Lensbaby - yes or no

[song4themoon]

I saw an article about lensbabies and I did like the pictures they displayed that were taken with it. Does anybody have one? Is it worth getting one?

[archosman]

There is a bit of a learning curve with it. It comes with discs that you insert into the lens to change the apeture. I've been playing with mine for awhile and at the moment it's winning instead of me...

[NGrinerPhoto]

let me preface this with ... i think it's a really cool product.

i'm a fan of manipulating after i shoot. i shoot raw images then photoshop the effect into it. think about it like this ... what it you get the most amazing image you've ever shot though it was distorted with a lens baby. you can never go back on an effect you did on-camera.

[rlhphotos]

Lenbabies are really cool, but as mentioned there is what I consider a failry heavy learning curve to attaining good pcitures with it. Once you figure it out though, you can get some killer photos.

[Seefutlung]

I have a Lensbaby ... a very fun lens ... difficult to control. At $160 USD, well worth the investment if you have a lot of creative juices and patience. In my opinion the Lensbaby is most useful on the wide side, so on a cropped sensor it is bit more difficult to frame the shot you desire ... but there are wide angle kits for the lens.
http://garyayala.smugmug.com/photos/65468570-L.jpg

http://garyayala.smugmug.com/photos/65468531-L.jpg

[song4themoon]

hmmm, I am itching to buy one

[spencer87]

my boyfriend got me one for valentine's day and I regret that I havent used it much. there is a bit of a learning curve but you can get some very interesting/unique shots.

since this is in the wedding photography section though, I personally wouldnt use it for weddings. just not practical enough.

[Arnie1]

Haven't tried one....seems a bit of a gimmick to me, kinda turn a good lense into a poor one effect.

The same effect can be obtained in PS, gaussian and zoom blur brushed through a duplicate layer.

[saravrose]

I thought about one a while back.. really, really considered it. but, after the 'idea' of it wore off I realized it wasn't something that wouldn't be put to a lot of practical use.. I agree with everyone in saying that you can get the effects through PP.. but, I wasn't such a fan of the idea of the first thing that you would see is the effect instead of the composition

sari

[Seefutlung]

I think the Lensbaby would be great for a selective wedding shot or two. The effect in PS isn't quite the same. With the Lensbaby one can tilt-swing up/down/left/right or a combo of these movements for different effects than just blur.

[neil_r]

sGu has had some interesting results with his. I won't get one as it is a place I don't want to go.

[song4themoon]

even though I am in love with Photoshop, I still believe that what you can do without photoshop is always first choice. Plus, it just seems like such a fun "toy" :)

[Arnie1]

I doubt you'll have the time during a wedding to use it, things just happen too dam quick!

[tim]

It's not for me, I don't have time for that type of thing at a wedding. Anyone who does is either a hell of a lot better than me or isn't paying proper attention to what they're being paid for.

[Seefutlung]

Although not a wedding photog ... I would imagine using it in a set-up ... like a close-up of the bride holding a single candle or the bride and groom looking eye-to-eye in a green setting ... as to "no time" ... being from a news background ... I just have difficulty buying into that.

[cyrn]

I've used LB for wedding before... but on a 10D, the focusing really takes a lot of effort for my 4 eyes.

Below are a few samples. Pls forgive the watermark, it wasn't process with intention for posting here.

http://genesisourdreams.com/gallery/albums/album09/IMG_0596.jpg

http://genesisourdreams.com/gallery/albums/album09/IMG_0613.jpg

[Seefutlung]

The defense rests.

[Bakewell]

Try this PS plugin...does the same thing without buying a lens.

http://www.flamingpear.com/melancholytron.html

[Seefutlung]

Try this PS plugin...does the same thing without buying a lens.

http://www.flamingpear.com/melancholytron.html

If I had the choice ... I'd rather be a photographer than a graphic artist.

[Bakewell]

If I had the choice ... I'd rather be a photographer than a graphic artist.

Guess it's time to ditch PS and back to P&S!

[MrTED]

If I had the choice ... I'd rather be a photographer than a graphic artist.

Seefutlung,

I completely understand the point of using this (and other) tools on the job. I am a firm believer in get it right the first time, and I always try to do so myself, where I have an opportunity. Some tools you cannot recreate in PP, but it doesn't appear this one is the case. It appears this one can be duplicated very well in PP.

Getting the time to be able to use all these tools on th job and still capture the "must have" images is certainly a task in the short time we have to work with. By time, I mean the time between the service and the reception, which is where a lot of the classical wedding photos are taken.

If there are PP tools that can assist us in getting the same effect, without having to spend valuable time in setting up a particular shot, then I am sorry, I will take it. The time I save can then be used to prepare a wider variety of shots, where I can even do more of the same, if the shot lends itself to it.

This is especially true for more artistic shots, where to be honest, they can be a hit and miss. The shot you think will work with (lets say) Lens Baby, you use and take, only to find that later there is a better opportunity. Do you line up again with Lens Baby, or do you do this one in PP?

Just my thoughts...

Nathan

[tim]

Forget the gimicks and tricks, learn to take good wedding photos.

[Seefutlung]

Seefutlung,

...If there are PP tools that can assist us in getting the same effect, without having to spend valuable time in setting up a particular shot, then I am sorry, I will take it. The time I save can then be used to prepare a wider variety of shots, where I can even do more of the same, if the shot lends itself to it.

Just my thoughts...

Nathan

No reason to be sorry ... we all have reasons for what we do ... as for me ... once again, I would rather be a photographer than a graphic artist ... but then I don't do wedding ... so I probably don't have a wedding mentality.

[cyrn]

Regardless if you use the cam and/or PS.

These are juz tools that allows the phototgrapher (artist) to achieve the image he/she wants.

Even when using flims... there are techniques like air-brushing to achieve different effects.