http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/ Engadget Comments for Lensbaby Composer, Fisheye and Soft Focus review: creativity abounds http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/agreed - they should rebrand the "soft focus" lens as "out of focus" or maybe the "barbara walters special focus"]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/the soft focus one is really screwed up....
the others don't attract me neither........]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
lol!]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/ 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?]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
i still say lensbabies are not worth the money.]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 4:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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.]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
70-200 = business
Lensbaby = skinny leg jeans

Just my view.]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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. ;)]]>Mar 15th 2010 5:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
Probably a smart thing to do... cameras always have great lawyers.]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
*used*]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 4:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
So I am going to have to disagree that it is ONLY a hobby lens.]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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 ;)]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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.]]>Mar 15th 2010 7:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
ken rockwell says it pretty well here:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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. ]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
]]>Mar 15th 2010 7:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
So, you can just rub vaseline on the computer screen, and that will blur it? Cool. ]]>Mar 15th 2010 7:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
That was the bigger PL-mount version of the Control Freak (or 3G) Lensbaby and yes, the footage looks really cool.]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/I disagree: I could recreate ANY of the effects in those shots in Photoshop.]]>Mar 15th 2010 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 7:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
If you must spend money on something, get the canon 70-200 mug- at least that has practical usability.]]>Mar 15th 2010 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 7:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
Actually, you can.]]>Mar 15th 2010 6:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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]]>Mar 15th 2010 6:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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/]]>Mar 15th 2010 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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. ]]>Mar 15th 2010 7:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 7:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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.]]>Mar 15th 2010 7:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 8:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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.]]>Mar 15th 2010 8:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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. ]]>Mar 15th 2010 8:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/Mar 15th 2010 9:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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.]]>Mar 15th 2010 11:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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. ]]>Mar 15th 2010 9:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/lensbaby-composer-fisheye-and-soft-focus-review-creativity-abo/
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).]]>Mar 16th 2010 1:37AM