Though I wrote about Lensbaby's latest selective focus lens, The Composer, in my " Objects of Desire" column last fall, I recently got a chance to test it out using Nikon D90's high-definition movie mode, and I have been really intrigued by the results. Thanks to the easier-to-use "ball and socket" design of The Composer, it's a breeze to bend and turn the lens while in HD mode on the Nikon D90 and produce video footage with a twist.

One of the curses of High Definition video is that because it's so sharp, HD movies have a tendency to look overly crisp and flat. But if you've seen Vincent Laforet's HD videos that he captured with the Canon 5D Mark II, you've likely noticed that he's worked around that limitation by using a range of different lenses with varying depths of field. Putting a Lensbaby Composer on a D90 or a 5D Mark II is another step in that direction at a fraction of the cost.

Since no locking is needed with The Composer to adjust the "sweet spot" of selective focus, using the lens while shooting high-def is a relatively fluid process. Just move the focal point to the desired spot, turn the barrel ring to focus, and start filming. The result is a very dream-like effect with the sharp point of focus surrounded by a cascading, graduated high-def blur. Admittedly, this effect can get tiresome if overused—as happens when a photographer tries to fill an entire portfolio with portraits shot with a Lensbaby. If used sparingly, though, and if integrated with other HD footage, the look can be quite stunning. I can't wait to try it out when I get my hands on a 5D Mark II as well.


The Bottom Line

Along with being a nice, easier-to-use selective focus lens for still photography, The Composer from Lensbaby opens a whole new creative door for anyone who's been experimenting with the high-definition movie mode on digital SLRs such as the D90 and 5D Mark II. Far out, man.

The Composer from Lensbaby

www.lensbaby.com Pros: Adds a cool, trippy, selective focus look to HD footage shot with some of the latest digital SLRs Cons: Stare too long at high-def video shot with a Lensbaby Composer and you may have an acid flashback. Price: $270