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Here is a link to the Lensbaby User Guide Page: User Guide

A. There are two differences between the Original Lensbaby and Lensbaby 2.0: the optic and the aperture system. The optic in the Original is a single non-coated glass element, while the 2.0 optic is a coated glass doublet. Essentially, this means that the optic in the 2.0 is sharper.

The Original Lensbaby gives your pictures a softer, dreamier look; it has been called a “Holga on steroids” or a “digital Diana.” Because the Original optic is non-coated, your pictures will show some diffusion, and occasionally, prismatic color shifts. Some portrait photographers lean toward the Original because it is softer and more forgiving. All Lensbabies have manual aperture systems: they come with a set of disks that drop into the front of the lens. The Original disks are held in place with a rubber gasket. To change the aperture, you pluck the gasket out, change the disk and drop the gasket back in.

The Lensbaby 2.0 comes with one more aperture than the Original (f 2.0). There are shielded magnets inside the 2.0. The magnets work together with disks that are made of metalicized plastic, so they drop in and stay in. The aperture controls how much blur appears in your picture; choose the aperture for the effect that you want to achieve, then compensate with your shutter speed.

The Lensbaby 3G has the same optics and aperture system as the Lensbaby 2.0. It comes with 3 extra apertures: f 11, f 16 and f 22. The major difference between 3G and the two earlier versions is that you can lock the 3G into place. Once it is locked you can fine-focus it. This allows you to repeat your shot and work in lower light situations using long exposures. You can shoot unlocked as you would with the Original or the 2.0 or you can lock it into place, fine-focus and adjust the tilt.

The Lensbaby 3GPL is a 3G for use with motion picture film cameras.

Check out the Original, 2.0, 3G and 3GPL galleries on the website, and take a look at the forum http://www.lensbabies.com/training-center/forum/list.php?1

Is it possible?

Many world renowned Photoshop® authorities, such as Katrin Eismann, Jack Davis, and Jim DiVitale, have told us that it is impossible to replicate with software the natural, organic optical effects a Lensbaby creates. But, many devoted Lensbaby users will not even argue that point because even if software could emulate the Lensbaby's look, there are many reasons why using a Lensbaby is more satisfying.

See the photo as you take it.

With a Lensbaby you can see your subject matter through the lens and make numerous small adjustments to composition, the placement of the sweet spot, and the angle of view while taking photographs. As a photographer using a Lensbaby, you can make multiple small adjustments and test photos until you capture the magic with just one click.

Have fun!

Do you want to spend your time pushing a mouse around or do you want to spend as much time as possible being a photographer? The process of using a Lensbaby is an engaging exploration of your world.

Save time.

Quick software actions such as radial blurs look synthetic, and more realistic approximations take lots of time and expertise. As a photographer you can mix some Lensbaby photos into your shoot and have a completely different and compelling look to show your client.

Develop your photographic style.

Using a Lensbaby is a creative spark that can force you out of creative ruts and encourage you to bring a fresh eye to your photography. Every time you use your Lensbaby you will become a better photographer, which can't be said for the time you spend adjusting your photos on the computer.

A. Yes and no. The Lensbaby 3G has a locking mechanism that allows the user to lock the Lensbaby in place and then fine-tune the focus by rotating the central barrel focusing knob. The tilt can also be changed by rotating the knobs on the end of the focusing poles. The Original Lensbaby and the Lensbaby 2.0 do not stay in place by themselves. Your fingers hold them in place. The fun and challenge of using the Lensbaby is focusing with the flexible tubing. If you remove your fingers from the Lensbaby, it pops back into its original shape.

A. No. The mount and focusing collar of the Original and 2.0 Lensbabies are different from those used in the Lensbaby 3G.

A. No, the Lensbaby is an actual SLR lens. You take your current lens off your camera and put the Lensbaby on.

A. Lensbabies are available and work on almost all versions of Single Lens Reflex cameras that have interchangeable lenses. Our webstore lists most, if not all, of the makes and models with which the Lensbaby will work. The Canon Lensbaby will fit on most Canon DSLR and SLR bodies, the Nikon Lensbaby on most Nikon SLR and DSLR bodies, etc. If your camera is a point-and-shoot, the Lensbaby won’t work.

