LENSBABY MUSE Review

According provided by lenses Lensbaby Muse for Nikon many thanks to Elena Babenko.

Lensbaby Muse Review

Lensbaby Muse Review

The Lensbaby Muse is a totally creative lens. True, it is very different from the classical concept of 'lens', because it does not have, as such, either a focusing ring or aperture control ring. Lensbaby Muse is available for cameras from various manufacturers, this review presents a version for Nikon cameras with a Nikon F mount. The lens is suitable for full-frame cameras, the focal length of the lens is not indicated, but is approximately 50 mm by eye.

Lensbaby Muse with aperture disc replacement tool

Lensbaby Muse with aperture disc replacement tool

To focus, you should use the rubber fur, moving or moving the front of the lens to the camera. It is recommended to use two hands for focusing, but I coped without problems with one. With the help of the tilt of the rubber fur, only a certain part of the frame can be caught in focus, in fact, with the help of this, a special effect is achieved for which the lens was developed.

Heart Bokeh

Star-shaped bokeh when using an aperture dial with a matching notch

You can get used to the unusual technique of working with the lens very quickly.

The tilt should not be made very large, because you can get a black piece in the frame. The area that falls into the sharpness zone becomes really sharp, in the usual sense of the word, only in the center of the frame. You need to be careful when highlighting the area of ​​focus around the edges of the frame. If we compare with the classical understanding of lenses, we get something like a fifty-kopeck piece with a maximum aperture of F / 2.0, which, when shooting without tilting or shifting elements, greatly blurs the edges of the image.

Lensbaby Muse on the ZK

Lensbaby Muse on the ZK

The diaphragm is controlled by removable magnetic disks. The package contains discs for F / 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 16 and F / 22, as well as discs with a shaped hole in the form of a heart and an asterisk. In the middle of the lens, the aperture disk is securely held in place by three magnets. To change the disc, you should use the device supplied - the installed diaphragm is magnetized to the stripper and can be easily removed from the lens.

Please note that automatic metering exposure it will be available only with some Nikon cameras, with all the others the lens can only be used in manual control mode exposure. You will find an exact list of cameras that support working with the lens in aperture priority mode, as well as recommendations for working with manual lenses here.

Heart Bokeh

Bokeh in the form of hearts. A slight shift of the fur "pulls the picture" a little.

The lens can use 37mm light filters. Lensbaby Muse weighs just over 100 grams, while it has a metal mount. In general, I have no complaints about the assembly - everything is done quite simply and reliably to the touch.

Sample photo at LENSBABY MUSE

Sample photo at LENSBABY MUSE

Here link to the archive with the originals - 87 MB, photo parameters in the archive and gallery are indicated here.

Lens operation

Lens operation. Psychedelic tear out eye.

Here are the prices for the lens in popular online stores:

All prices on LENSBABY MUSE

Results

LENSBABY MUSE is the 'muse' among lenses, you just need to think carefully about the scenes that will be filmed with it.

Thank you for attention. Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 56, on the topic: Overview of LENSBABY MUSE

  • anonym

    focusing principle delivers incredibly)))

  • Maksim

    Tsіkavo! Well, if you want to rent a speech, try it ..

  • anonym

    Krutyak

  • anonym

    good Miki, Arkan.
    This aunt gave.

    Sasha

  • Maksim

    Nozzles for lenses are sold for a more attractive price, with bokeh in the form of hearts, stars and all kinds of beautiful shapes. You can cut it out of black cardboard on your own, there are instructions on the Internet, the image quality is practically not affected.

  • Gregory

    I agree with Maxim, it would be nice to rent someone for a day :)

  • establishment

    Some kind of not very pleasant effect.
    Classic tilt shifts give a more pleasant picture for the eyes.

    • Maksim

      Yours is true, ale classic about ”the asset is dear.

      • Basil

        this lens for lomography .. definitely not for everyday shooting

        • Maksim

          So it’s not a shift for widespread publicity, a specific speech for a university stake, but just go for a chat, try it, and learn something new.

  • Alexander

    When looking at the photo, I almost burped. Psychedelic. In my opinion - a disposable toy, play around and throw it on a dusty shelf :-)

    • establishment

      So it’s not just my shots taken with this lens that cause nausea :)

      • Bkrg

        Plus. I'm still sick of the monokol.
        But any technical marriage can be declared an "artistic idea."

