Product Description
The Control Freak is one lens in Lensbabys Creative Effects SLR lens system. This model is optimized for table-top and macro photography due to the fine degree of control if offers. The Control Freak ships with the Double Glass Optic installed and is compatible with all other optics in the Lensbaby Optic Swap System, except for the Fisheye Optic.
With the Control Freak, photographers compress and bend the lens to find the desired focus, and then lock it in place with the push of a button. Once locked, the barrel focusing ring can be rotated to fine tune focus, and tilt (placement of the Sweet Spot of focus) can be altered by rotating the knobs on the end of the Control Freaks three metal posts.
The Control Freak focuses from 18 inches at rest to infinity when compressed. Pushing out on the focusing collar allows the user to focus as close as 9 inches away from their subject matter. Another unique feature of the Control Freak is the option to shoot in either free form or locked mode. Photographers can easily switch from shooting in locked mode with fine focus and tilt control for a table-top shoot, to shooting street photography quickly and seamlessly by choosing not to lock the Control Freak in place. The ability to choose modes can also be particularly helpful when shooting video due to the very dreamy and surreal look the Control Freak produces when shooting in free form mode, as compared to the more controlled blur when shooting with the Control Freak locked down.
Control Freak Optic Product Specs
- Provides film makers with the unique ability to shoot both free-hand and locked down
- Compatible with all Lensbaby Optic Swap System optics except the Fisheye (due to the extremely wide angle of view of the Fisheye Optic, the metal rods and knobs will always be visible in the image)
- Focus Type: Manual
- Aperture Type: Interchangeable levitating aperture disks
- Apertures: f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22
- Minimum Focus: About 9in/23cm
- Maximum Focus: Infinity
- Features three metal rods to fine tune tilt (placement of Sweet Spot of focus)
Recommended Lensbaby Accessories for use with the Control Freak
- Lensbaby Macro Kit
- Lensbaby Optic Swap Kit
- Lensbaby Wide Angle/Telephoto Kit
- Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit
- Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit Blanks
- Lensbaby 0.42 Super Wide Accessory Lens
- Lensbaby Step-Up/Shade
- Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic
Control Freak Box Contents
- Control Freak lens with Double Glass Optic installed
- f/4 aperture disk installed in optic
- Aperture case containing f/2.8 through f/22 apertures
- Microfiber bag
- User guide
Control Freak Sample Photos
Technical Details
- Flexible, selective focus lens with flexible lens tubing, has locking and fine focusing capabilities
- Features the Lensbaby¿ Optic Swap System
- Magnetically suspended disk aperture system allows f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8.0, f/11, f/16, f/22 aperture settings.
- 37 mm threads allow you to attach Lensbaby¿ Macro Kit lenses, wide angle and telephoto conversion lenses, and other filters and accessories
- Note: a Lensbaby does not communicate electronically with your camera body. All aperture settings included.
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Helpful Reviews
With my hands (5\’8\”, 240 pounds, medium sized hands) I did pretty well, although I\’m trying to use one hand only. Getting there, albeit slowly 
I won\’t go into details what is what on this lens, although looking at a picture of it you will find it looking kinda freakish. Believe me, it\’s very intuitive. Once you go through SMALL (tiny, rather) users manual it will explain all you need to know, everything else is just practice. And, here it goes – the trickiest part. This lens requires you to put some effort to learn how to get the best result. If you\’re pro with decades of experience and you used film camera, manual focus lenses and you can do color correction with your eyes closed and you snort at people using any lens cheaper than $1500, yes, you will immerse yourself into this little thing and start getting good stuff almost right away. For all others (me included), it takes some time to skill up. But you don\’t have to be PhD in photography or serious pro to work with it. Good heavens, no!Word of caution – this is not a lens to SNAP a photo in a second – it takes time to focus properly and get a result. What is so nice about it is that result you will get will make people go WOW!Tricky to use, but darn fun lens, if you ask me and if you are into photography and want to add some flavor to regular (and somewhat boring) photos, here\’s your solution. Anybody with kids around your home, try this lens and you will see that your photo albums will change completely – to better! All in all, this review is more than positive on this lens. You will find here and there some \”professional\” which has $40k Hasselblad, Mamiya or Leica whining about how this lens is cheaply made and how glass isn\’t perfect quality and blahblahblah. Well, tell ya what – if you prefer $40k camera with $8k lens and you can afford it, go for it. But bottom line for this lens is – it\’s fun, it gives a new dimension to your photos and it might teach you a trick or two about aperatures and similar. If you buy it, do yourself a favor and buy LENSBABY CREATIVE APERATURE KIT (it\’s $10 so you won\’t bankrupt). Get a heart shaped ring and your sweetheart as a model and see her/him melting when they see photos! I had my whole team of professioanl photographers (13 of us) drooling over the photos I took with my junky old Nikon D200 as a test camera. If we are impressed, hey, do you need any more convincing? By the way, this is a 4th lens of this type that came in this team, and not the last one. We\’ll be buying more…lot more.Do yourself a favor and get one. It is far from cheapest (I\’d say it\’s a bit on expensive side) but it\’s worth it. You live only once, right?
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