Notes on life, art, photography and technology, by a Danish dropout bohemian.
When you drink the water, remember the river.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Weird bokeh
I'm impressed with the success and product range Lensbaby has achieved in a couple of years since they first arrived with their small plastic tiltable lens (the Muse).
It's always been a mystery to me. WHY do people invariably seek out what they perceive to be the camera most capable of producing sharp, accurate images, often throwing large amounts of money at this 'Holy Grail' of photography ... then screw up any optical advantage they MAY have found by sticking tat like this in front of the lens? Even back in the 'old' days of film, filter and lens accessory manufacturers went to incredible lengths to produce kit that would apparent not have degrading effects on the image produced by the naked lens, yet in virtually every case they produced undesirable charateristics into the image that the lens manufacturers had, no doubt, spent millions of pounds / dollars / yen to get rid of! A quick look through the video, and there is nothing I can see that could not be created with 'ancient' technology, namely the Cokin filter system! Still gadgets appeal to many I guess, regardless of their worth?
An aside, Michael? PLEASE get rid of that photo. It MAY have been put there as a wind-up (I hope it's not a serious effort to convey anything?), but it's just tacky, and SO wrong: it does nothing more than convey a very sullied image of our industry: an older guy ('Glamour photographer'?) surrounded by three half naked, half attractive 'models' - with a large lens sticking out at an appropriate angle. Tch!
In the world of tilt-shift, there's Lensbaby and then there's Canon L-series or whatever the Nikon equivalent is called. No middle ground. I rather enjoyed playing with Lensbaby's "Control Freak" model.
Oddly enough, I'm noticing the tilt-shift effect showing up in a good number of compact cameras, albeit under a different name (like "miniature," or some such).
I think that Lenbabies are just fun to play with, who cares if they're sharp (they're not). It's fun to just screw around with pictures sometimes.
Great point, Eo. I guess it's unfair to lump Lensbabies in with view cameras and expensive T-S lenses, since they're clearly not going for that effect.
I got a chance to play around with a friend's lensbaby a few months ago and I have to admit they are a lot of fun. I tend to lump these lenses in with fisheye and tilt-shift lenses; a very distinct look, but limited application. It's hard to justify spending big bucks on something that stays hidden in your camera bag the majority of the time.
7 comments:
There is a product called Bokeh Master that has been out for a couple of years for use on regular lenses.
The heart shape was over used by 1980's wedding photographers....
OMG, Eo! Why did you have to go and feature those lenses! :-P TOO COOL! Those look like an ETERNITY of FUN! :-D
Michael said...
"The heart shape was over used by 1980's wedding photographers..."
FUNNY! I'm wondering if same happens w/"the day" that was just upon us, a coupla days ago, as well! That day will NEVER go away! :-/
It's always been a mystery to me. WHY do people invariably seek out what they perceive to be the camera most capable of producing sharp, accurate images, often throwing large amounts of money at this 'Holy Grail' of photography ... then screw up any optical advantage they MAY have found by sticking tat like this in front of the lens?
Even back in the 'old' days of film, filter and lens accessory manufacturers went to incredible lengths to produce kit that would apparent not have degrading effects on the image produced by the naked lens, yet in virtually every case they produced undesirable charateristics into the image that the lens manufacturers had, no doubt, spent millions of pounds / dollars / yen to get rid of!
A quick look through the video, and there is nothing I can see that could not be created with 'ancient' technology, namely the Cokin filter system!
Still gadgets appeal to many I guess, regardless of their worth?
An aside, Michael? PLEASE get rid of that photo. It MAY have been put there as a wind-up (I hope it's not a serious effort to convey anything?), but it's just tacky, and SO wrong: it does nothing more than convey a very sullied image of our industry: an older guy ('Glamour photographer'?) surrounded by three half naked, half attractive 'models' - with a large lens sticking out at an appropriate angle.
Tch!
In the world of tilt-shift, there's Lensbaby and then there's Canon L-series or whatever the Nikon equivalent is called. No middle ground. I rather enjoyed playing with Lensbaby's "Control Freak" model.
Oddly enough, I'm noticing the tilt-shift effect showing up in a good number of compact cameras, albeit under a different name (like "miniature," or some such).
I think that Lenbabies are just fun to play with, who cares if they're sharp (they're not). It's fun to just screw around with pictures sometimes.
What's funny is that everybody now has forgotten that tilt is meant to increase depth of field, not reduce it!
Great point, Eo. I guess it's unfair to lump Lensbabies in with view cameras and expensive T-S lenses, since they're clearly not going for that effect.
I got a chance to play around with a friend's lensbaby a few months ago and I have to admit they are a lot of fun. I tend to lump these lenses in with fisheye and tilt-shift lenses; a very distinct look, but limited application. It's hard to justify spending big bucks on something that stays hidden in your camera bag the majority of the time.
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