Moderator Registered: July, 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,759 | | Review Date: March 31, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Truly makes the Q pocketable | | Cons: | Limited zone of focus | |
 07 shield lens by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr
I used this lens for a month, taking at least 1 photo every day as part of the single in challenge on pentaxforums. This is one of the most difficult lens to come up with subjects that work with it. The limited zone of focus is only acceptable from 30cm to 3-4 metres and even then it is only a circular section in the middle which is sharp, the surrounding area is mostly just a blur. It doesn't sound encouraging really, however as the month went on, I started to find subjects that worked well with this lens. It also made me examine some of the other modes on the camera to help spice up the limited qualities of the lens itself. I suppose it is a little like the lensbaby or holga style. When mounted on the camera it really is just the same as having a body cap on the body and makes it easy to pop the camera in your pocket, ready to go. I suppose it follows on from the limited lenses where the overall character of the image is what they are aiming for, rather than ultimate sharpness. Here are some images that I think show the best of the lens
 sunflower blur by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr
 edelbrock red by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr
 Kenworth Close by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr
 red singer by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr
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| | | Review Date: April 1, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $27.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | blur, abberations | | Cons: | blur, abberations | | Sharpness: 1
Aberrations: 1
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: Q7
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Does anyone need a lens like this? For $27 I think it is worth it, just to shake things up a bit. "Instant Holga" from an optic that is about the size of two stacked silver dollars. It couldn't be simpler in operation.
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Moderator
Site Supporter Registered: February, 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Posts: 11,272 | | Review Date: December 12, 2015 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Ultra compact, fun | | Cons: | Extremely limiting | |
I had to add a review to balance the rating: yes, it's tiny, and the toy camera effect is cool in moderation, but seriously - 9/10?
I used this lens daily for a month and although the occasional memorable image resulted, I was more struck by its limitations: anything beyond a couple of metres from the camera will not be sharp wherever you frame it. The fixed aperture is beyond the diffraction limit for the Q/Q7 sensors, so even sharp images are degraded.
I still think it's worth having as a de-facto body cap which still allows the camera to be used for grab shots.
Images from my Single In journey with the 07 are HERE | |
Senior Member Registered: January, 2014 Posts: 180
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 16, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $42.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Quirky, low profile, surprisingly sharp at the centre | | Cons: | Limited use | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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You have to be careful with a review of a lens like this. It is, for UK readers, the Marmite lens; you'll love it or hate it.
I've no idea what goes on inside this very flat piece of plastic, but it is almost a flat body cap with a small hole on the centre. It is 11.9, you cannot focus, and it has a fixed f/9. The photos produced when using this lens/cap are somehow focused in the centre, with deliberate aberrations at the edges.
This is fun, and is not really to be judged in any other way. Quirky, cheap (if you look hard enough), and a bit uniQue.
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