For photographers seeking unique and creative avenues, exploring adapted lenses opens up a world of possibilities. This journey into adapted lenses can lead to surprising and unusual results and expand your creativity.
Coming to you from snappiness, this insightful video takes you on a deep dive into the realm of adapted lenses. The video showcases a range of lenses, from those originally intended for 110 film cameras to those salvaged from point-and-shoot film cameras and even specialized underwater lenses. The video highlights the challenges and rewards of adapting these lenses, emphasizing the unique characteristics and image qualities they offer. Understanding the intricacies of flange distance and the potential need for 3D-printed adapters becomes crucial in this process, but the resulting images can be truly interesting.
The video demonstrates how lenses from 110 film cameras, despite their fixed aperture, offer a blend of vintage charm and surprising sharpness. The journey continues with the adaptation of a lens from a Minolta Hi-Matic point-and-shoot camera, resulting in a pleasingly soft vintage aesthetic. The video also dives into the fascinating world of underwater Nikonos lenses, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of adapting them for use above water.
Beyond the technical aspects, the video emphasizes the artistic value of adapted lenses. The ability to achieve distinctive bokeh, soft focus, and even intentional lens aberrations allows you to imbue your images with a unique character. Whether you seek a vintage aesthetic, experimental effects, or simply a fresh perspective, adapted lenses offer a pathway to explore your creativity. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
I have in the past considered a Lensbaby Edge lens as I quite like the way you can change the focal point plane and create an interesting effect. What has stopped me is I feel whilst it could be initially interesting, the effect might just become too same-y, my photos looking too repetitive and I could lose interest in the lens effect. Also the unique way you use the lens and the quirky focusing (without focus markers) could be something I find I don't like. Don't want to spend around £400 just to find out I end up not liking this lens as much as I imagined I would.