I recently found a new Edge 80 optic on eBay being sold for much less than what Lensbaby and others are selling them. I wasn't going to get one, but couldn't help myself! So now, I'm trying to learn how to use it, and I find I'm using Donna's advice on using the Composer Pro, to focus straight ahead, then bend in the desired direction and adjust focus if needed.
When focused straight ahead, the pictures are pretty much all in focus depending on the depth of field like conventional lenses. I used the Scout for the first two pictures. For the first image of the rose, I used the Macro setting which consists of pulling out the front of the lens so it's further from the camera's sensor which causes the macro effect. The second one was taken during the evening, no macro effect, obviously. lol!
The rest of the pictures were taken with the Edge 80 in the Composer Pro, taking pictures of whatever was handy.
There was a struggle to get the "slice of focus" right, the first day with the Composer Pro having mixed results. I find the subject matter as well as the F-stop make a lot of difference. In the 4th picture, I'm not sure what I did, but I was looking up at the rose so that would explain the kind of blurring of the background. I think I had the Composer Pro pointing straight ahead.
The next two pictures with the trees were more successful with that slice of focus, each one a diagonal. I don't care for either one of these pics, but they demonstrate the slice fairly well.
Finally in the last picture, the slice is demonstrated quite clearly. I took these pictures over three days, the last picture having been the last picture I've taken with the Edge 80, so there is progress learning the lens, but I gotta practice, practice, practice! What's new!
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This was taken with the Scout. The depth of field was F2.8, the widest aperture on the Edge 80. I used the Macro feature of the lens.
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This was also taken with the Scout at F2.8 so the background is blurred.
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This was taken with the Composer Pro. I was trying for a diagonal in the lower left, but ended up pushing the Composer Pro too far.
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This is cropped from a much larger image that was all brick wall.
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Ho hum...
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Ho hum #2...
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Finally! A Halfway decent shot showing that slice of focus clearly.
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CathyAnn, an interesting work up!
Snap Shot wrote:
CathyAnn, an interesting work up!
One would think using Lensbabies would be easy... wrong!!! lol! Thank you for the great comment, Snap!
Somebody gave in to that ebay bug!!!! Cathy, I'm not familiar with this baby and I see it does create an interesting effect!! I'll have to check it out...
Have fun with your new baby and keep posting... I want to see more!!
Thanks for showing and explaining what it does!!
How many children do you have now??
angela k wrote:
Somebody gave in to that ebay bug!!!! Cathy, I'm not familiar with this baby and I see it does create an interesting effect!! I'll have to check it out...
Have fun with your new baby and keep posting... I want to see more!!
Thanks for showing and explaining what it does!!
How many children do you have now??
LOL! I think I lost count!
I haven't forgotten the pinhole/zone plate optic. That requires I be outside for awhile working with it, with the camera on a tripod. When the smoke is gone, I'll probably start experimenting -- and I have to be in the mood.
CathyAnn wrote:
LOL! I think I lost count!
I haven't forgotten the pinhole/zone plate optic. That requires I be outside for awhile working with it, with the camera on a tripod. When the smoke is gone, I'll probably start experimenting -- and I have to be in the mood.
Don't forget, you can't play favorites!!
I'm so glad you posted these, Cathy!! Hubby Vic is about to buy the Edge 80 for himself, and this is just the kind of info he needs to see. I think your shots are lovely, by the way!
CSand
Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia
Seems this has quite a learning curve but fun even so. Have you checked the Lensbaby site for tips? Enjoyed seeing the process of learning. I am trying to ignore the fact that I would like to try one of these. Isn't fall going to be a ball to shoot with the babies?!!!
Dixiegirl wrote:
I'm so glad you posted these, Cathy!! Hubby Vic is about to buy the Edge 80 for himself, and this is just the kind of info he needs to see. I think your shots are lovely, by the way!
I'm glad you like them, Donna, but I can only say I really like the roses and the last shot. But I did want everyone to be aware that there's a learning curve... or maybe it's just me! lol! Vic may not have any problem! The biggest thing to remember is to not push the Composer Pro too far, but we know that from our experience already. However, I did have to remind myself of it.
CSand wrote:
Seems this has quite a learning curve but fun even so. Have you checked the Lensbaby site for tips? Enjoyed seeing the process of learning. I am trying to ignore the fact that I would like to try one of these. Isn't fall going to be a ball to shoot with the babies?!!!
Oh, yes, Sandy!!! I look forward to it. As with the other optics, it looks easy until I'm actually doing it. What I really should do is use my tripod. It would make it much easier, but I hate to be conspicuous. Oh well.....
CathyAnn wrote:
I'm glad you like them, Donna, but I can only say I really like the roses and the last shot. But I did want everyone to be aware that there's a learning curve... or maybe it's just me! lol! Vic may not have any problem! The biggest thing to remember is to not push the Composer Pro too far, but we know that from our experience already. However, I did have to remind myself of it.
He had read somewhere that there was a learning curve with the Edge 80, Cathy, and maybe even more so with it than the other optics. Glad you confirmed that, and apparently everybody has a problem with it and certainly not just you.
CathyAnn wrote:
Whew!
LOL He dearly loves the tilt/shift effect, and this one apparently does that. This should be very interesting.
Dixiegirl wrote:
LOL He dearly loves the tilt/shift effect, and this one apparently does that. This should be very interesting.
It will be! I hope he posts his pictures! Tell him, if we have to beg, we will.
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