Fantastic Photos with Unusual Lenses
by Alexander Altmann
Alongside “normal” lenses, there is a wide range of unconventional and fun lenses available for exploring offbeat photographic concepts. This article delves into the wonderful world of shift lenses, Lensbabys and fisheyes, and takes an excursion into the outer reaches of pinhole and plastic lens photography.
Photographers have very different demands when it comes to accessory lenses. Beyond the standard kit zoom or normal lens delivered with the camera, experience and personal taste mean that the next lens you buy can be anything from a super-telephoto to an ultra-wide-angle. Many photographers choose macro lenses as their second fiddles, as these also make very effective portrait lenses.
Further down the line, most photographers start to play around with unusual compositions and there are enormous numbers of unconventional lenses out there that are perfect for taking off into the realms of experimental photography. Extreme wideangle views, selective focus and a nostalgic look are just some of the possibilities. If you feel inspired to follow the pinhole photography path of the earliest photo pioneers, there are accessories available for you, too. Or maybe you feel like tilting the plane of focus to attract your viewer’s attention to a particular detail? All this and more is possible in the digital age, and the use of unusual lenses is experiencing a serious renaissance.
A quick look at what’s on offer from lens and accessory manufacturers reveals a broad selection of more or less exotic lenses, ranging from tilt/shift and fisheye to variable-bokeh portrait lenses. Our search also led us to unorthodox creations such as the Lensbaby, the Diana+ and the Toy Lens, as well as a whole range of simple screw-on lenses and pinholes. This article shows just what you can do with some of these oddball optics.
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