Ok. I’ll admit it…..I am visually challenged. I struggle with focus. Which is less than ideal for someone who is interested in photography. It’s also very frustrating… well, until I had my eyes checked and received a prescription for tri-focals (the first smarty pants that makes a crack about my age is being “unfriended”). I bought the Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic a year ago, thinking it was the answer to not having to manually switch the aperture rings……it isn’t as easy to use as I thought it would be.
So bad vision aside, the Lensbaby Sweet 35 allows you to have a circular spot of focus. The size of focus depends on the aperture you select. At f22 the entire image should be sharp. I do like the ability to change aperture without manually manipulating the rings (I lost one of them in my Christmas tree last year, and didn’t find it until we took the tree down…..don’t ask….but that will be the last time I manually switch rings after 2 martinis, and 3 hours of bad Christmas music).
After reviewing my photos I was disappointed I didn’t do better in getting even the “sweet spot” in focus. I don’t know whether to chalk this up to technique…..or god forbid my vision has gotten worse (I might have to start wearing my glasses regularly- instead of just for driving). I did enjoy the escalator shot at the DFW airport….everyone was giving me a scowl coming down the stairs…..except for the two guys in an animated conversation.
I just ordered the Lensbaby Optic 80. It will give me a “swath” of focus, so I think I will improve my chances of getting a sharp focal point, and still get that great Lensbaby effect. Even though I know gear isn’t the answer to problems…..I still love to play with new stuff. I will keep you posted.
Here are some of the images:
For those of you who follow us regularly. I am in Week 2 of the Visual Toolbox project. This week’s project was practicing a “photographer’s scales” (changing aperture incrementally, then changing ISO incrementally, etc). Needless to say the images weren’t too terribly exciting so I didn’t post them here. Stay tuned…..
pamphotography 
Lovely Susan………….