Lensbaby Soft Focus Ii Review

For photographers seeking a unique artistic edge, the Lensbaby Soft Focus II lens is a compelling tool that delivers dreamy, ethereal imagery with a distinct vintage charm. It’s not your everyday razor-sharp prime. instead, it’s designed to create a beautiful, controllable soft focus effect, perfect for portraits, still life, and nature photography where mood and atmosphere take precedence over clinical detail. Think less technical perfection, more artistic expression. This lens excels at rendering highlights with a gentle glow and blurring backgrounds into a painterly wash, allowing you to evoke emotions and tell stories through your images in a way that modern, highly corrected lenses simply can’t. If you’re looking to break free from the pursuit of ultimate sharpness and instead explore the world of intentional creative blur, the Soft Focus II is a fantastic addition to your kit, offering a tactile, hands-on shooting experience that encourages experimentation.

Here’s a comparison of the Lensbaby Soft Focus II with other notable photographic tools that offer distinct creative or technical advantages:

• Lensbaby Soft Focus II Optic

  

  • Key Features: Soft focus effect, magnetic drop-in apertures from f/2.5 to f/22, flexible hose-like Composer Pro II or Omni system compatibility, creates glow and dreaminess.
  • Average Price: $179 – $200 for optic only
  • Pros: Unique artistic look, highly customizable softness, small and lightweight, encourages creative exploration, ideal for portraits and fine art.
  • Cons: Not for sharpness enthusiasts, steep learning curve for consistent results, requires a Lensbaby housing Composer Pro II, Omni, or Spark.

• Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S Lens

  • Key Features: Fast f/1.8 aperture, exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, advanced optical design ED and aspherical elements, stepping motor for quiet autofocus.
  • Average Price: $599 – $699
  • Pros: Superb image quality, versatile for various genres, excellent low-light performance, reliable autofocus.
  • Cons: Significantly more expensive, no built-in soft focus, larger and heavier than Lensbaby optics.

• Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Lens

  • Key Features: Versatile 85mm focal length, f/2 aperture, 0.5x macro capability, optical image stabilization 5 stops, STM motor for smooth autofocus.
  • Pros: Great for portraits and close-ups, good sharpness with pleasing bokeh, image stabilization is a huge plus, offers macro functionality.
  • Cons: Higher price point, not designed for artistic soft focus, larger form factor.

• Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR Lens

  • Key Features: Compact and weather-resistant, fast f/2 aperture, classic 50mm equivalent focal length on APS-C, fast and quiet autofocus.
  • Average Price: $399 – $449
  • Pros: Excellent build quality, sharp images, beautiful rendering, very portable, weather-sealed.
  • Cons: Not full-frame compatible, no native soft focus effect, smaller aperture than some primes.

• Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G Lens

  • Key Features: Compact and lightweight “G” series prime, wide f/2.5 aperture, high resolution, pleasing bokeh, quiet linear motors for AF.
  • Average Price: $549 – $599
  • Pros: Superb image quality in a tiny package, ideal for everyday shooting, fast and accurate autofocus, excellent optical performance.
  • Cons: Pricey for its aperture, not a “soft focus” lens, lacks some of the character of wider aperture primes.

• Vintage Manual Focus Lens e.g., Helios 44-2

  • Key Features: Often affordable, known for unique swirly bokeh and vintage rendering, fully manual operation, requires adapter for modern cameras.
  • Average Price: $50 – $150 used
  • Pros: Very affordable, distinctive and often sought-after optical characteristics, a great way to experiment with manual focus and character.
  • Cons: Fully manual no autofocus or electronic aperture, often requires adapters, quality can vary, some have strong aberrations.

• Photography Filters e.g., Diffusion Filters

  • Key Features: Attach to the front of lenses, create various degrees of soft focus, glow, or diffusion effects, available in many strengths and types e.g., Black Pro-Mist, Soft FX.
  • Average Price: $50 – $200 per filter
  • Pros: Non-destructive to lens, versatile for adding effects to any lens, easy to use, many options available.
  • Cons: Can sometimes reduce contrast, might not achieve the same “look” as a dedicated soft focus lens, requires carrying extra gear.

Understanding the Lensbaby Soft Focus II: A Deep Dive into Creative Control

The Lensbaby Soft Focus II isn’t just another lens.

It’s a creative tool designed for photographers who want to inject a unique, painterly aesthetic into their work.

