has anyone ever used lensbabies/gorillapod products?

[eva_nowakowski]

these products intrigue me but i'm not sure if they work well or are just scams to

get people to spend cash. has anyone used a lensbaby or a flexible gorrilapod?

 

http://lensbabies.com/

 

gorrilapod flexible/bendable "tripods"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRK480/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=photo

 

they have several different types and many colors.

[mike_m20]

I have used the gorillapod for my P&S camera. I find it works quite well for what it can do.

[edward_marshall]

<p>I have the "SLR" version of the Gorillapod, and it's quite nice for smaller lenses with my 40D, but it doesn't like windy conditions. Slap our 50-500mm lens on the camera, and it just wobbles over, too.</p>

<p>We also have a smaller one for a small point and shoot that we have; it works exceptionally well, especially for quick attachment of the camera to random items.</p>

<p>As for lensbabies, you can do some fairly slick stuff with them. Here's a few examples from <a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/">Sam Javanrouh</a>:</p>

 

<p>

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/08/05/12/">1</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/12/30/">2</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/09/29/">3</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/09/28/">4</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/09/27/">5</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/09/25/">6</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/04/25/">7</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/03/05/">8</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/03/03/">9</a> |

<a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/03/02/">10</a>

</p>

[eva_nowakowski]

o wow. thanks for posting those photos. they are really great. i love the miniature city shot. very cool.

 

at first glance the lensbabies looks kind of cheap but after some reading they seem to be a really fun accessory.

[matthijs]

I've used a tiny "noname" gorillapod with my 400D and 50mm/1.8 lens. That worked beautifuly.

 

When I mounted a 18-200 lens it got tricky. My tiny gorillapod is only usable in that configuration when the platform it stands upon is solid, plus there should be no small children around...

 

Regards,

 

Matthijs.

[beauh44]

And I've used the "old style" Lensbaby - the kind that couldn't lock in place. It worked

OK but I used a friend's for only about an hour in a studio and it took me that long to

get used to it. It's capable of doing some amazing things with DOF and I'm sure the

new ones are improved over what I tried; I just wish they were a wee bit less

expensive.

[ajweiss]

Just a note on the shots Edward posted: none of those were actually taken with a Lensbabies lens. They are examples of the kinds of things you can do with a lens with tilt and shift movements, but all of them were taken either with very expensive specialty lenses or were altered in Photoshop to look that way.

[ajweiss]

Oh, and I have both the little gorillapod and the big SLR/Zoom model and like them both. They are surprisingly light and sturdy if you use them properly.

[eva_nowakowski]

that's good to know about the gorillapods. i wasnt sure if they were sturdy enough for heavier dslrs.

[aubreyp]

Edward:

 

Those images don't look like lensbaby work. I think they are standard Canon TS lenses based on the way they look and the captions on the photos.

 

I have a lens baby. It's a pretty unique lens, but I don't use it that often. It provides a circle of focus, rather than a plane.

 

http://www.rendermack.com/photo/photos/proj_12images/7.html

http://www.rendermack.com/photo/photos/proj_12images/9.html

 

If I had to do it again, I'd save the money for a TS lens at 3x the cost of the lensbaby.

[edward_marshall]

Ah, you're all quite right; those were taken with a proper tilt-shift; if you search his site for "lensbaby", you'll get a few hits that were taken with one.

 

My apologies, that's what I get for posting in a hurry.

[bobatkins]

I've used both the original and current (3G) lensbaby , in fact I've reviewed both of them - [<A href="http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/lensbaby_3G_1.html">LINK</a>]

<p>

They're capable of giving very interetsing results in the right hands. I suppose they are a bit pricey, but they're a unique item. They're not really meant to be a substitute for a T/S lens of course, even though they can be tilted and shifted a bit. They're certainly not a scam, but they're not a lens that everyone could use well.It depends on the way you think!

<p>

I've seen the Gorillapod and it looked neat. Again it's not a scam. Seems fine for P&S and maybe a small DSLR and lens. Not sure I'd trust a heavy expensive DSLR and lens on one though.

[denise_d]

I LOVE my Lensbaby 3G. As a matter of fact, I liked the one I used on my D200 so

much, I went out and bought one in a 4/3rds mount so I could use it on my DMC-L1

and my E-500.