A. The focal length is approximately 50 mm for all current Lensbabies.

A. Yes, we have Lensbabies available for Pentax 67 and Mamiya 645. Both are Lensbaby 3G and sell for $390.

A. The Lenses are similar in that they both have a sweet spot of focus, have removable apertures and are fun to use. The optics in the two lenses are different: the Original Lensbaby is a single uncoated lens and the Lensbaby 2.0 is a coated doublet lens. The Original has more diffusion in the highlights when used at wider apertures, whereas the LB 2.0 has a very sharp sweet spot, even when used wide open. The Original has a retaining ring which holds the apertures in place, and the LB 2.0 has a levitating aperture system that uses magnets. Most people who like dreamy, holga/pinhole effects prefer the Original LB. The LB 2.0 is ideal for those who must have some part of their image tack sharp when shooting wide open. Note, the Original LB is very sharp when using the smaller apertures. Many photographers have both Lensbabies so they have a choice while shooting.

Visit our Comparison Page to see examples of each f-stop on each lens.

A. The Lensbaby 3G has the same coated doublet as the Lenbaby 2.0. It also had 3 additional f-stops: f/11, f/16 and f/22.

A. See our Retailer List

A. Absolutely.

A. You can send us a cashier’s check or money order as payment and we will ship your Lensbaby when it clears. Or, you can order by sending a Paypal payment to Kirsten@Lensbabies.com

A. We ship to anywhere in the US starting at $4.60 for USPS Priority Mail. USPS Priority International starts at $16 to Canada and $18 for other countries. We also ship via UPS. You can calculate the shipping door to door by clicking on “Buy Me” and typing in your address without actually making a purchase. While the USPS is an economical way to ship, they do not allow for package tracking.

A. Overseas customers may indeed have to pay import duties and other taxes such as VAT. Lensbabies does not have a list of all the taxes collected by various countries.

A. Sure, if you have any problems, just send us an e-mail or give us a call and we will do our best to answer your questions. You may be able to find the answer you need below, under Technical Questions.

A. All Lensbabies come with a 30-day money back guarantee, provided the Lensbaby is in new condition. The customer covers the shipping charges.

A. Yes, as long as they have a 37mm thread. We sell accessories in our webstore.

A. The Wide Angle/Macro kit is a .6x Wide Angle converter. It has a rear glass element that can be removed and used alone to do very close-up macro work. The Wide Angle converter in the Wide Angle/Telephoto Kit does not have the macro option.

A. Yes. The fronts of the Lensbaby .6x Wide Angles Lens and the Lensbaby 1.6x Telephoto Lens each have a 46mm thread. 46mm filters can be screwed onto the front or you may use a step up ring to use larger filters.

A. Yes, you can find it on the User Guide Page.

A. The Original Lensbaby comes installed with an f/4 ring and a rubber washer. You will find 3 additional aperture rings under the gray cap of the removal tool. The same is true for the Lensbaby 2.0.

A. The focal length is approximately 50mm on all the current Lensbaby lenses. Lensbabies Wide Angle and Telephoto accessory lenses screw onto the front of the Lensbaby, changing the focal length to 30mm and 80mm, respectively. webstore

A. When the Lensbaby is fully extended, the minimum distance for achieving sharp focus is around 12 inches, and the maximum distance for achieving sharp focus is infinity. You can actually focus on subjects as close as 7 inches away by pushing on the focusing collar rather than pulling in on it. The Macro Kit allows the user to focus between 2” - 13” away.

A. Yes, as long as they have a 37mm thread. We sell a range of accessories in our webstore, including a Macro Kit and Wide Angle and Telephoto adapters. If you want to use filters larger than 37mm, we recommend obtaining a step up ring from 37mm to the size of the filter you would like to use. If you are using larger filters with the Lensbaby 3G it would help to buy two 37mm spacers for the front of the Lensbaby 3G and then screw your step up ring to the front of the spacers. These spacers will allow you to use the center barrel focusing ring on the Lensbaby 3G, making your Lensbaby's focusing system fully operational with the step up ring attached.

A. The Lensbaby .6x wide angle/macro conversion lens has two elements. If you unscrew the front element and leave the rear element attached to the Lensbaby, you are in macro mode. With the Macro lens attached, you can focus as close as 2 inch away.

A. The Tokina .45x wide angle/macro conversion lens has two elements. If you unscrew the front element and leave the rear element attached to the Lensbaby, you are in macro mode. With the Macro lens attached, you can focus as close as 1 inch away.

A. First determine the Flash sync shutter speed for your camera: this is usually between 1/60 and 1/500 of a second. Set your camera at this shutter speed or SLOWER, (i.e. 1/60, 1/30). If your camera has multiple options, put it in Manual or Aperture Priority mode.

Digital cameras users can take a test shot and look at the histogram for correct exposure. * If the image is overexposed, use a higher aperture (smaller hole) or decrease your flash power by 1 stop. Continue to decrease aperture size or flash power as needed. You may have to experiment to find the right balance between flash power and aperture size to get the correct exposure with the amount of blur you want. * If the image is underexposed (not likely) use a larger aperture.

