Lensbaby Composer, Fisheye and Soft Focus review: creativity abounds
By Darren Murph 
posted March 15th 2010 2:59PM
posted March 15th 2010 2:59PM
If you're into lomography, you'll likely be into Lensbaby lenses. Put as simply as possible, the company's stable of lenses, optics and accessories are all engineered to drag out the creative soul you've been stifling for so long, and in our experience, they accomplish that goal. We tested out the Composer lens -- a 50mm device that tilts in order to selectively blur your subject(s) -- and a trio of optics: Double Glass, Fisheye and Soft Focus. One of the many things that makes this system unique is the ability to simply drop a new optic into the lens in order to open up a whole new world of possibilities; in other words, you'll never actually have to change the lens itself (only the drop-in "optic") in order to switch from fisheye to soft focus.
Composer impressions
Let's start with the Composer, a $270 lens that can be ordered for use with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Samsung, Olympus and Panasonic cameras. Said unit ships with an $85 Double Glass optic, which can be tweaked further by a set of included magnetic aperture rings. It should be noted that this lens requires full-on manual control on many cameras (the D90 included), while we were able to shoot in Programmed Auto mode on our splendiferous D3S. We loved the light weight of the lens and the stubby nature, though we did long for an easy way to see when you had the tiltable tube fixed in the center; there's a ring that you can tighten in order to keep it locked, but finding the exact center is practically a crapshoot. Inserting and removing optics from the lens was a cinch, as you simply use the lid of your next lens as the removal and entry tool. We'll be frank -- it took us a minute to figure out how exactly the process worked, but it's certainly intuitive once you stop thinking about the attachment process involved with your standard Nikkor lens and start thinking like a "real artist."
The Double Glass that's included with the Composer was easily our favorite of the optics we tried. Sharpness was way better than expected, and the drop-in aperature rings allowed for all sorts of imagination-filled shots. We tended to prefer the F/4 ring for our style, but we definitely appreciate the options that are bundled in. We should note that the use of this does require a leap of faith from the camera operator, and if you've had your DSLR wheel locked on "Automatic," you'll definitely be outside of your comfort zone in the beginning. Once you work with ISO ranges and shutter speeds, though, you'll quickly learn to appreciate just how much this setup is teaching you about your camera. In fact, we'd argue that using this has the potential to make you a better overall photographer, as the crutch known as "Auto Mode" is forcefully removed. Have a look at some sample shots we snapped with the Double Glass below on our duo of Nikons (all of which are unedited save for resizing).
Fisheye impressions
We were giddy with anticipation before using the 12mm Fisheye optic ($150), but unfortunately, we can't say we came away floored with the performance. Granted, it's a $150 fisheye (compared to "real" fisheye lenses costing hundreds or thousands of dollars), so we can't reasonably expect it to perform at an exceptionally high level. The biggest annoyance was the inability to completely filter out the darkened edges, and the sharpness level was certainly well below the Double Glass that we'd already fallen for. Still, we managed to eke out a few smile- worthy shots in the right circumstances -- have a look below to see if it's your cup of tea.
Soft Focus impressions
Finally, we spent a solid week trying to figure out where the Soft Focus optic fit in our life. Truth be told, we never found it. We suspect this one is designed for those Gone With The Wind shots, but we had a bear of a time finding the right controls needed to extract a pleasant shot. The Double Glass was a far easier (and more forgiving) optic to handle, though we suspect the payoff would be worth it if you really put the time into mastering this guy. Priced at $90, we'd have more difficulty recommended this one, and beyond that, the effect here is far easier to replicate in post-processing than the one seen in the Double Glass. Have a glance at a few sample shots below to see if you agree / disagree.
Wrap-up
So, is a Lensbaby system for you? If you're bored with your current crop of lenses, and you've no interest in plunking down over a grand for yet another piece of glass, these lenses and optics are absolutely worth a look. We wouldn't necessarily recommend the Fiseye and Soft Focus optics for everyone, but the Composer -- which ships with the lovely Double Glass optic -- is a winner in our eyes. It opens up a pretty fantastic realm of creative options, and it worked well on both DX and FX bodies that we tested it on (D90 and D3S, respectively). It's important to keep in mind that these are just hobby lenses at heart, but we'll be candid with you -- we had an awful lot of fun shooting through these. Our pup, however, didn't seem to share our enthusiasm.