Unlike traditional lenses that strive for optical perfection, the Soft Focus II embraces and controls imperfections to produce images that are dreamy, ethereal, and evocative.

It’s about moving beyond clinical sharpness and embracing a more artistic interpretation of reality.

This lens is particularly appealing to those who appreciate the aesthetic of vintage photography or want to experiment with effects that are difficult to achieve in post-production alone.

What is Soft Focus and Why Does it Matter?

Soft focus in photography isn’t simply out-of-focus.

It’s a controlled optical effect where aberrations are intentionally introduced to reduce detail while maintaining a sense of form and light.

• The “Glow” Effect: One of the hallmarks of soft focus is the way highlights seem to bloom or glow, creating a gentle luminosity around brighter areas. This is often achieved by allowing light to scatter slightly within the lens.
• Dreamy Aesthetics: This effect can transform an ordinary scene into something magical, adding an ethereal quality that is highly sought after in fine art, portrait, and wedding photography.
• Masking Imperfections: In portraiture, soft focus can gently smooth skin tones and reduce the appearance of minor imperfections, creating a more flattering and idealized rendition of the subject.
• Historical Context: Soft focus lenses have a rich history, dating back to the pictorialist movement of the early 20th century, where photographers sought to elevate photography to the status of painting by introducing artistic blur.

Key Features and Optical Design of the Soft Focus II

The Lensbaby Soft Focus II is an optic, meaning it requires a Lensbaby housing like the Composer Pro II, Omni, or Spark to function.

This modular system is part of its charm and versatility.

• Magnetic Drop-In Apertures: This lens utilizes a unique system of magnetic, interchangeable apertures, ranging from f/2.5 to f/22. This isn’t just about controlling light. it’s fundamental to controlling the degree of softness.
  • Larger apertures f/2.5, f/4: Offer the most pronounced soft focus and glow, ideal for maximum artistic effect.
  • Smaller apertures f/8, f/11, f/16: Introduce more sharpness while still retaining a subtle softness and glow, allowing for a blend of detail and dreaminess.
  • Pinholes: The kit also includes special pinhole apertures f/22 and f/45 equivalent that provide an entirely different aesthetic—deep depth of field with a unique, lo-fi character.
• Multi-coated Glass Elements: Despite its soft focus nature, the Soft Focus II features multi-coated glass elements to minimize flare and ghosting, ensuring that the unique effect isn’t undermined by unwanted optical artifacts.
• Manual Focus Only: Like all Lensbaby optics, the Soft Focus II is entirely manual focus. This encourages a more deliberate and thoughtful approach to composition and depth of field.
• Lensbaby Mount System: Designed to fit into various Lensbaby lens bodies Composer Pro II, Spark, Omni. This modularity allows photographers to swap out different optics within the same mount, expanding their creative toolkit.

How the Soft Focus II Differs from the Original

For those familiar with Lensbaby’s history, the Soft Focus II is an evolution of their beloved original Soft Focus Optic. Logitech Mx Mechanical Keyboard Review

• Increased Versatility with Magnetic Discs: The original Soft Focus relied on physical aperture discs that were inserted into a slot, which could be cumbersome. The Soft Focus II adopts the magnetic drop-in system, making aperture changes quicker and more secure. This is a significant quality-of-life improvement.
• Improved Optical Performance Subtly: While still designed for softness, the Soft Focus II has subtly refined its optical design to offer a more pleasing and controllable glow, with slightly better contrast at wider apertures compared to its predecessor.
• Modern Build Quality: The Soft Focus II optic generally feels more robust and modern in its construction, aligning with Lensbaby’s contemporary product lines.
• Wider Aperture Range: The inclusion of f/2.5 provides an even wider aperture than the original’s f/2.8, allowing for an even more pronounced soft focus effect when desired.

Practical Applications and Creative Potential

The Lensbaby Soft Focus II isn’t a lens for every situation, but in the right hands, it unlocks a world of creative possibilities.

It’s about seeing the world differently and translating that vision into a tangible image.

Think of it as a specialized brush in a painter’s arsenal—it’s for specific effects, not for broad strokes.

Ideal Scenarios for the Soft Focus II

Understanding where this lens truly shines is key to maximizing its potential and avoiding frustration.