For film cameras used in combination with an external Flash Unit, do one of the following: * Use a flash light meter to measure the amount of flash being emitted from the Electronic Flash Unit and set your aperture according to the readings (make sure you calculate for the correct film speed!). * Calculate the distance from subject to camera and set the Flash according to the chart on your Flash unit. The users manual of the Flash Unit will also give you more information.

Some cameras have built in flashes that can meter TTL (through the lens) and adjust your flash for correct exposure.

Please go to our Electronic Flash page for more information.

A. Yes. One side effect of using a teleconverter that goes between the body and the lens is that you will be eliminating a good portion of the Lensbaby blur around the edges, whereas a screw-in conversion lens will give you a longer focal length while keeping the sweet-spot small.

A. The Lensbaby is a uniques SLR lens that has a sweet spot of focus with blur all around the sweet spot. The field of focus is curved, unlike a tilt-shift lens, which has a flat field of focus.

A. No. Because the Lensbaby does not have a flat field of focus its tilt action only moves a sweet spot of focus around the image plane and does not correct perspective or make converging lines parallel.

A. No. Lensbabies does not offer a dedicated B4 mount Lensbaby and has no plans of offering one in the near future. The main problem in developing a Lensbaby for the B4 mount is the small sensor size. Since the Lensbaby relies on depth of field to create blur around the sweet spot of focus, a longer focal length is necessary than is viable for the small sensor cameras.

A. Nikon mount Lensbabies' caps turn in the opposite direction of most other manufacturer's rear lenscaps (remove the cap by turning clockwise).

A. This is most likely from one of the first Nikon mount Lensbabies that engaged the camera's AIS sensing pin when turned past the body's lens locking pin. You can disengage your Lensbaby from your camera by inserting a small flat-head jeweler's screwdriver into the slot in the Lensbaby mount and using the screwdriver to push the AIS sensing pin fully into the camera's mounting plate while, at the same time, turning your Lensbaby to get it off the camera. None of this will hurt your Lensbaby or your camera body. This could also be a combination of a worn locking pin mechanism that does not retract all the way into your camera's mount and one of the first Nikon Lensbaby mounts, which has an edge to the slot that the pin locks into that is too square. Note: Once you have removed your stuck Lensbaby from your camera please send it in for an upgraded mount that will not interfere with the AIS sensing pin on a few Nikon film cameras that have this pin and that will disengage even if your lens locking pin is worn and does not fully retract into the camera's lens mount.

A. Older and more expensive current Nikon cameras have a mechanical link between the aperture mechanism on lenses with an aperture ring. Nikon stopped putting this mechanical interface on the lower priced camera bodies. In order to make a mount that physically accepts all F-mount lenses, but avoids messing up an active meter that has no way of knowing what aperture the lens is going to be at the moment of exposure, Nikon disabled the meter altogether on these lower priced models (this a relative criteria since we are talking about $2000 D100 cameras and $400 N80 cameras).

A. Nikon has disabled TTL flash metering when the D70(s)/D50 camera does not sense an autofocus lens mounted. In order to use the built-in pop-up flash on these cameras:

1. go into your custom settings (CSM) menu on the D70 and set your pop-up flash to manual rather than TTL (if this is not clear then your Custom Menu may need to be changed from Simple to Detailed in the Set Up menu).

2. start by setting your flash power to 1/2 with a shutter speed/ISO combination that gives you an ambient exposure that is 1 to 1 1/2 stops too dark so your background does not go totally black. Test the ambient (non-flash) exposure by shooting a few test shots with the flash off. Play with the power of the pop-up flash from full power down to 1/16 to get proper exposure on your main subject(s).

Hotshoe mounted Nikon Speedlight flashes must be set to either manual or auto exposure modes. TTL modes on your Nikon Speedlight flash will not work with a Lensbaby on the D70(s) or D50 camera bodies.

A. Most Nikon camera bodies allow metering with your Lensbaby, unfortunately the most common current Nikon bodies do not allow metering. See lists below.

A. D200, D2x, D2h(s), D1x, D1, F100, N90(s), N70, 8008(s), FA, N2000, N2002, F5, F4, F3, FE(2), FM(2), F2, N6006, N8008

A. Fuji S1, S2, S3, Kodak 14n, DCS Pro/N, Nikon D40, D50, D70(s), D80, D100, N60, N80, N6x series, N5x series, N4004, N5005

A. All Canon bodies will work with your Lensbaby when set to Aperture Priority Mode. The camera will meter the light coming through the lens and will set the shutter speed accordingly.

