and the composer does look good, but as you say F-I-T-P, it ain't cheap..

 

[stylgeo]

I had one, the second version, and I liked it a lot. It needs some practice but you get the hang of it eventually. Sold it a while ago. Got a good price and needed some room in my bag and the money at the point. i wouldn't mind buying another one tbh.

The second version is MUCH sharper than the first one. It's even sharper than the nifty fifty of both Nikon and Canon.

I used it only on portraits. I never liked the effect on landscape, even though it was good to shoot flowers and it made some trippy effects in cityscapes when you stepped down a bit.

I always shot wide open, even though sometimes it would be better to use smaller apertures, for portraits.

Here are a few examples.

1)

2)

3)

 

[stevewestern]

Cheers Stylgeo - some nice pictures !
Part of my 'problem' is just that - the first were really blurry, the 2nd were much sharper, but the new Composer can be altered with different glass - there are 4 different levels of blurry/sharp, making it rather more than a one trick lens..
The problem is that the cost goes from 160 to 240 with the extra glass inserts....

 

[Flash In The Pan]

You could always look out for someone upgrading to a Composer from a 3g, it's a bit more fiddly, but I'd imagine they'll start turning up for not a lot on Ebay soon....

 

[stevewestern]

They might, but when did I ever wait for something to turn up on ebay - had my credit limit raised on my card recently, so watch this space...