• Portraits: This is perhaps where the Soft Focus II excels most. The lens creates a flattering glow around subjects, softening skin tones and textures while maintaining enough detail in the eyes.
  • Bridal Portraits: The dreaminess perfectly complements the ethereal quality of wedding attire.
  • Children’s Portraits: Can evoke a sense of innocence and wonder.
  • Fine Art Portraits: Ideal for creating painterly, emotive images that go beyond typical sharp studio shots.
• Nature and Florals: The Soft Focus II can transform ordinary botanical subjects into enchanting works of art.
  • Flowers: Emphasizes the delicate textures and colors, turning petals into glowing masterpieces.
• Still Life Photography: Adds a unique, vintage charm to objects, particularly those with reflective surfaces or intricate details.
  • Vintage Objects: Enhances their antique aesthetic.
  • Food Photography: Can create an appetizing, warm glow around dishes, although care must be taken not to lose too much detail.
• Abstract and Impressionistic Photography: For photographers wanting to capture mood and feeling rather than precise reality, the Soft Focus II is a powerful tool.
  • Light Sources: Creates beautiful starbursts and glows from point light sources.
  • Bokeh Art: The diffuse bokeh it produces can be a central element of the composition.

Learning Curve and Manual Operation

Unlike modern autofocus lenses, the Soft Focus II demands a hands-on approach. This isn’t a point-and-shoot lens. it’s a tool for deliberate creation.

• Manual Focus is Paramount: You’ll be focusing entirely by hand. This requires practice, especially with wide apertures where depth of field is shallow.
  • Focus Peaking: If your camera has it, enable focus peaking. This visual aid highlights in-focus areas and is incredibly helpful for manual focusing with the Soft Focus II.
  • Magnified View: Utilize your camera’s magnified live view to critical focus, especially for portraits where eyes need to be sharp within the soft field.
• Experimentation with Apertures: The core of the Soft Focus II’s versatility lies in its interchangeable aperture discs.
  • Trial and Error: Don’t be afraid to try different aperture discs for the same shot. The difference between f/2.5 and f/4, or even f/5.6, can be significant in terms of softness and glow.
  • Mix and Match: Consider how the chosen aperture affects not just the subject but also the background and highlights.
• Controlling the Glow: The glow is a key characteristic.
  • Backlighting: The glow is most pronounced with backlighting or bright light sources in the frame.
  • Contrast Management: Be mindful that excessive glow can reduce overall contrast. You might need to adjust exposure or use post-processing to regain some punch.
• Compositional Approach: With a soft focus lens, composition often shifts from defining crisp lines to blending tones and shapes.
  • Negative Space: Utilize negative space to allow the soft effects to breathe.
  • Leading Lines: Even with softness, leading lines can still guide the viewer’s eye through the frame.

Performance Metrics: Sharpness, Bokeh, and Vignetting

While a “soft focus” lens isn’t evaluated primarily on sharpness, understanding its characteristics in these areas helps in anticipating results and harnessing its unique properties.

Sharpness or lack thereof, by design

It’s crucial to reset your expectations regarding sharpness with the Soft Focus II.

• Controlled Diffusion: The lens is designed to diffuse light, not concentrate it into razor-sharp points. Therefore, you won’t get micro-contrast or pixel-peeping sharpness.
• Center vs. Edges: While the softness is global, it’s often most pronounced at the widest apertures, with a slightly more defined though still soft center. As you stop down, the lens introduces more overall clarity.
• Aperture’s Role in Sharpness:
  • f/2.5 – f/4: Maximum softness and glow. Details are heavily diffused.
  • f/5.6 – f/8: A good balance where you get noticeable softness and glow, but with more discernible subject definition. This is often a sweet spot for portraits.
  • f/11 – f/22: The lens becomes considerably sharper, almost like a conventional lens, but still retains a unique “painterly” quality due to its optical design. The glow is minimal at these apertures.
• The “Sweet Spot” for Character: Many users find the most appealing character of the Soft Focus II around f/4 or f/5.6, where the glow is present but not overwhelming, allowing for a good balance of artistic effect and subject recognition.

Bokeh Characteristics

The out-of-focus areas bokeh produced by the Soft Focus II are as important as the in-focus areas in defining its signature look.

• Creamy and Dreamy: At wider apertures, the bokeh is incredibly smooth and creamy, often dissolving backgrounds into a soft, painterly wash. This is highly desirable for isolating subjects in portraits.
• Gentle Transition: The transition from in-focus to out-of-focus is very gradual and pleasing, avoiding harsh edges or distracting elements.
• Light Rendition: Out-of-focus highlights often retain a soft, diffused quality rather than becoming sharp circles, which contributes to the overall dreamy aesthetic.
• Absence of Swirl typically: Unlike some other Lensbaby optics or vintage lenses like the Helios 44-2 mentioned earlier, the Soft Focus II typically doesn’t produce “swirly bokeh.” Its blur is more uniform and gentle.

