When creating dreamlike images, the Obscura 50 from Lensbaby for Nikon F camera bodies is an unusual 50mm fixed body Pinhole/Zone Plate/Pinhole Sieve pancake lens with a versatile range of selectable styles. It is a manual focus lens with three selectable pinhole styles that each provide a different, soft, and surreal rendering.

The Obscura isn't a lens, it is an extraordinary experience crafted in the origins of photography before complex lenses were available. It is suited to photographers and creators who connect with working with fewer choices and are looking for challenges to redefine what it means to create photographic art.

Compatible with Optic Swap System    Full-Frame Format    Manual Focus    Minimum Focus Distance: 0.04"    Photolithographically Etched Pinholes    Multicoated Glass    Filter Diameter: 46mm

50mm lens for full-frame format cameras.

The pinhole is not technically a lens, it is a clear round hole photolithographically etched on a multicoated optical glass surface. It has an effective aperture of f/161.

A pinhole sieve is a field of 523 pinholes, with the center pinhole being the largest and increasingly smaller pinholes radiating away from the center. It has an effect aperture of f/64.

A zone plate is a series of 47 clear circular rings surrounding a center hole with each of the clear zones equaling the area of the pinhole in the center, resulting in increasingly thinner zones when moving away from the center of the zone plate. It has an effect aperture of f/32.

The zone plate has a curved field of focus, creating a center sweet spot with falloff in the corners. The pinhole and pinhole sieve have much more consistent resolving power at the corners of the image as they do in the center.

The zone plate and pinhole sieve options produce more detail than the pinhole option. Raising contrast and increasing vibrance and/or saturation setting in the camera can bring a zone plate or pinhole sieve image to life.

The Obscura's pinhole, zone plate, and pinhole sieve are made up of three layers of photolithographically-applied chrome with a total thickness of 0.00014mm deposited on 1.5mm thick glass element, with a resolution of 128K dpi. This photolithography process not only makes true zone plates with excellent light transmission, but it also produces perfectly round pinholes and precision circular zone plate zones.

The glass features anti-reflective coating and can be cleaned like any camera lens, without fear of destroying any of the three imaging options.

Minimum focus distance:

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Will it fit on a Nikon D500?

A: Yes, the Lensbaby Sol 45mm f/3.5 Lens for Nikon F Cameras, B&H # LELBS45N, would be compatible for use on the Nikon D500 DSLR camera. Do note that this is a fully manual lens with a fixed f/3.5 aperture. You will have to use the camera in either A (Aperture-priority) or M (Manual) mode, and to have the camera enter the EXIF data for the lens, you would have to go to the Setup Menu and go to the Non-CPU Lens Data section and enter the lens' focal length and aperture into the menu as stated on pages 250-252 in the Nikon D500 DSLR camera's instruction manual.

Q: 2. What is the body of the camera made of?

A: It is sealed and gasketed, with dust and moisture resistance. The top and rear covers of the camera are made of magnesium alloy for maximum durability.

Q: 3. Will this work with Canon T7?

A: Yes, this will fit on all EF/EF-S mount cameras, like your EOS Rebel T7.

Q: 4. Is this comparable with. Nikon D5000?

A: No it is not. This is for the newer mirrorless cameras not the DSLRs.

Q: 5. Is it manual or auto focus?

A: Manual

Q: 6. Does this model have a self cleaning sensor?

A: Nikon has not posted the instruction manual for the D610 online as of yet, but I am confident the camera will have a self cleaning sensor. The previous D600 model did include this feature. Once they do release more details and publish the instruction manual, we can then confirm. Yossi

Q: 7. Is there a way to hook the camera to an AC power source?

A: Yes, this is a good AC Adapter you can use. https://bhpho.to/3bUENkT

Q: 8. My Canon R6 won't shoot with the Sol 45mm. I get F00 message. What's wrong?

A: As the Lensbaby Sol 45mm f/3.5 Lens for Canon EF Cameras is a fully manual lens and has no electronic contacts, the Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera does not know a lens is connected when using this lens on the camera. As such, you would need to go into the camera's menu under the Custom Function Menu (Tab 4), and under [Release Shutter w/o Lens], select [ON: Enable], which will allow you to release the shutter of your camera when using the Lensbaby Sol 45mm f/3.5 Lens for Canon EF Cameras (or a third-party lens with a manual lens adapter).

Q: 9. Is this a good question for a beginner that doesn't know much about photography? My colleague had recommended this to me. Thanks for your help.

A: Yes, if you want to spend thousand of $ and learn that you don't need such a camera. Question: Do you print LARGE? If not I suggest you go with a D-7100 or later with a FF lens, This way you have the best choice of camera/lens and can go up to the next new model, after the D-750 and keep the lens. Or, buy an FX 24mm lens and use it as a 36mm and then as a 24mm. Non-zooms are much sharper and faster, for the money and then you can buy a 105mm for either camera. Then you have the sharpest/Best lenses for your DX and FX. Always TEST first.

Q: 10. There are two images of this lens. One is very short, like a pancake. The other is longer. Can you please explain the two different looks? I am looking at this for a Canon R5, if that matters.

A: Lensbaby desing this lens in 2 different size for different camera mounts. The correct image for the Canon RF mount is the third image in our website which is the largest version. The lens dimensions are 63mm x72mm (LxW), with a front diamter of 46mm to attach filters.