Not sure if this has been said, but I'm not a fan of the Lensbaby. I don't find the look of the Lensbaby pleasing and more times then not it makes me feel nauseous. I can't look at the photos for too long.
I am saving for a tilt shift. Not a priority but definitely something I want to get someday!
Hey guys, I just seen this. I free lens with my D800 all the time, but with a modified 50mm f/1.8. Check out my article on Petapixel from a couple weeks ago.
I hd an e-session last night and decided to attempt a few shots. I just can't seem to nail it, yet. I was shooting at close range to get the focus even at infinity and I wonder why I'm having such difficulty. Shooting the couple on this great escape stairway on the back of the building I wasn't able to get the focus using a 35 mm from the ground and across the street. Any advice? This shot sort of) worked out but only because I was two feet from their hands and was able to use my body to focus with an old pentax 50mm.
Yeah, I'm down with being a tinkerer and all, but I can't get past the fact that almost every single freelensing shot I've ever seen looks just tragically AWFUL. The focus is wonky, the light leaks are really distracting and the vignetting looks like the shot was taken with a pinhole camera.
It's a completely different look than a high end T/S. No offense to those who want to fool around with it, but there's no way I'd ever freelens in front of a client. I can't think of a faster way to look like a complete moron than spending 6 shots and 2 minutes fooling around with your disconnected lens trying to nail the focus. No thanks.
CareyNash wrote:
I hd an e-session last night and decided to attempt a few shots. I just can't seem to nail it, yet. I was shooting at close range to get the focus even at infinity and I wonder why I'm having such difficulty. Shooting the couple on this great escape stairway on the back of the building I wasn't able to get the focus using a 35 mm from the ground and across the street. Any advice? This shot sort of) worked out but only because I was two feet from their hands and was able to use my body to focus with an old pentax 50mm....Show more →
My experience has been that you have to make smaller movements from further back (if I recall correctly - it's been a while). You have to try to keep the lens as close to the sensor as possible and just try small tilts. Wen you get it too far out it essentially does the same thing as a macro ring so you can only focus on close stuff. I've effectively used freelensing to get macro shots in a pinch as well,
Jamesbjenkins wroteIt's a completely different look than a high end T/S. No offense to those who want to fool around with it, but there's no way I'd ever freelens in front of a client. I can't think of a faster way to look like a complete moron than spending 6 shots and 2 minutes fooling around with your disconnected lens trying to nail the focus. No thanks.
it all depends on the clients you can get. if they're cool with you experimenting, then what's the issue? Have you ever shot with a T/S? Using them for a portrait is just as fiddly as freelensing.
I evaluate a lens based in part on how many images from it will make it into the couple's album. For detail shots a +4 closeup lens on a 24-70mm lens is all I have needed. I see some great ring shots but have to wonder when the photographer was taking 20-30 minutes photographing jewelry how much was being missed.
How many ring shots do you put into an average album and how many shots of the bride's shoes and could they just as easily have been taken with the use of a closeup lens or an extension tube - both cheaper and faster to use and easily stashed away in a pocket until needed.
Jamesbjenkins wrote:
Yeah, I'm down with being a tinkerer and all, but I can't get past the fact that almost every single freelensing shot I've ever seen looks just tragically AWFUL. The focus is wonky, the light leaks are really distracting and the vignetting looks like the shot was taken with a pinhole camera.
It's a completely different look than a high end T/S. No offense to those who want to fool around with it, but there's no way I'd ever freelens in front of a client. I can't think of a faster way to look like a complete moron than spending 6 shots and 2 minutes fooling around with your disconnected lens trying to nail the focus. No thanks....Show more →
If you read my article, there are a few shots in there that I got during an engagement shoot, and the clients loved them. I've gotten pretty good with it and I dont have to tinker around too much to get a good shot. I have it in my bag everywhere I go, just in case, when the opportunity presents itself, i can bring it out. I agree, its definitely not as clean as a true tilt-shift lens, but I dont expect it to be for over $1000 cheaper. Does it give a unique look...yes. Is it for everyone...no. All I know is, the two clients I have used it on, loved that I was using an interesting (to them) technique.
Also, now that I think about it...if you have tried it in the past without modifying the lens...you wont be happy with the results because the rear element isnt close enough to the sensor. I have tried it with regular lenses and it sucks, just doesnt work well at all. If I was to lend you my modified 50mm... I think you would like it. Seriously.
I personally like the look of a nice lens baby/tilt lens shot. Many seem to or it wouldnt sell or it wouldnt be used. I haven't used either but Ive loved some of the pictures Ive seen.
I like the picture the OP posted of his daughter, looks dreamy and shes ready to play with the fairies!
Cassario wrote:
Hey guys, I just seen this. I free lens with my D800 all the time, but with a modified 50mm f/1.8. Check out my article on Petapixel from a couple weeks ago.
I just did Cassario's modification to 2 lenses i just picked up on craigslist....one a Nikon 50mm 1.8 Series E, the other a Sigma 28mm 2.8 in a Pentax mount....paid the guy $30 for both lenses, just to tear them apart.....
I didn't actually super glue anything, i actually just put a zip tie around the stack/group of elements, that added some friction to the aperture lever....if not, it just wants to stop down automatically.....and this way, i can actually vary the aperture if i need to / want to....
the 50mm is perfect, set it at infinity, and the missing mount makes it so you can actually get infinity focus while tilted....so awesome....
the 28mm is a little more strange...while i like that it's wider, b/c it's a Pentax mount lens, you have to set it to almost minimum focus distance, or else it focuses PAST infinity.....once it's set though, it does really well...unfortunately, it has a smaller image circle than the Nikon 50mm, so you cant tilt quite as much without losing the image.....also, yes if you push the back of the lens too far inside the mount, it will clip the mirror....did it a few times today on my D3, and my D7000, it doesn't actually "clip" anything, you can just feel a slight bump as it grazes the rear element lol....but it's sweet...i gotta go experiment with it this week, pics to follow....
NathanHamler wrote:
I just did Cassario's modification to 2 lenses i just picked up on craigslist....one a Nikon 50mm 1.8 Series E, the other a Sigma 28mm 2.8 in a Pentax mount....paid the guy $30 for both lenses, just to tear them apart.....
I didn't actually super glue anything, i actually just put a zip tie around the stack/group of elements, that added some friction to the aperture lever....if not, it just wants to stop down automatically.....and this way, i can actually vary the aperture if i need to / want to....
the 50mm is perfect, set it at infinity, and the missing mount makes it so you can actually get infinity focus while tilted....so awesome....
the 28mm is a little more strange...while i like that it's wider, b/c it's a Pentax mount lens, you have to set it to almost minimum focus distance, or else it focuses PAST infinity.....once it's set though, it does really well...unfortunately, it has a smaller image circle than the Nikon 50mm, so you cant tilt quite as much without losing the image.....also, yes if you push the back of the lens too far inside the mount, it will clip the mirror....did it a few times today on my D3, and my D7000, it doesn't actually "clip" anything, you can just feel a slight bump as it grazes the rear element lol....but it's sweet...i gotta go experiment with it this week, pics to follow....
Awesome Nathan, glad you gave it a shot, definitely want to see the shots you get. I have tried it on other lens wider than 50mm and havent liked the results as much. I never glue anything until I try it out, so I was able to put the other lenses back together with no issues.