Vignetting and Flare

These optical characteristics contribute to the overall mood and can be used creatively.

• Subtle Vignetting: The Soft Focus II can exhibit a subtle degree of vignetting, especially at wider apertures. This darkening of the corners can help to draw the viewer’s eye towards the center of the frame and enhance the vintage feel.
  • Post-processing: Vignetting can be easily enhanced or corrected in post-processing depending on your artistic preference.
• Controlled Flare: While designed to manage flare with its multi-coatings, strong direct light sources can still produce creative flares and internal reflections.
  • Artistic Use: Many Lensbaby users intentionally use flare to add character and warmth to their images, rather than avoiding it.
  • Lens Hood: The Composer Pro II housing which often accompanies the Soft Focus II might not always have a dedicated lens hood, but using your hand to shade the front element can help control unwanted flare if it becomes distracting.

Pairing the Soft Focus II: Housings and Accessories

The Soft Focus II isn’t a standalone lens. Samsung 50 Inch Class Qn90B Neo Qled Tv Review

It’s an optic that integrates into the broader Lensbaby ecosystem.

Understanding these components is crucial for its use and maximizing its versatility.

Lensbaby Composer Pro II

This is the most common and versatile housing for the Soft Focus II optic.

• Tilting Mechanism: The Composer Pro II allows you to tilt the optic relative to the camera sensor. This creates a “sweet spot” of focus that can be moved around the frame, while the rest of the image falls into a soft, gradual blur.
  • Selective Focus: This selective focus capability is a hallmark of the Composer series and adds another layer of creative control. You can choose to keep a specific detail relatively sharp or less soft while everything else dissolves.
  • Learning Curve: Mastering the tilt mechanism takes practice, as it changes the plane of focus. It’s about feeling your way to the desired effect.
• Manual Focus Ring: The Composer Pro II features a smooth, precise manual focus ring, which is essential for working with the Soft Focus II.
• Mount Compatibility: Available for a wide range of camera mounts Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds, Pentax K, etc., making the Soft Focus II accessible to many systems.
• Durability: The Composer Pro II is generally well-built with a metal construction, offering a robust platform for your optics.

Lensbaby Omni Creative Filter System

While not a housing for the optic itself, the Omni system is an excellent companion to the Soft Focus II.

• Magnetic Filter System: The Omni system attaches to the front of your existing lenses including the Composer Pro II with the Soft Focus II optic and uses magnetic “wands” or “arms” that hold various effect filters in front of the lens.
• Creative Effects: These filters include:
  • Crystallizers: Prismatic elements that create reflections and refractions.
  • Stretch Glass: Stretches highlights and creates streak-like effects.
  • Color Foils: Introduce color washes and gradients.
• Layering Effects: By combining the inherent softness and glow of the Soft Focus II with the Omni’s creative filters, photographers can achieve truly unique, multi-layered effects directly in-camera, reducing the need for extensive post-processing.
• Ease of Use: The magnetic system makes swapping and adjusting the wands very quick and intuitive.

Other Lensbaby Housings Spark, Velvet, etc.

While the Composer Pro II is the primary pairing, other Lensbaby housings can also accommodate the Soft Focus II optic, each offering a different tactile experience or set of features.

• Lensbaby Spark: A more affordable, squeeze-to-focus housing that provides a playful, immediate way to achieve selective focus. It’s less precise than the Composer Pro II but offers a raw, intuitive feel.
• Lensbaby Velvet as a standalone lens: While not a housing for the Soft Focus II optic, Lensbaby’s Velvet series lenses like the Velvet 56 or Velvet 85 are standalone lenses designed to produce a similar soft-focus glow, especially at wider apertures. They offer autofocus on some models and are a good alternative if you want a dedicated soft-focus lens without the modular system.

Aperture Discs and Accessories

The included aperture discs are vital to the Soft Focus II’s functionality.

• Storage: Keep your aperture discs organized and clean. A small, separate pouch or container is highly recommended to prevent loss or scratches.
• Cleaning: Use a micro-fiber cloth and lens cleaning solution for the discs and the optic itself.
• Extra Discs: Lensbaby occasionally releases special aperture discs or masks that can be used with their optics, offering even more creative variations.