        • Alexandrr

          And I, and me, - that I, too, for the fact that it FuFlo

    • Vladimir

      Indeed, before starting to read the comments after viewing examples of photos, I had to give my eyes, and most importantly, my brain, to recover a little. Weird (dizzy) feeling when watching this effect.

  • anonym

    Somewhere I saw how such a thing was made from a plumbing coupling, a bayonet cap and an industrial 50-2

  • Exhausted

    Pampering. A withdrawal from real creativity under the guise of finding a new one in photography. Not without reason, the first copy was made from a piece of corrugated sewer pipe.

  • Olga

    Familiar photographers with great experience have been kicking me for using this lens, or rather Lensbaby Composer Pro Double Glass, they say, everything can be done in the FS, there is nothing to be wise and spend money. And I thought and I think that to each his own :) To dabble in a Lansby is really exciting, interesting and pleasant, although you need to get used to the management. Again, it helps a lot in mastering the manual camera control mode.

    Here is the last shot on LB: http://img-2.photosight.ru/62c/5406847_large.jpg I shot the Christmas tree lights in the central square of the city, the Composera ball quickly froze and did not really rotate properly, so I just dabbled with defocus. I still have photos on the forehead on the photosite page. Interested in more macro.

    • Olga

      Link to my page on the Photosite:
      viride-nitens.photosight.ru

      And here is the album in contact with the first photos on the forehead when I mastered the lens:
      http://vk.com/album53705676_163884599

      • anonym

        Your album has a lot of cool shots. Especially shots with dry trees, perfectly performed by this lens. I take it into service. Thanks!

    • Basil

      creative search is important. in principle, you can create with any lens =) and photoshop is a waste of time if you shoot in the hope of photoshop ...

      • Bkrg

        You have to shoot with the lens, but you have to “create” with your head. This lens is poorly suited for shooting.

      • Olga

        That's why I'm not a supporter of software (FS), but hardware solutions like Lensby;))

        • Basil

          not a standard aperture on a regular fifty dollars =) looks cool!
          hearts and so on!

          • Olga

            Yes, generally cool stuff! :))) You just need to look closely at the technique, have straight arms, a creative twist and taste, and be prepared for experiments.

      • Albert

        For me, this: FSH and LR are the same enlarger. Digital photos need to be shown, this is not a waste of time, if a modern photographer does not know how to use these tools, then he is not competitive.

        • Basil

          the louder the photo, the less effort there is to develop and adjust.

    • Ivan

      it's good to be a beginner-non-professional - I want to - I shoot with lenses from 44-2, I want to work with monocles) it's interesting, the truth is they say that men are very big children, I haven't played enough of constructors in my childhood, now I come off with manual lenses) by the way, to indulge in tiltshift, you can keep within 400-500 rubles - the same Lensgelik, even if there are differences from the baby, but still an interesting toy

      • establishment

        Lensgelik is not only cheaper, it also has a much nicer blur.

  • Sandy

    The cost of 150-200 ye in my opinion is completely unjustified, 50 ye max. the price of this toy. Fifty-fifty yeahs are worth it, but there is autofocus and a full aperture.

    • Denis

      In fact, normal optics are cheaper, but here is a piece of corrugation with a door peephole and curly diaphragms for that kind of money ...

      • Denis

        For what money !!!? For $ 150? I'm sure you leave more in taverns a month !!! “Piece of corrugation”…. And any lightsoft or reflector? A piece of foil or a cloth? !!!! And they are also not sickly .. Give me an example of normal optics for 150 green !!! Although the concept of "normal" is probably different for each person ...

  • anonym

    Hmm, I heard about them, for "playing" you can borrow from someone, but buying it is expensive.
    On some photos the blur is really kind of sickening, it reminded me of the effects from some old horror movies)

    In general, everyone has fun in his own way, I’ve somehow thought to myself to buy an infrared filter, but they are expensive in good quality.

  • Novel

    If I understand correctly, a rubber monocle lens?

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    In the third picture, my head was spinning.

