Nikon D3300

alright thanks guys, im going to buy Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8 Lens

Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8 Lens for Nikon F LBV85N B&H Photo

hopefully it will give me what i'm looking for.

 

That choice is incongruous to every advice and comment given above: personally I don't mind that at all.

 

However, because I am experienced with the Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens (on Canon 5D Series DSLRs), I am really curious as to why you chose that lens and on whose advice?

Perhaps you might answer that, please?

 

WW

alright thanks guys, im going to buy Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8 Lens

 

Too bad.

Having just read the other thread... utmanesb is a novice, guys. Don't bite his/her head off for ignoring advice yet; photography is confusing when you start out, and I'm sure guidance is coming from more than just us. (I believe we've got sound logic behind the advice given here, and I don't know who was suggesting the Velvet and why, but a it takes time for a novice to filter this information.) We shouldn't drive people away for disagreeing with us. I came here to learn, badly-informed, and it's taken a long time for any of the collected wisdom of the forum members to seep through my thick skull.

Andrew, I don't think anything we've said will make him feel worse than when he gives up and tries to sell that silly Lensbaby thing. The hope is that threads like this are useful to those who read them in the future. Therefore, it's important that we make it clear that the OP is making a mistake.

Agreed, Hector. I was just worried that the tone had veered off "you're probably not doing the right thing" and towards "do what we say or we have no time for you" (or could be interpreted as such by someone who doesn't know us), even though the latter is well-intentioned.

 

It's certainly frustrating to know that someone is probably going to make a mistake despite your good advice, but utmanesb is no more likely to listen to the advice if that frustration is expressed. We should be welcoming enough to help to pick up the pieces, at least!

Of course, it is pretty easy to emulate that 'look'* by buying an OOF printed backdrop and very minimal portrait lighting.

 

A D3300 and a 50mm Yongnou would be just fine....;)

 

*emphasis on that look, ie NOT full length portraiture!!!

Having just read the other thread... utmanesb is a novice . . . I'm sure guidance is coming from more than just us. . . We shouldn't drive people away for disagreeing with us. . .

 

I agree.

 

By the same token, it is important to be very clear and forthright with advice and cautions, especially when an OP (apparently inexperienced and ignorant), is spending their money and time and effort.

 

On balance, personally I don't think the cautions or the frustration exhibited in this conversdation was uncalled for or over the top: that's my personal view.

 

One reason why I asked the OP - "Why did you choose that?" is because one critical element to learning is to answer the questions of "why?"- that way one can learn to recognize mistakes and errors in judgement as well as when standing against the mass's advice is a good move.

 

So I think it would be really good for utmanesb to let us all know exactly how well the Lensbaby 85mm worked out in achieving the outcomes s/he wanted.

 

WW

I guess it's just like buying one of Nikon's expensive DC lenses BUT you can turn OFF the softy, floaty and downright arty effects and use it like a normal lens...:)

Agreed, William, I'd like to know what the OP did and how it worked out. (I'd say "still learning" rather than "ignorant", but I'm British and prone to circumlocution.)

 

Mike: The DC lenses can produce some arty effects if you set the DC value to more than the aperture, but they're generally more about the bokeh. Although I had trouble using them as a "normal lens" and still wish Nikon would make an apodisation element STF lens - or I'll try to source a reverse centre filter, which I maintain should have a similar effect at the cost of a bit of vignetting on any fairly long lens. I'd have thought the Velvet lenses would be more like Canon's 135mm SF ("soft focus") lens, not that I've tried one.

 

If I really wanted to do this in camera, I'd just use a diffusion filter (the Hoya ones are cheap; I believe I've seen a lot of similar things used for shooting TV shows, based on the weird effect on the bokeh) - but practically I'd do it in software afterwards so I could change my mind.

If I really wanted to do this in camera, I'd just use a diffusion filter (the Hoya ones are cheap; I believe I've seen a lot of similar things used for shooting TV shows, based on the weird effect on the bokeh) - but practically I'd do it in software afterwards so I could change my mind.

 

There again, buy up some cheap no-name UV or skylight filters on Ebay for a $10 a dozen and you can experiment to your hearts content.

 

Smearing vaseline on one is a classic. Super glue-whether in "dots" or "waves"-is a bit more controllable but also a bit more permanent. You can even go to town with some sandpaper or other abrasives depending on how wild you want to go.

 

Nylons stretched over the front of the lens are even cheaper, and quite effective.