Post-Processing Considerations for Soft Focus Images

While the Lensbaby Soft Focus II creates its unique look in-camera, post-processing can enhance, refine, or even subtly alter the final image.

It’s about leveraging the digital darkroom to perfect your artistic vision, not to create the effect from scratch.

Enhancing the “Glow” and Dreamy Aesthetic

The native glow of the Soft Focus II can be further accentuated or controlled in editing software.

• Exposure and Highlights: Gently raising the exposure and slightly boosting highlights can emphasize the glow, especially in areas where light is already blooming.
• Clarity and Dehaze Subtly: While counter-intuitive for a soft lens, very subtly reducing clarity or dehaze sliders can further soften textures and enhance the dreamy feel, particularly if you want to push the effect. Conversely, a slight increase in clarity might help define a subject within the softness if it feels too ethereal.
• Curves and Tones: Adjusting curves to create a slightly flatter, lower-contrast look can enhance the vintage, dreamlike quality. Crushing blacks slightly or lifting the shadows can also contribute to this aesthetic.
• Color Grading: Warm color tones e.g., subtle yellow or orange tints often complement the soft focus look, adding a nostalgic or romantic feel. Experiment with split toning or LUTs that evoke vintage film aesthetics.
• Orton Effect Minimal: The Orton effect combining a sharp layer with a blurred, blended layer can mimic and enhance the soft glow. However, use it minimally, as the Soft Focus II already does much of this work in-camera.

Managing Contrast and Detail

Soft focus by nature reduces contrast and detail, but you can selectively regain some if desired. Pantum Bm5100Adn Review

• Local Adjustments: Use brushes or radial/graduated filters to selectively increase contrast or sharpness in specific areas, such as the eyes in a portrait, while leaving the rest of the image soft.
• Blacks and Whites: Adjusting the black and white points in your histogram can add punch back to the image without sacrificing the overall softness.
• Vibrance and Saturation: Soft focus images often benefit from slightly desaturated colors to enhance the ethereal or vintage mood. Experiment with reducing vibrance and saturation slightly.
• Noise Reduction: If shooting in lower light, the softness might accentuate noise. Apply noise reduction carefully to avoid further smudging details.

Cropping and Compositional Refinements

Post-processing is also your chance to fine-tune your composition.

• Crop for Impact: Review your initial framing and crop to remove distractions or to strengthen the focal point, especially given the unique blur characteristics of the lens.
• Straightening: Ensure your horizons or vertical lines are straight, as even in a dreamy image, a crooked frame can be distracting.
• Lensbaby-Specific Corrections: While less common with the Soft Focus II, if using a tilting Composer Pro II, minor perspective corrections might be needed if you’ve introduced unwanted keystone effects.

Pros and Cons of the Lensbaby Soft Focus II

Like any specialized tool, the Soft Focus II has its strengths and weaknesses.

Understanding these will help photographers decide if it’s the right addition to their creative arsenal.

The Upsides: Why You’ll Love It

The Soft Focus II offers a unique experience and results that are hard to replicate.

• Unrivaled Artistic Expression: This is its primary draw. No other lens directly delivers the specific blend of glow, softness, and dreaminess quite like it. It pushes you to think creatively and move beyond conventional sharpness.
• Distinctive Aesthetic: Your images will stand out. In a world saturated with clinically sharp digital photos, the Soft Focus II offers a refreshing, often nostalgic, and highly artistic look.
• Versatile Softness Control: The magnetic aperture system is a must. It allows for an impressive range of softness—from super dreamy at f/2.5 to subtle and painterly at f/8, giving you fine-tuned control over the effect.
• Tactile and Engaging Shooting Experience: The manual focus and the hands-on nature of swapping apertures make photography a more deliberate and meditative process. It’s less about speed and more about crafting each shot.
• Portability Optic Only: The optic itself is very small and lightweight, making it easy to carry as an addition to your existing kit.
• Affordable Creative Tool: Compared to high-end prime lenses or specialized tilt-shift lenses, the Soft Focus II optic is relatively inexpensive, offering a lot of creative bang for your buck.

The Downsides: What to Consider

No lens is perfect for every situation, and the Soft Focus II has its limitations.

