CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

Yesterday, fooling around with some fake flowers, I decided to play with the Zone Plate/Pinhole optic. Mounted in my Scout to the Nikon D7100, the following pictures were the result. I didn't have my lighting set up (too lazy), so relied on the light from the window across the room and a small flashlight that is rather dim. All were shot in RAW.

I tried using the pinhole aspect, but with so little light, it just didn't work, even with the shutter set at 10 seconds which isn't nearly long enough. If I had used bulb mode and kept the shutter open for maybe a minute, an image might have turned up, but didn't do that. IMO, it really requires a lot of light to get a decent image. So, I'll wait until spring to experiment with it outdoors.

So, all of these pictures are the result of using the zone plate aspect of the optic. The ISO was manually set at 250, and shutter timing, if I remember right, was around 6 to 10 seconds. The camera was set in Aperture mode, so the camera determined the shutter timing.

As for focusing, looking through the viewfinder and on the LCD screen, I saw only black, so took test shots to see where the lens was aimed. I couldn't tell if it was in focus, so decided to not worry about that.

**************

The original as it came out of the camera (resized only)

(Download)

The only modification is "magic color" which just enhances the color already there

(Download)

The only modification here is "Auto Contrast"

(Download)

This is with the flashlight

(Download)

This is also with the flashlight but processed with different adjustments to contrast and color

(Download)

Snap Shot Loc: California

Keep playing with it CathyAnn! Enjoy the journey!

CSand Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

Think I will go with the fourth one. I like the glow. But I would maybe lighten shadows. Fun to play and experiment on these cold days.

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

Some of these Lensbaby optics are rather difficult, especially this one, Snap. Angela has one of these too, and we had decided to work with it until we knew what we were doing. *Snore...* So much for that! lol! However, with the dreary days outside right now, I decided to try it again. Maybe in the next few days, I'll even set up some lights and experiment some more.

Thank you for the encouragement!

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

What I need to do is use my lights, Sandy. lol! Maybe in the next few days, I'll do just that. Thank you for the helpful comment.

angela k Loc: Long Island

Cathy, you are a brave woman to use that optic!!! I see nothing looking through it and I'm also too lazy to use a tripod.... But with that said, I really like what you did, even out of the camera, you can clearly see it's a beautiful flower!! Thanks for sharing your fun!!

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

I did use a tripod, Angela. Being inside, it's easy to mess with it and sit on a stool! lol! If I had used lights, it would have been a lot better.

Like you I saw nothing through the viewfinder and the LCD screen. I had to take a test shot to see if I'd get anything. Since I did, I was grateful and discarded all thoughts of focusing. lol! Since I have that optic still on my camera, and the sun is shining through the window, I ought to try again and see what happens. It's just too cold to go outside and fiddle with it.

I'm not going to mess with the pinhole aspect until I can get outside comfortably to play with it. Maybe by that time, you'll be in the mood to experiment with it too, and we can see together what we can come up with.

angela k Loc: Long Island

I'm going to have to try it... now you have me curious. I'll play with it inside, use a tripod and some lights and see what happens!! Did you see Lensbaby is coming out with something new on the 15th! I wonder what!!

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

No, didn't see that. However, I watched the video on the Edge optic and then tried it on an orchid I have blooming. I haven't looked at them yet, and may not until tomorrow. If there is anything worth looking at, I'll post it here in the Lensbaby section.

angela k Loc: Long Island

Glad you watched... I was playing with the edge yesterday on my African violets.... I didn't see any slice when taking a closeup, but with my beach shots I really noticed the effect. Hope you have some keepers to post!! ...did you pull out the front to get really close?

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

I did pull it out, and just loaded the results on my computer a little bit ago. Will check them out carefully tomorrow, but already deleted a few because they were obvious icky. The slice isn't obvious on any of them that I can tell, but maybe when I enlarge them on the screen tomorrow I'll be able to assess the results better. I'll let you know.

angela k Loc: Long Island

Cathy, so far every shot I've taken, with multiple lenses have been deleted.... it has to be the winter doldrums doing this to me.... hurry up spring!!
Good luck with your shots, hope you did get a few keepers!

CLF Loc: Raleigh, NC

Sis, interesting how the effects changed. Thank you.

Bro

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

It's a lot of fun experiments, Bro.