What's the point of a soft focus model when they're ALL soft? Got to love the effects, but too much sharpness is not something they suffer from.
@PaulMdx
agreed - they should rebrand the "soft focus" lens as "out of focus" or maybe the "barbara walters special focus"
@PaulMdx
the soft focus one is really screwed up....
the others don't attract me neither........
@PaulMdx You can get the "soft focus" effect by simply steam fogging a filter over the front of your lens.
A similar effect can be achieved by being a really crap photographer.
@Wolfticket
lol!
@Wolfticket LOL!!! +10
I know right?!! I just don't get this thing. When I first saw one I thought it was going to be a cool tilt-shift lens on the cheap. But it doesn't seem to have that effect at all. Just seems to make your pictures look crappy. I guess that's just me though. I mean seriously, you can get all these effects with filters right?
I've wanted one of the Lensbaby systems ever since I found out about them. You're not helping. Why do I have to be pooooor?
@candybeans i too have always wanted a lensbaby - but i could never develop a good argument for the (what i consider) exorbitant cost. if you have the light for a fast shutter speed the first lens can be reproduced by manually zooming while releasing the shutter, the second you can do with any number of artificial means (i think ilfehacker had an article about using the eyehole for your front door to get the effect), and the soft focus can be done with masks and gaussian blurs.
i still say lensbabies are not worth the money.
@owen66 It would be worth it for me, since I do engagement photography and lots of couples want something a little different. :) Now, I can see skipping out on the soft focus lens, since that's easily replicated, but I think the fisheye, coupled with the composer, could make for some nice shots that don't have me taking the door apart ;)
I own the composer model and i can say that its the easiest one to use (the others are 3g and muse) and dont expect really nice photos (in terms of quality) from it couse they're meant to be like that.
"You wouldn't want to hinge your business on these"
Rarely is a photographer's business hinged on one thing or another. Most photographers understand the benefits of diversification, and these days you need to be flexible with what you shoot for a living. With that being said, having a successful business is about defining yourself and there certainly are customers who want photographers who can do something different - they want something unique. I have no doubt I'd be able to sell the images I can do with some Lensbabies products.
@xenigo
70-200 = business
Lensbaby = skinny leg jeans
Just my view.
@Baconbits
I agree with you 95%, but not everyone wants "business"... although I prefer it. I deal with clients ranging from loving a proper lighting style, to wanting everything flattened out almost like an on-camera flash... and then if you shoot at 2.8 @ 200mm there's the people who say nonsense like "why is the background out of focus?" What I'm saying is that everyone has their preferences, right or wrong... all we can do is cater to their (misguided) desires. ;)
BTW your Lensbabies samples are terrible. Better samples would be shot by someone who actually shoots for a living. ::2 cents::
whoever took those pictures seems to have never sued a camera before.
@BHCS
Probably a smart thing to do... cameras always have great lawyers.
@Bandigolo god damn it xD
*used*
@BHCS JOSH, this could be avoided by adding some awesome code...AKA the Edit button. You can even put a timer to allow editing for 30, 60, 90-seconds, whatever suits your fancy. 99% of us realize we are morons 3 seconds after we post. The other 2% already know they are morons.
@CrossCheck SEE!!!!! ;)
I am photographer that has been using the lensbaby since before the composer was around. I do a lot of portrait and wedding photography and the lensbaby fits in perfectly for such things. As with most photographers , one lens is not the only lens they use for ALL of their photos, so the lensbaby has a use and a place in a business. Because of the different effects from the optics that can be produced in camera rather then in Photoshop it makes it nice and easy to create romantic or soft effects on the go. Let it be said that this is NOT a primary lens for most events but it is still a part of my kit that gets a lot of use.