  • Basil

    Press more on the buttons =) and talk about the shortcomings of this lens =)

  • Olga

    I apologize for climbing again :)) In general, Lensbeby Muse is considered by its design to be the most creative and unpredictable in the LB family, moreover, it gives a rather distorted picture compared to the more controlled Composer, for example, not to mention Cantrol Frick. Therefore, it’s annoying to people unaccustomed to his picture of people (to some nausea;)). I myself spat when the first time I saw a photo from him with a friend, an experienced photographer. Then I saw the unusual and the possibilities of this creative lens. I took off a lot at one time, then I bought the rest of the necessary glasses for my specific needs, and LB now gets it on special occasions. I do not agitate to buy it, the thing is really not for everyone;)) But I know photographers who work for them constantly in commercial photography (weddings, love stories, children's photosets). If they work, it means that this is in demand by customers, right?

  • Olga

    Here's how to dump a bunch of all kinds of blue-yellow-green stuff processed by an automatic machine in the Republic of Lithuania with single-style presets that have set the teeth on edge under the brand name “creative” - this is normal and even cool, but how to raise the seat and run, choosing the point of shooting and the composition of the frame (fix, fifty dollars, and even with a non-standard design and manual focusing, which requires special care) - no, not our choice and generally sucks! Ugh, accustomed to universal zoom and Auto mode ...

    Hello everyone! "I have not read, but I condemn!"

    • Bkrg

      It’s much more interesting to run with the Tele 200. I have several times when trying to crop, the street ended :)

    • anonym

      Very much, Olga, I support you !!! Anyone who is approved for a mirror loan is considered a "photographer" by default. When ordering a session, the client wants to receive what he himself cannot do. And this applies not only to photo services. Clicking on the machine, stupidly clicking the button, nevertheless, you can dial clear ready-made frames. And creative work will be done only by a person with a head and hands !!! And if for this it is necessary to shoot on the “corrugation with a peephole ..” I’m only FOR !!!!

  • Yarkiya

    If this thing caused a reaction, even if not all positively, then it has already been done for a reason, especially if someone starts wiggling their brains in creative attempts. The price is true, not that annoying, just infuriating! On ebee I saw how this miracle of technology goes for almost three hundred dollars in auction mode. But nevertheless, personally, I strongly support any non-standard solutions. There is one more “wonder of the world” - a plastic figurine, a HOLGA lens. It costs about $ 10. Unfortunately I can't send it, I live too far away. But I would be glad if Arkady did not bypass him with his attention.

  • Denis

    And in my opinion, an obsolete, creative toy !!!! Personally, I would like one myself. I can imagine how it will look not in winter, but in summer forest landscape. And the "young" in any case, will be happy if, in addition to the standard lavsotri, a dozen frames will be on this lens. Again, you can make a photo book cool. On one edge there is a steam in sharpness, and the other edge of the book with a ready-made background and no need to be wise with textures !!! It is interesting to see the work of people who call this unit bullshit! You probably rent a passport in the studio? Then for you 50 / 1.8 unbreakable glass for all occasions.

  • Anna

    I have a Lensbaby Control Frick. A wonderful lens - I don't regret buying it a bit. Without trying to use it, it is difficult to draw adequate conclusions about it. Actually, the “dizzying” effect is not necessary at all - it is most pronounced if you shoot with an open diaphragm and with strong compression + tilt of the corrugation. The smaller the aperture and squeeze / tilt, the less the blur effect of the image, but there is a pleasant blurring of out-of-focus parts of the frame. And here it is no longer necessary to be seven inches in the forehead to figure out how to use it. In addition, the lens is interesting for fans of unusual "bikes": they can be obtained unique, not similar to those obtained by any other lenses. I am attaching a "bokeh" photo taken with this lens (Canon 400D camera) during the testing period after purchase.

  • Anna

    Sorry, the photo was not "boke", but just a street one, but also taken by Lensbaby. And boke - here.

  • Dmitriy

    Control freak is a wonderful nuisance for photographers.
    The question is that the hands are from the right place.
    In the independent control, stock freaks can now be found for 1200 UAH, which is just 50 bucks.
    Search.
    They are available for sale under Nikon F.

  • Alexey

    Did I understand correctly that the Nikon d5300 doesn’t attach this lens?

    • Anatoly

      Fasten, no problem, but will only work in M ​​mode

  • Givizub

    I think that this is more suitable for shooting video lenses. Then you can get some really interesting transition and focus effects. And the photo looks like a Motion Blur filter.

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Copyright © Radojuva.com. Blog author - Photographer in Kiev Arkady Shapoval. 2009-2023

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