• Not a General-Purpose Lens: If you need sharpness, speed, or autofocus, this is not the lens for you. It’s a specialized tool for specific artistic effects.
• Steep Learning Curve: Mastering the manual focus, understanding how different apertures affect the glow, and potentially using it with a tilting housing like the Composer Pro II takes practice and patience.
• Manual Focus Only: No autofocus means you need to be comfortable with precise manual focusing, especially at wider apertures where depth of field is shallow. This can be challenging for fast-moving subjects.
• Requires a Lensbaby Housing: The optic needs a separate Lensbaby housing Composer Pro II, Spark, etc. to function, adding to the initial cost and potentially adding bulk to your kit if you don’t already own one.
• Limited Low-Light Performance for general use: While f/2.5 is wide, the nature of soft focus means you might not always want to use it at its widest aperture, and the lack of autofocus can make shooting in very dim conditions more difficult.
• Specific Aesthetic May Not Appeal to Everyone: While many love the look, some photographers or clients might prefer traditional sharp images. It’s a niche aesthetic.

Alternatives and Comparisons: Exploring Other Soft Focus Options

While the Lensbaby Soft Focus II offers a distinct experience, it’s not the only way to achieve a soft-focus look.

Understanding the alternatives can help you decide if this specific Lensbaby optic is the best fit for your needs.

Dedicated Soft Focus Lenses Vintage & Modern

Beyond Lensbaby, other manufacturers have produced lenses specifically designed for soft focus.

• Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus: A classic choice that offers a physical soft focus ring to adjust the degree of diffusion. It’s a sharp 135mm lens that can be dialed into softness, offering versatility.
• Minolta/Sony STF 135mm f/2.8 Smooth Trans Focus: While not strictly a “soft focus” lens, this unique lens uses an apodization element to produce incredibly smooth, creamy, and distinct bokeh, often sought for its dreamy qualities. It’s more about the quality of blur than overt softness.
• Fujifilm Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD: Similar to the Minolta STF, this lens uses an apodization filter for exceptionally smooth bokeh, contributing to a very pleasing, almost soft background, though the subject remains sharp.
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/2 DC Defocus Control: This lens allows photographers to intentionally introduce spherical aberration to either the foreground or background bokeh, creating a controlled soft-focus effect in out-of-focus areas while maintaining sharpness at the plane of focus.
• Vintage Soft Focus Lenses e.g., Cooke Portrait Anastigmat, Imagon, Wollensak Velostigmat: These are rare, often expensive, and highly sought-after lenses from the early 20th century, known for their unique soft-focus rendering. They require adapters for modern cameras and are entirely manual.

Diffusion Filters

These are the most common and versatile way to add a soft look to any lens.

• Black Pro-Mist Filters Tiffen, CineBloom, etc.: These popular filters contain tiny, opaque particles that scatter light, reducing contrast, halating highlights, and creating a subtle, cinematic glow. They come in various strengths 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 and are widely used in video and photography.
• White Diffusion Filters Soft FX, Classic Soft: These filters use a different pattern to diffuse light, offering a softer, more ethereal look than Pro-Mist filters, often smoothing skin tones more overtly.
• Net Diffusion: Using a piece of sheer fabric or a hosiery stretched over the lens can create a very classic, vintage soft-focus look, often used in older portrait photography.
• Advantages of Filters:
  • Versatility: Can be used on any lens you own.
  • Non-destructive: Easily removed when not needed.
  • Cost-effective: Generally less expensive than dedicated soft-focus lenses.
• Disadvantages of Filters:
  • Not the same as optical softness: While they diffuse, they don’t replicate the specific optical aberrations that dedicated soft-focus lenses produce, which can result in a different “feel.”
  • Reduced Contrast: Can noticeably reduce overall image contrast.

Post-Processing Techniques

Modern editing software allows for significant control over image aesthetics, including simulating soft focus. Adata Elite Se880 External Ssd Review

• Gaussian Blur/Lens Blur: Applying a gentle blur, particularly a “lens blur” which mimics optical characteristics, can soften an image.
• Glow Effects: Many editing programs like Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One have specific tools or plugins for adding glow or Orton effects, which can simulate the highlight bloom.
• Layering and Blending: Creating duplicate layers, blurring one, and blending it with the original can achieve a custom soft-focus effect.
• Advantages of Post-Processing:
  • Non-destructive: You retain the original sharp image.
  • Ultimate Control: Precise control over the degree and location of the effect.
  • No extra gear needed: Just your software.
• Disadvantages of Post-Processing:
  • Time-consuming: Can take significant time to achieve a convincing look.
  • Less Authentic: It’s a digital simulation, and dedicated soft-focus lenses often produce a more organic, optical effect that is difficult to perfectly replicate.
  • Workflow Dependent: Relies on your proficiency with editing software.