A. The Safety Release Lock needs to be disabled. On the LCD panel, move the Right Arrow to the <sLock> icon. Next, press the <FUNC.> button. Turn the dial and place the setting on “0”.

A. The most likely reason is that your custom settings need to be changed. Please go to our Minolta Maxxum Page, find your camera model and follow the instructions for using non-AF lenses on a Minolta camera body.

A. Yes. Set you camera to Manual or Aperture Priority Mode to use the Lensbaby with Minolta Manual cameras.

A. The S3 exposure, when using your Lensbaby, is most easily controlled with your shutter speed and ISO adjustments. Exposure can also be adjusted by swapping out apertures on your Lensbaby. The aperture will not show up on the LCD and you cannot change the aperture using the normal method of turning the aperture dial on your S3.

A. Yes. Despite conflicting information from the Pentax website, any K mount lens will work with a Pentax *ist Camera. This means that a Lensbaby will work fine too. Note that a Lensbaby lens does not communicate with your camera electronically. Therefore you need to make some setting changes to your camera for it to work properly.

1. In the “Custom Setting” Menu of the camera, set the “Using aperture ring” setting to “2” (Permitted) - This will allow pictures to be taken even when a lens has no “A” setting on the aperture ring (or in the case of a Lensbaby, no aperture ring at all!).
2. Use the Av or M settings on the camera to make your exposure. When using the Av (Aperture Priority) setting, you might have to adjust your exposure with the +/-Av button and adjustment wheel to an EV of 2.0 as otherwise images will tend to be underexposed.
3. Experiment with your camera's ISO settings and shutter speeds to get the best results. Also try different aperture discs in your Lensbaby.

A. You can try, but the results probably won't be what you want! The output of the flash does not seem to be adjustable with the Lensbaby mounted which means that the flash always fires at full output. You can set the shutter speed only at 180 or slower, so even with a Lensbaby aperture of f8.0 the images will tend to be overexposed even if it is very dark.

A. an Olympus 4/3rd (E1) mount

A. To allow the Digilux to fire with a lens that doesn't communicate electronically with your camera (like the Lensbaby), you must go into the Custom Menu Settings, page 4 and set “No Release without Lens” to “OFF”. Then the Camera will meter through the lens, adjusting the shutterspeed appropriately.

A. Your photographs must be in jpeg format to display correctly on the forum. To begin, either reply to an existing post or start a “new topic”. Title your topic and click on the “Attach a File” button to navigate to your computer's hard drive where your photo lives. Write a comment about your photograph in the white box below the photo section and then click on the “Post Message” button. You should the see your photo listed in your new topic thread.

A. We suggest sizing your images to between 600 and 800 pixels wide and letting the height fall where it may. The forum software automatically sizes uploaded images to a total of 480,000 pixels (your image has to be 2mb or smaller to begin with, however). 800 pixels is ideal but some screens are going to crop or resize such images.

A. Highlight the word you would like to turn into a link, then click on the heading that says “URL.” A box will appear with instructions for you to type in the web address for your link.

A. OPTION 1: Create a “New Topic” post to the LB-forum and attach one of your great Lensbaby images to the post. Go to your profile page by clicking on your username in the post. A gallery of your images will load and under each image will be the option to “Make this my avatar”. Click on that selection for the photo you want to be your avatar. Verify that your signature image has appeared by visiting a post that you have made.

OPTION 2: First make an image that is in the range of 150 pixels wide. If you have a webhost of your own, “Upload” your image there [If you are using a free webhost, do confirm with your provider that image hot-linking is allowed]. “Copy” the URL link to your uploaded image. Go to “My Profile” and from there “Edit Profile”. “Paste” the URL link in the text box next to “Image URL” and “Save Changes”. Verify that your signature image has appeared by visiting a post that you have made.

A. Every Lensbabies Forum user has a personal gallery. Click on the profile name of a Lensbaby Friends user and you will be taken to their User Profile page. This page list the email, website and all the photos posted by that user. It's a wonderful way to see a person's work all at once!

A. The Lensbaby does not by itself alter light or specialize in making IR shots. Look at http://lensbabies.com/phorum/read.php?1,7238,7238, to see how Craig modified his Nikon D70 to obtain colour IR shots. You will have to indulge in the same way on your camera!

Lensbabies makes a Creative Aperture Kit, which includes 1 f/4 star, 1 f/4 heart, and 5 blank aperture disks. You can custom cut the blank disks into any aperture shape you want. Out of focus specular highlights (bright points of light) in your photos take on the shape of the opening in your aperture disk.

The Creative Aperture Kit is available on the Accessories page of the Lensbabies webstore: http://lensbabies.com/xcart/customer/home.php?cat=6