Lensbaby Sweet 35 on Canon T3

I was just checking out the Lensbaby site today and am VERY interested in one! Does anyone have any experience with any of their products? I have a T3 and am mostly interested in the Composer Pro with Sweet 35. Im thinking it would be very useful for portraits.

What are your thoughts?

Sample shots would also be appreciated!

What other lenses do you have now? Those are kind of specialty effect lenses, so I wouldn't start moving into those until you have a kit of solid lenses.

I practically never use mine. YMWV.

tkbslc wrote in post #17050900
What other lenses do you have now? Those are kind of specialty effect lenses, so I wouldn't start moving into those until you have a kit of solid lenses.

I've just got the 18-135mm STM. That pretty much covers everything I shoot. The only other lenses I really want are the 10-22mm and the 17-55 2.8. I do see what you're saying though. I've just gotta decide if it will pay for itself or will it just sit there.

Tapeman wrote in post #17050907
I practically never use mine. YMWV.

How does it perform? When you do use it, what do you think of it?

Heya,

It's a pretty specialty thing to shoot with. You should know whether you want that kind of portrait or not. If you're talking about "paying for itself" via clients paying for portraits, I would hope this is the look they're going for. It's like a free-lens look, or a weird tilt-shift. It can be interesting. But it can also be a little too much on the art side for some people.

They're not too expensive, so I don't see why not. Get one. See if it's your cup of tea. If not, sell it.

If not, get a good fast prime. Like a 35mm F2 IS, or a Sigma 30 F1.4 ART.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #17051010
Heya,

If not, get a good fast prime. Like a 35mm F2 IS, or a Sigma 30 F1.4 ART.

Very best,

I have had heard alot of good about the Sigma 30 1.4 art! I would def use that more and its super fast! I will have to check that one out tomorrow when I try that lensbaby!

I have tried several lensbaby products. I highly advise that you pick one up used, as they don't have super-great resale value.

The Sweet 35 is nice on a crop sensor as it isn't quite as tight as the other lenses, which are mostly 50mm.

BlakeC wrote in post #17051098
I have had heard alot of good about the Sigma 30 1.4 art! I would def use that more and its super fast! I will have to check that one out tomorrow when I try that lensbaby!

Heya,

Also note the Lensbaby is manual focus, if that matters to you. It's kind of difficult to manual focus on APS-C's like the T3 via the viewfinder. If you use LiveView, it will be exact. But if you're shooting mostly viewfinder, you may find you miss-focus sometimes.

Very best,

BlakeC wrote in post #17050947
I've just got the 18-135mm STM. That pretty much covers everything I shoot. The only other lenses I really want are the 10-22mm and the 17-55 2.8. I do see what you're saying though. I've just gotta decide if it will pay for itself or will it just sit there.

With only a basic kit lens (And it's a good one, I have it) you are missing out on a lot of creative capabilities that many other regular lenses can provide. For example, ultrawide (like the 10-22) or lower light ( like the 17-55) or shallow DOF/subject isolation with a fast short telephoto.

That's why I'd say you should focus on building a kit around your needs with more general lenses first and then after you are all set there, look at the specialty lenses.

If you want an amazing portrait lens, I'd pick up a 50mm f1.4 or an 85mm f1.8. That's going to do more for your portraits and work for more kinds of portraits than a Lensbaby.

tkbslc wrote in post #17051177
For example, ultrawide (like the 10-22) or lower light ( like the 17-55) or shallow DOF/subject isolation with a fast short telephoto.

I do really like the 10-22! I use that when I shoot the color runs. It's their lens but I would love to have my own!

Im thinking I will hold off on the lensbaby. Def going to try it out though!

As for portrait use, I feel I would get alot of use out of a fast prime 30-50mm. I am checking out the Sigma 30mm 1.4 tomorrow.

yourlefthand wrote in post #17051120
I have tried several lensbaby products. I highly advise that you pick one up used, as they don't have super-great resale value.

^

Because people who buy them often realize that they can get the same effect in photoshop and doing it that way doesn't ruin the original.

Heya,

Consider a lensbaby spark ($60?) if you want an inexpensive toy that does the effect? And get a proper prime otherwise.

Very best,

I personally wouldn't buy one for your body. MF through a rebel VF is a pain in the tail imo.

Tapeman wrote in post #17050907
I practically never use mine. YMWV.

Same here!

I agree with yourlefthand, buy used. That way if you end up deciding it is just a fun toy to use only occasionally your not out that much.

Note: I realized this ahead of time and I got mine real cheap used, so not using it very much is not a big deal to me.