I got a new lens in. A bending lens.

Ok, bending is not quite the word. This is a tilt lens, with a maximum aperture of f/1.4. It lets you play with how the focal field behaves, and how it falls on the sensor. This can make things look smaller than they are. Like a bunch of miniatures, if you can get a downward angle.

So let’s take this thing for a spin, and hit the Metro.

Trains

Stopping at Tenleytown, I went up to the mezzanine, and whipped out the camera.

Yep, that looks like a miniature. If only I had a bit more room. Back to the train.

Stopping at Van Ness, I went upstairs, and waited for a train. Snapping the pic when the doors were open.

That looks pretty neat.

The next thing I did, was put my camera in my least favorite mode, video. I was going for the miniature time lapse look, and I think it turned out decently, for a first go. Would have been better if I could’ve used a tripod.

Curved Glass

Now this lens is pretty cheep, at a hair over $200. So it has a few downsides, and issues. It’s full manual, no auto focus. That can be a pain, especially at f/1.4¹. The main issue I have, is the chromatic aberration. Take a look at the image below.

Those blue highlights shouldn’t be there. Now, this isn’t unexpected for the price, and I can mitigate it by stopping down the lens, but it’s still not fantastic.

Overall, this lens is pretty fun. I just have to keep it’s limits in mind.