Is the Lensbaby Soft Focus II Right for You? Making the Investment

Deciding whether to add the Lensbaby Soft Focus II to your kit depends heavily on your photographic style, goals, and willingness to embrace a different way of shooting.

It’s an investment in a specific aesthetic and a unique creative process.

Who Will Love This Lens?

• Artistic Photographers: If your goal is to create evocative, dreamy, or fine art images rather than technically perfect reproductions, this lens will resonate deeply with you.
• Portrait Photographers: Especially those focusing on bridal, maternity, children, or conceptual portraits where a flattering, ethereal quality is desired.
• Floral and Still Life Enthusiasts: For capturing the delicate beauty of flowers or adding a timeless, vintage feel to objects.
• Experimenters and Innovators: If you enjoy stepping outside the norm, embracing manual control, and discovering new creative avenues, the hands-on nature of Lensbaby will appeal.
• Vintage Aesthetic Lovers: If you’re drawn to the look of early 20th-century photography or the charm of vintage lenses but want modern compatibility and build quality.
• Those Seeking a “Signature Look”: If you want your work to be immediately recognizable and distinctive, the Soft Focus II can help you develop a unique visual style.

Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?

• Sharpness Obsessives: If you prioritize pixel-perfect sharpness, micro-contrast, and detail above all else, this lens will frustrate you.
• Action and Sports Photographers: The manual focus and intentional softness make it completely unsuitable for capturing fast-moving subjects or anything requiring quick, precise focus.
• Photojournalists/Documentary Photographers: Its specific aesthetic and slow workflow don’t align with the need for discreet, rapid, and often unembellished capture of reality.
• Budget-Conscious Photographers initially: While the optic itself isn’t terribly expensive, you’ll need a Lensbaby housing, which adds to the overall initial investment.
• Photographers Who Dislike Manual Focus: If you’re reliant on autofocus and find manual focus tedious, this lens will be a challenge.
• Those Who Prefer Post-Processing Effects: If you’re adept at digital manipulation and prefer to add soft-focus effects in Photoshop or Lightroom, you might find a dedicated lens unnecessary.

The Bottom Line: An Investment in Creative Vision

The Lensbaby Soft Focus II is not a utility lens. it’s a specialty tool, a creative muse.

It challenges you to slow down, compose deliberately, and embrace the unpredictable beauty of optical diffusion.

It won’t replace your sharp primes or zooms, but it will offer a powerful contrast, allowing you to tell different kinds of stories with your camera.

If you’re a photographer who values artistic expression over technical perfection, who enjoys the process of creation as much as the final image, and who isn’t afraid to step outside the conventional, then the Soft Focus II could be a truly inspiring addition to your photographic journey.

It’s about adding a unique flavor to your visual vocabulary, giving you the ability to craft images that evoke emotion and leave a lasting impression.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lensbaby Soft Focus II?

The Lensbaby Soft Focus II is a unique camera lens optic designed to create a dreamy, ethereal, and controllable soft focus effect in photographs, known for its gentle glow and painterly backgrounds.

Is the Lensbaby Soft Focus II a standalone lens?

No, the Lensbaby Soft Focus II is an optic that requires a Lensbaby housing, such as the Lensbaby Composer Pro II, Spark, or Omni system, to be mounted to a camera.

What kind of effect does the Soft Focus II create?

It creates a distinctive soft-focus effect characterized by a gentle glow around highlights, diffused details, and creamy, dreamy backgrounds, ideal for artistic and evocative imagery. Dell Xps 15 Oled 9520 Review

What focal length is the Soft Focus II?

The Lensbaby Soft Focus II is an 80mm focal length optic, making it suitable for portraits, still life, and nature photography.

What apertures does the Soft Focus II use?

It uses magnetic drop-in aperture discs ranging from f/2.5 to f/22, with additional pinhole apertures for varied effects.

How do the different apertures affect the Soft Focus II’s look?

Wider apertures f/2.5, f/4 produce the most pronounced soft focus and glow, while narrower apertures f/8, f/11, f/16 introduce more sharpness while still retaining a subtle softness.

Is the Soft Focus II an autofocus lens?