So I am going to have to disagree that it is ONLY a hobby lens.
@themacguy2k
It's still cheaper(and you get better results) to buy an old medium format lens and DIY it into a tilt-shift lens. Want soft focus? Smear vaseline on the front element ;)
@RaZe42 This may be true but showing up to a wedding that you are getting paid for with some Dr. Frankenstein gadget and vaseline might leave people with the wrong idea.
The DIY approach is great for personal work and experimenting but when you need to present yourself aas a professional that just won't cut it.
That "Soft Focus" lens is silly, you can achieve exactly the same effect by blurring your photo.
Want a lens that'll make you a better photographer? Get a Samyang 85mm f/1.4 for 220€ which is just as sharp as Canon's 85L wide open.
@RaZe42 no hardware will make you a better photog - great photos are really all in the person behind the cam (unless the person in front of the cam is allison stokke)
ken rockwell says it pretty well here:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm
@owen66
Ken Rockwell? Hahahaha you can't be serious. I guess you also shoot i jpeg "like a real man".
But let me explain:
The Samyang, which is a fully manual lens, will make you learn how to focus manually. It has manual aperture, so you *have* to do that too.
It's a prime, which most photographers I know agree that will improve on your photography. It certainly did for me.
In other words: It makes you think before you take a shot, and therefore make your shots count. It's the same thing with tripods. Shoot exclusively with a tripod for let's say six months and you will have developed your photography skills.
And yes, gear isn't everything, you also need motivation to learn and willingness to accept critique.
Then there's the thing about "the eye for photography", the more artistic part of it. Some "see" naturally, but *everyone* learns by time.
But if you are a good photographer, better tools can make you take better images.
Ummm you could just use Vaseline to make a blurry image. Either on the camera or post!
@tripdragon
So, you can just rub vaseline on the computer screen, and that will blur it? Cool.
they used these lenses extensively on 'diving bell and the butterfly' to simulate his dying eye. huge success imho.
@batgadget
That was the bigger PL-mount version of the Control Freak (or 3G) Lensbaby and yes, the footage looks really cool.
Actually, wanna make yourself a better photographer? Get an old film SLR and try and take good pictures with it without post processing.
"...help users engage in selective focus photography, and frankly, create all sorts of wild images that would be otherwise difficult or impossible to create within Photoshop."
I disagree: I could recreate ANY of the effects in those shots in Photoshop.
@digitalh It may be true that you can recreate the effects in photoshop but some of us want to get it done in camera and not spend 30 mins on every photo tinkering with them. Used creatively you can produce effects with the LB in seconds that are not going to be practical in PS and too time consuming.
I hate to be a pooper, but these effects are gimmicky. I think taking the money spent on these lenses and buying a proper photography book or getting lessons would be a far better investment to anyone's personal photography goals.
If you must spend money on something, get the canon 70-200 mug- at least that has practical usability.
@horchata The effect can be gimmicky depending on what you are shooting. In the right situation a lensbaby can produce a completely different effect then an 70-200 lens. They both have different purposes and therefore have a place for different kinds of photography.
What if you could do all those same distortions in software using your own lenses?
Actually, you can.
I've been using my Lensbaby Composer (double glass) for my fashion/emotive youth portraiture. I love the effects it gives my photos - and it is definitely not something you can simply create in photoshop. (I hate when people use the zoom blur filter and think its the same thing - it's not. That's not how the Lensbaby works, it distorts and blurs - not zoom)
Here is some of my work (if you'd prefer to see something half decent in comparison to their test shots - that quite frankly, are pretty dull.)
http://staceythestrange.deviantart.com/art/Sakara-IV-137824516
http://staceythestrange.deviantart.com/art/elegant-innocence-131698786
http://staceythestrange.deviantart.com/art/Natalie-II-134426204
@staceythestrange
Very nice examples, love the textures. I've been talking myself out of the lensbaby forever and your examples are just making it that much harder to ignore.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicknelsonphoto/
@Nick Nelson
Thank you! =)
haha, it's fun and it isn't heavily priced. It definitely adds something a little different to your images and stands you out from the norm.
