Customer Reviews

Lensbaby The Muse Double Glass for Canon EF mount Digital SLR Cameras

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

this is a super fun lens (for the price) once you get the hang of it (which is pretty easy). The only thing I would have done in hindsight is to spend more money and get one that locks down. it can be a challenge to hold the lens steady and click the shutter at the same time.

I had an impression of the whole Lensbaby thing as a gimmick, until I actually bought the Muse and tried it. Shooting at the local botanical garden was a lot of fun, much more so than if I'd simply taken my trusty 28-200mm zoom. The reason I bought the Muse was because it was the least expensive, so if it didn't get much use I wouldn't be out much money. That said, the Muse does require some skill to use properly as it cannot be positioned and locked in place like the more expensive versions. If you have short fingers, you may have trouble using it as focusing requires squeezing it toward the camera body (not to mention being able to tilt it at the same time if you want the tilt-shift effect). I use the index and middle fingers of both hands to work the lens and have no trouble doing it that way. To me, this quirky operation is part of what makes the Muse interesting to shoot with as it does require more skill than the others to operate. I'd also say that the squeeze/tilt/shoot method the Muse requires may make it faster to work with vs. the other Lensbabys once you get used to it. If the Muse sounds like too much of a hassle to you, then I'd recommend the next model up (the Composer). If you want to try something different with your photography and put some fun back into it, then a Lensbaby may do the trick.

Note: This review covers the version with the double-glass optic. I haven't tried any of the others yet.

I LOVE this lens!! It is super fun and gives such cool effects. I had debated purchasing this lens for over a year and finally took the plunge after recently purcasing my Pentax Kx. With the Kx being so light and easy to hold, it makes use of the Muse lens much easier then with my older DSLR cameras.

I love how you can manipulate the "sweet spot" to follow the subject as they move. I was able to follow my Eastern Box Turtle around his cage with such ease and captured great shots with him next to the glass.

Changing the aperature disks are super easy and I'm sure with some practice it I will be faster with it. I love that the lid to the disks are the same as the Kodak film canister lids. Nice touch.

One thing I do want to mention to those that shoot in auto mode is when using this lens you do need to shoot in AV or Manual mode. This is a manual focus lens so you will need to adjust the focus by squeezing or relaxing the lens. Just read your camera manual for a quick one two course in aperature and ISO use and you will be just fine.

I recommend this lens to anyone who likes to play and have fun with photography.

I have wanted one of these for a long time, so I ordered this with the macro converter and the creative aperture kit, and it takes some amazing photos. It really takes a lot of getting used to, but it is so much fun!

I was slightly concerned about buying this, due to the seeming popularity of the versions like composer that lock in place (and are much more expensive).

I should not have been concerned. Within maybe 5 minutes, I had the hang of it just fine. Hold with both hands and thumbs, and use the middle and ring or middle and index fingers of each hand to control the collar. Focus down straight until roughly in focal range, then start bending and fine tuning. Bam! done. Dead on focus about 50% of the time doing it this way.

It takes a little bit of time to focus compared to a traditional lens, BUT probably (I am guessing) much less time than a composer, which requires at least two separate focusing steps.

Thus, I honestly think that this product is probably just as easy to use as the other options, can achieve consistent repeat photos of the same shot with practice, is probably faster to focus than the other options, and is vastly cheaper. Buy it!

Build quality is sturdy and metal where it needs to be.

The double glass optic is great, too, and is just nice enough to be basically as sharp or fuzzy as you might desire given that you're using a lensbaby.

Major CON: the craptastic aperture swap system. Swapping in your own magnetic disks for aperture is fun for about 5 minutes and then becomes super annoying and restricts your creativity. I have ordered a sweet 35 optic largely because of this.

I have had my eye on this (lens)baby for a long time. I finally decided to make the purchase, and this lens has not come off my camera since then. The picture quality with the double glass optics is really incredible. Some of my most favorite photos I've taken since owning a DSLR have been with this lens. I love the unique, artsy style.

I was slightly worried about controlling the focus-mechanism. My hands adjusted fairly easily to the squishing of the bellows though, and my focusing skills seem rather effective. I am glad I went with The Muse, as opposed to other lensbaby options, because it allows me to change the focus fairly quickly. It is definitely slower than an autofocus though. For example, I was not able to capture two ducks flying by, because they were just too quick for me to get a proper focus.

I suppose the only downside is that I cannot easily hand off my camera to another person to take a quick photo, because there is a small learning curve for this lens.

This lens is so much fun for the photographers out there who have the time to focus it and get the subject into the "sweet spot". The lens feels very sturdy and well made. Worth the money I paid!

Wasn't expecting my Lensbaby experience to be so much fun! From the packaging (that says 'Momma?" on the outside of the box!) to the end result, I am SO HOOKED!

I bought this lens because I like the effects that it gave. However, when I put it on my Sony A200, I couldn't get a cool picture at all. Even when I used my external flash, I couldn't get a good enough picture. I can get the same effects with a tiny bit of work on a photo editing program. Though I did return it and the Macro Kit, I will be purchasing this lens for a different brand dslr. I've heard it works excellently with Nikon's and Cannon's. I don't discourage anyone from buying it because the concept and idea is great for having fun with photography, it's just not as compatible with the Sony A200.

It's exactly what you think it is. Ive taken some really awesome pictures with it, and some terrible. It's definitely not a tilt/shift, and you won't get those effects - but it is a very odd, goofy little lens. Very much a conversation starter.

As a bonus, it looks very cool for video effects.