Product Description

The Lensbaby 3G lens is a workhorse for photographers who require precise focusing, complete control, longer exposures, and repeatability. When working with dynamic subject matter you can focus Lensbaby 3G just like Lensbaby 2.0 - by compressing and bending. For slower moving or static subject matter, you can lock the lens in place simply by pressing a button on the focusing collar. Then you can fine focus using a traditional barrel focusing ring and fine tune the tilt to place the sweet spot exactly where you want.Lensbaby 3G features the same low dispersion, high refractive index, multi-coated optical glass doublet as Lensbaby 2.0, and delivers images with a tack sharp sweet spot with minimal diffusion even at the f/2 aperture setting. Lensbaby 3G uses the same system of magnetically levitating aperture disks as Lensbaby 2.0 with aperture settings of f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, and f/22.

Product Details

• Brand: Lensbabies
• Model: LB3GN
• Dimensions: 3.25" h x 3.50" w x 3.50" l, .75 pounds

Features

• Flexible, selective focus lens that, unlike the Original Lensbaby and Lensbaby 2.0, has locking and fine focusing capabilities
• This 50mm lens with a coated optical glass doublet captures images with one area in sharp focus, with that "sweet spot" surrounded by gradually increasing blur. You can move the sweet spot to any part of your photo by bending the flexible lens tubing.
• Magnetically suspended disc aperture system allows f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8.0, f/11, f/16, f/22 aperture settings. All aperture settings included.
• 37 mm threads allow you to attach Lensbaby Macro Kit lenses, wide angle and telephoto conversion lenses, and other filters and accessories
• Note: Lensbaby does not communicate electronically with your camera body

Amazon.com Product Description
The Lensbaby 3G SLR lens for Nikon SLR Cameras combines an old-fashioned bellows camera with an up-tight tilt-shift lens, and the 3G allows photographers to lock the Lensbaby in a desired bent position simply by pressing a button. Then, using a traditional barrel focus mechanism, you can do fine focusing and precisely place the sweet spot of sharp focus before pressing the shutter release. Lensbaby selective focus SLR camera lenses take photos with one area in sharp focus, with that sweet spot surrounded by graduated blur. You can move the sweet spot of sharp focus anywhere in the photo by bending the flexible lens tubing.

The Lensbaby 3G features the same low dispersion, high refractive index, multi-coated optical glass doublet and the same flexible tubing as Lensbaby 2.0, but adds three focusing rails that emerge from the camera mount and pass through the focusing collar. A trigger button on the focusing collar releases three pins that engage the focusing rails and lock Lensbaby 3G in a bent position. Once Lensbaby 3G is locked into place, additional fine focus can be achieved by turning the barrel focusing ring, which moves the optic in and out like a normal manual focus lens. Also, in the locked position, you can make small adjustments to the placement of the sweet spot of focus by turning any combination of the three focusing rails.

While the Lensbaby 2.0 is a good choice for fluid, photojournalistic shots, the Lensbaby 3G plays well with pros who require precise focusing, complete control, and repeatability. Other features include:

• Focal length: About 50mm
• Minimum focus: 12 inches
• Apertures: f2, f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, f11, f16, f22
• Aperture type: Interchangeable levitating aperture disks
• Automatic light metering is possible by shooting in aperture priority mode for many digital and film SLR camera bodies except certain Nikon bodies including the D50, D70, D70S, D80, D100, N50, N55, N65, N70, N75, N80

What's in the Box
Lensbaby 3G Selective Focus SLR Lens, metal lens cap, aperture discs, disc removal tool

Customer Reviews

Amazing tool! Incredibly useful.
I bought the Lensbaby 3G from Amazon a month or so ago. Since I've received it, I can't say I could be more pleased.
This thing is awesome! It's so easy to use (in spite of what you may think from looking at it), and I can focus it on just about anything almost instantly. It's so easy to focus that I can grab shots just as easily as if I'd had an autofocus lens on my camera. Stuck with a boring background, and need to make a creative portrait? Just slap the f/2.8 ring on it, or remove the ring for f/2.0 and shoot away! The only piece of advice I might offer is this: For most people, the Lensbaby 2G will be fine, and it's much cheaper. The primary reason to get the 3G is if you plan on doing tripod based photography with it, in which case you'll need repeatable results. In most cases, you're just flinging the Lensbaby around in your hands and grabbing cool shots, which does not require the locking mechanism of the 3G. All in all, I recommend any of the Lensbaby lenses to anyone who likes to have fun, and make some cool artistic photographs. You won't be disappointed.

A FUN lens that takes you back to photography's roots
The Lensbaby is a few ounces of pure fun, that will COMPLETELY take you back to those days when you were a photographer walking around LOOKING for things to shoot!

The Lensbaby will allow you to go back to the time when you considered framing, planes of focus, composition and converging lines, depth of field, shutter speed and f-stop, and MANUAL focus, all before you pressed the shutter.

You remember all of these terms, but with today's modern cameras how many of you have actually had to think about these terms? The Lensbaby takes you back to photography's roots, to a time when shooting was as much for FUN as it was to create images of beauty.

Get the Lensbaby, and start carrying your camera just for fun again!

More fun with my Lensbaby!
The other review goes into a lot of technical detail. I just wanted to add that the Lensbaby is FUN! It adds a new dimension to my photography, is enough of a challenge to make the results rewarding and is definitely a way to mix it up when you want to. I love my 18-200 Nikon VR lens but this is a great complement. I don't use the locking feature very often so you could probably get the 1st or 2nd gen versions and have just as much fun. But the 3G does look very cool. My Nikon D80 doesn't talk to the Lensbaby at all which is fine. I set it to fully manual and just use the histogram to make sure my exposure is ok. I enjoy the challenge but again it's not difficult to shoot since digital gives instant results/ satisfaction.
Stop debating and get yourself a Lensbaby. You'll really enjoy it.