 

It's not something that I'd use every day, but it comes with me most of the time and

I've managed to make some unusual images with it. I wish I had time to play with it

more. It takes a little bit of getting used to, and the 3G version is much easier to

work with than the earlier versions, but it's definitely not a scam.

 

[roamingstudio]

I have the Gorillapod SLR - and use it with the 100macro lens. As mentioned - in good conditions it is great little thing; easy to chuck in the back back and travel; place on a table and take a photo etc. However windy conditions can be a problem; as with large heavy lenses. It also helps to use timer, and mirror lock up also helps.

 

Consider it as a cheap, interesting gadget which makes great birthday / christmas present... ;-)

[jay a. frew]

Hello:

 

I bought the Gorilla Pod SLR to hold my flash + PocketWizard - it works great for that application. It can be hung (or stood) just about anywhere.

 

The bad news is that it is too easy to release the Quick Release lock when twisting the legs into position. Just have to pay extra attention to that to make sure your flash or camera doesn't fall from the head.

 

It folds-up (rolls-up) into a very small footprint.

 

I tried it with my 40D and found it too weak to hold the camera steady. Maybe the SLR Zoom model would be better for a camera.

 

Cheers! Jay<div></div>

[paulo_cortez]

I own a gorillapod and it worked ok with my P&S and 400D EF-S 18-55mm kit. I stopped using it when I attached the BG-E3 grip and heavier lenses on it - definitely too much weight for it!

I don't own a lensbaby but I like a lot its defocusing effects. Probably it's just a matter of time until I've one on my hands. BTW, some pictures taken with lensbabies at Flickr:

 

)&w=all&s=int

 

...although too many flowers for my taste

[mike_puraty]

I have two of the SLR Gorillapods..used one on D300 with the Tokina 12-24 and mounted combo on poles benches and rails while taking shots in foggy Newport Harbor..worked as good as advertised..For the price and portability it offers a great addition to your useful gear.. I recommend highly having at least one in your bag..I use either one or both to place remote flash in using the CLS wireless capabilities. It's both small and light enough to earn a place in your bag..

[jason_hall4]

I would not call the lensbaby a "toy"...more of a creative tool. I love the 2.0 version and never go into a wedding with out it. I don't use it at every one but when time allows and inspiration stikes....

 

I do suggest the 2.0 or G3 as the original is just not nearly as shrap and the color and contrast is not nearly as good. Also suffers from CA rather badly.

 

Here is one of mine, its not nearly as good as many you will see but I am working on it.

 

http://jphotoarts.smugmug.com/photos/279891836_yESff-L.jpg

 

Jason

[jason_hall4]

Here is another. Yet again, not as cool as some. but I like the idea.

 

http://jphotoarts.smugmug.com/photos/262261286_GN4BP-L.jpg

 

http://jphotoarts.smugmug.com/photos/262262231_A4rwU-L.jpg

 

Jason

[JDMvW]

I just think that for what I want to do--not speaking for anyone else, mind--that the Lensbaby is a bit pricey. Maybe someday I'll get one on eBay for less. However, for anyone interested in odd quasi-Lomo effects, there are lots of bargains out there on eBay. I've found a itorex Pan-Focus lens, a Spiratone Portragon soft focus portrait lens, and, not least, a nice Sima soft focus lens. These don't tilt or shift, but I imagine that they're almost as fun to play with.

[JDMvW]

Pictures of same<div></div>

[mark_audacity_romberg]

I like my Gorillapod okay, but mine seems to have badly-cut threads on the tripod

mount. Mounts fine to my F3 (old n busted), but any other camera I've tried it's like

I'm trying to re-cut the threads. So, there are some QC issues. I'm also not terribly

fond of the screwdriver slot to tighten the bolt instead of a thumbscrew or similar.

 

Overall, though, those are nitpicks. They could all be solved by sticking a little

ballhead on top. For those who wonder about its support ability, I can get mine to

hold up my F3/MD4, which is about four pounds, I believe. The trick is splaying the

legs straight out from the center node, then folding them down out near the ends, so

it looks like it's crouching. This puts the joints so they are each at full rotation, ie

stopped up against the socket of the joint above, so the legs don't sag.

 

I'm sure I did a terrible job of describing that; I'm a spatial person, I could _show_

you really easily, just look over here right quick... ^_^

[mark_audacity_romberg]

PS: I own the SLR Zoom G-pod.