I love your "Lamar" + "Power Lines" + "Sunset 1-2-10" and your water shots with Jessica! =) nice work.
Sup dawg, I heard you don't like changing lenses so I put a lens with changeable optics in your camera so you can change optics instead of lenses.
So how about this... If you want to create a photo with tack sharp everything, DON'T BUY THE LENSBABY! If you want to zoom across a field and photograph a deer, DON'T BUY THE LENSBABY! If you are going to complain because you have not purpose for a LB in YOUR type of photography, DON'T BUY THE LENSBABY!
Its that simple. There are people that enjoy using the LB for what THEY want or need to photograph and have found creative ways to integrate it into their system. Spending less money to rig an old lens onto your camera may be the solution for some, just as using photoshop to create similar effects is for others. If that is what works for you then no one should stop you from using that method.
Just because YOU may not want/use a LB does not mean that someone else may not gain something useful from it.
Hey, you took a picture of my old house!
"create all sorts of wild images that would be otherwise difficult or impossible to create within Photoshop"
Really??
I really didn't see too much that would be difficult or impossible to recreate in PS. I can understand and appreciate the convenience of not needing to use PS to create some effect, but realistically most of those effects could be faked fairly easily.
I'm not so sure you can really re-create a lot of the effects---with ease---in PS. While some lenses could possibly serve as "all-purpose" lenses for some, you should use certain lenses for certain jobs. If you like to create work doing "out of the box" thinking, you do wild things like reverse your lens, shoot film with a Holga or put black paper discs with cut out shapes over your lens for funky bokeh. A Lensbaby just gives you more options to create different effects.
The Lensbaby is one of those tools that just gives you lots of serendipitous results and it's fun getting to them. There's a lot of exploring and discovery in learning to use them.
The optics aren't tack-sharp and free of aberrations but they aren't meant to be. Nor are they priced that way.
One thing that I haven't read much about: the system is so very well thought out, from how the optics are changed to how everything is packaged. The containers for the optics stack nicely and double as the tool to remove them from the lens body; the apertures are simple to drop in and remove (no fingerprints!); the packaging and product design are wonderful.
The lens baby gives you the crap aspects of shooting with a Holga (or similar toy camera) without the grain, warmth, latitude of film and the unpredictable nature of a poor camera. The Holga cooks up weird images with light leaks, fog, wavy film from a single element plastic lens which is nearly impossible to focus. The lens baby duplicates just a small part of the crap camera experience and at a huge premium. A Holga is under $40, and the leftover $230 buys a lot of film and processing. Some very expired film makes it even cheaper and more interesting.
@sk
I agree.
However no one defeats urban outfitters need some have. That thing that makes them buy a shoe that looks like a converse but is another brand because the real converse was $20 dollars less. And also that shirt that says "Hey, I spent atleast 30 minutes looking through a thrift store for this shirt, but really I got it online. But you'll never know". Oh crap I'm just ranting now.
Checked this stuff out at the lensbaby booth last week at WPPI in Vegas. Talked my better half out of purchasing the $700 package with all the optics and custom apertures and all that other good nonsense and instead we just added the Canon 15mm fisheye lens to our arsenal.
These things are cool, don't get me wrong. But we couldn't justify getting them because at the end of the day, these lenses are just fun to play around with and wouldn't really put the money back in our pocket. I was't impressed with the feel and durability (or lack thereof) of the composer and I just couldn't stop imagining how many times I would bang this thing around while shooting a wedding. But, if you've got some extra coin sitting around that you're dying to get rid of either send it to me or buy the Lens Baby stuff. Either way you'll never see a return on your investment.
The Fish Eye and Soft Focus are the newest products. To me these seem to have been dreamed up by the company when trying to work out what they hell they could try to sell to people next.
I have the Composer and all the original optics (plus the add on lenses for wide angle and telephoto), but these newest two seem like they were running low on ideas (okay, if I hadn't just bought the Canon 15mm fisheye, I guess I might think a little differently, but still I think these are pushing the product line too far).