No, the Lensbaby Soft Focus II is a purely manual focus lens, requiring the photographer to adjust focus by hand.

Is the Soft Focus II good for portraits?

Yes, it is exceptionally good for portraits, as it creates a flattering, ethereal glow that softens skin and adds a romantic or nostalgic quality to the subject.

Can I use the Soft Focus II for landscapes?

How does the Soft Focus II compare to diffusion filters?

While diffusion filters can add softness, the Soft Focus II is a dedicated optical design that creates a unique, organic soft focus and glow that is often distinct from filter-based diffusion.

What is the difference between the Soft Focus II and the original Soft Focus Optic?

The Soft Focus II features a more convenient magnetic drop-in aperture system, a slightly wider f/2.5 aperture, and generally improved ergonomics compared to the original.

What camera mounts is the Soft Focus II compatible with?

The Soft Focus II optic itself is universal, but its compatibility depends on the Lensbaby housing it’s paired with e.g., Composer Pro II is available for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds, etc..

Is it difficult to use the Lensbaby Soft Focus II?

It has a learning curve due to its manual focus and the specific handling of the Lensbaby housing especially tilting ones, but with practice, it becomes intuitive.

Does the Soft Focus II produce “swirly bokeh”?

No, the Soft Focus II typically produces creamy, uniform, and dreamy bokeh rather than the distinct “swirly” effect found in some other lenses. Apple Macbook Pro 13 Inch 2022 M2 Review

How does light affect the Soft Focus II’s glow?

The glow effect is most pronounced when shooting with backlighting or when bright light sources are present in the frame.

Can I use the Soft Focus II for video?

Yes, its manual focus and unique soft-focus aesthetic can be excellent for creating cinematic, dreamy video footage, though smooth focusing will require practice.

What accessories are essential for the Soft Focus II?

A Lensbaby Composer Pro II or similar housing is essential, and keeping the magnetic aperture discs organized is highly recommended.

How do I clean the aperture discs?

Use a clean microfiber cloth and a gentle lens cleaning solution to clean the aperture discs, handling them carefully to avoid scratches.

Can I get sharp images with the Soft Focus II?

While primarily a soft focus lens, stopping down to smaller apertures e.g., f/11 or f/16 will increase apparent sharpness, but it will never be razor-sharp like a conventional modern prime lens.

Is the Soft Focus II good for low-light photography?

While it has a wide f/2.5 aperture, the manual focus and intentional softness mean it’s not ideal for general low-light scenarios where fast, sharp focus is critical.

Does the Soft Focus II add vignetting?

Yes, it can exhibit subtle vignetting, particularly at wider apertures, which can enhance the artistic, vintage feel of the image.

Is the Soft Focus II worth the price?

For photographers seeking a unique artistic tool to differentiate their work and who enjoy a hands-on creative process, the Soft Focus II offers excellent value for its niche capabilities.

Can I use the Lensbaby Omni system with the Soft Focus II?

Yes, the Omni Creative Filter System can be attached to the front of a Lensbaby Composer Pro II with the Soft Focus II optic inside to combine its soft focus with additional in-camera effects.

How do I focus with the Soft Focus II?

You focus manually using the focus ring on the Lensbaby housing. Samsung 43 Inch Class The Serif Qled Tv Review

Utilizing your camera’s focus peaking or magnified live view can greatly assist in achieving critical focus.

What types of photography is the Soft Focus II best suited for?

Does the Soft Focus II affect image contrast?

Yes, by design, the soft focus and glow can slightly reduce overall image contrast, which contributes to its dreamy aesthetic. Contrast can be adjusted in post-processing.

Can I use the Soft Focus II on a crop sensor camera?

Yes, you can use the Soft Focus II optic on a crop sensor camera.

However, the effective focal length will be longer e.g., approximately 120mm on APS-C, making it a more telephoto lens.

Is the Soft Focus II durable?

The optic itself is generally robust, and the Composer Pro II housing is built with metal, suggesting good durability with proper care.

What is the “sweet spot” aperture for the Soft Focus II?

Many photographers find the “sweet spot” for a balanced soft-focus effect, with a noticeable glow but still discernible detail, to be around f/4 to f/5.6.

Does the Soft Focus II come with a lens hood?

The Soft Focus II optic itself doesn’t typically come with a dedicated lens hood, but the Lensbaby Composer Pro II housing may have an integrated or attachable hood depending on the specific model.