Focal length: 12mm, fisheye lens
Mount: Canon
Aperture: F 5.6 - F 22 via insertable discs
Length (from flange): 52mm [+ 27mm for the adapter]
Diameter: 60mm
Weight: 230gr.
Some pictures:
A7 and the lens.
Some general remarks about Lensbabies. The first Lensbaby was a simple
plastic lens in
a simple PVC tube which has to be squeezed to focus and/or bent to move
the sharp area. The lenses are
set to be sharp only at the center, the rest is blurred, simulating
perfectly a "bokeh" effect. The sharp spot (called sweet spot) can be
shifted sideways. They cover full
format. The lenses are soft to blurry at full
aperture. Closed down they becoming sharper, but retain blurred edges.
The idea was a great success. Now there are plenty of different systems
and a wide choice of accessories and even swappable lenses.
From right to left: Lensbaby 2.0,
close to the first Lensbaby, fixed lens, but glass, not plastic. 3G,
similar to 2.0, but bending and sqeezing can be done precisely and
stays so until you push the release button. It has also a focus thread
for precise focussing. Control freak,
a 3G with swappable lenses. Composer
Pro, has a ball-joint type tube to move the sweet spot,
swappable lenses and a focus ring. Scout,
rigid tube, no bending, swappable inserts, focus ring, often sold with
a fisheye lens, presented here.
The complete set with box, fisheye lens, aperture discs, instructions
and pouch.
Fisheye lens taken out. There is an ordinary little lens at the bottom,
focal length about 50mm. The discs are different from the ordinary
ones. They have smaller holes, are made of plastic and are not held by
magnets. Usually they are secured by the end of the fisheye lens. If
you use the 50mm alone, pay attention not to lose the discs.
Fisheye lens and cap.
You can use other swaps from the Lensbaby system, if you already have
them.
Sample pictures: You may click
on the sample image (if not indicated otherwise) for full resolution.
The
full resolution image opens in a new window, so you can keep it open
for comparison. I tried to focus is on the the
big solar panel near the center of the photo.
Fisheye lens, no disc.
No disc, cropped to APS-C size.
F5.6, no full resolution image.
F11, no full resolution image.
F22.
F22 cropped.
The Scout with the fisheye taken out.
Without fisheye lens. Little lens only, no disc. A hint of vignetting, colour cast and overall very soft.
F
5.6, no full resolution image.
Vignetting from the disc.
F11, no full resolution image.
F22. Again vignetting from the disc. Colour cast nearly disappears and sharpness gets a little better.
This
is a special fisheye lens. It works like it should, but it sits in a
rigid tube, no shifting as on other Lensbaby lenses. Overall shapness
is not impressing. If you take the fisheye out, the remaining lens at
the bottom is usable, but of very little interest, the discs produce
vignetting and are loose, as there are no magnets.
You can use other swap inserts from the Lensbaby system with the Scout
and you can use the whole fisheye insert on other Lensbaby systems of
the swap series.
The lens sturdy. It is easy to use. As I found mine for very
cheap second hand, it was worth a try. In no way would I have payed the original
price. But if you come across a set for a reasonable price, try it
out. It's fun.
