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Soft Focus lens options?

CasperMarly

Member
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Jan 17, 2021
Messages
33
Location
Idaho
Format
Multi Format
Shooting with Nikon I have an adapter to use a Pentax 85mm soft focus lens. For what I am doing I like the lens and results.

Looking now for some wider angle soft focus lenses. I see some LensBaby options. Don't know much about them.

Any other good options in Soft Focus lenses? Not in filters, just the lenses. For me, adaptable to Nikon F mount.
 
Not much out there for 35mm format unfortunately. But why reject filters and other modifications in front or in back of the lens? That’s what Hollywood cinematographers have done for years. A grease smear on a clear filter, stockings on the front or back of the lens, stretching Saran Wrap over the lens etc etc. not to mention all the soft focus filters by Zeiss, Kodak, etc. Even in larger formats the soft focus lenses are somewhat on the long side, like the 85mm Pentax lens
 
If you are doing your own printing, I have a very simple, cheap and adjustable way to get soft focus results ( not grease, stockings filters etc ). It will preserve a sharply focused negative and is repeatable for different size prints. Get two pieces of 6x6 in x 1/4 in glass. Tape the edges so as not to get cut and place a few drops of baby oil between them. You can rotate them and/or move them up/down under the enlarging lens until you have the desired result. Make a test print as usual noting the distance from the lens. Move the pieces of glass around each other for more or less diffusion. Works great to remove blemishes. I had a copy of a print done that way enlarged to 6ft x 5ft for an exhibition a year ago ( not this example ). You still have a sharp negative.
Here's a sample



 
From all the research I did on this (felt like my eyeballs would fall out), you already have one of the better soft focus lenses out there for 35mm, but Pentax did make 4 or 5 different versions of 85mm soft focus lenses. Getting a wider one may be difficult.

jeffreyg's example looks close to perfect. Very nice, and appreciate the tips he mentioned.
 
Another option to use with an adapter is a Canon 135mm Soft Focus in EF (EOS) autofocus mount.
It is pretty inexpensive, and can be found for around $150.
It has 3 SF settings, 0, 1, & 2.
I use mine at 0 & 1... 2 is a bit too heavy-handed for my taste.
 
A soft focus lens and filters are a different look. I prefer a lens. Large Format soft focus is where I started and would like that with the small camera. The Pentax is very nice in use. Would like a 24-35mm focal length to go along with it.
 
Love this idea! Of course if you diffuse the camera lens the light areas will diffuse into the dark, whereas if done under the enlarger the opposite will occur, dark blooming into the lighter areas. However as Jeffrey points out, it’s entirely adjustable, as opposed to shooting a soft focus negative. Depending on how long you have the diffuser under the lens I suppose you could mimic the unique quality of a true soft focus lens, which is both sharp and unsharp at the same time. I wonder what I could do with a Saran Wrap dodging tool to selectively soft focus? Interesting stuff, I like the example posted, looks great.
 
There was a thread earlier on the topic if I remember correctly:

Can I buy a meniscus lens for my Nikon?

I bought a LF meniscus lens from a member here, but I'd like to try my hand at this w/ my Nikon first. Can you buy a meniscus lens in mount for a SLR? Or use one as an aux lens on an existing lens, like you would put a close up lens on a TLR?
www.photrio.com
You have some good suggestions of softer focus lenses (and some lesser good, by me ).
 
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