BetterPhoto Q&A
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Kelly Barclay		Lensbaby 2.0 I was wondering if anyone had any input on the 2.0 and if anyone has it if there are any tips for achieving that sweet spot of focus? Also any cool wedding or portrait shots taken with it you can share? Thanks! To love this question, log in above April 20, 2006

robert G. Fately		I have the Lensbaby 2, Kelly, and the only thing you can do is practice the flexing of the tube with your fingers while holding the camera in a position that allows for you to take a shot when you get the exact blur effect you want. There are no general tips possible, given the flexibility of the Lensbaby's design. By pulling (or pushing) one side of the lens a bit more than the other, you will shift the plane of focus from being parallel to the film (or chip) to something else. For example, say you're standing next to an ivy covered wall. The wall is on your right side - if you point the camera parallel to the wall but pull back on the right side of the Lensbaby a bit you will notice that at some point much of the wall will be in focus even though other ojects in front of you a few feet from the wall are blurry. This is why view cameras have the ability to swing, or twist, their front lensboards. The degree of effect depends on the aperture ring you use on the Lensbaby as well as the angle at which you twist the tube. Of course, with a view camera, you have a lens that is optically precise on a camera mount that has precision rails, etc., to assure a sharp focus zone, while the Lensbaby is a mediocre lens element on a free-moving corrugated tube, so a lot depends on fariables that can't be replicated. Which is not to say that the Lensbaby isn't fun to use - but the point is you need to just go an experiment with it. Oh - I guess one "tip" would be that the closer you pull the lens to the camera body, the further out it will focus (to "infinity", if you will). If you are able to "push" the lens away from the body, it will allow you to focus closer (like a poor man's macro lens). To love this comment, log in above April 21, 2006

Kelly Barclay		I played around with it today- put in the F8 ring so I would have more chance of something in focus. Got a few shots that worked but the majority didn't have a good focus point. I'm sure I'll get used to it but it's hard to see in the viewfinder the sharp point, course at f8 the viewfinder is pretty dark- maybe I'll experiment with F4 and see if I can make it work better. Thanks for the help! To love this comment, log in above April 21, 2006

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