When creating dreamlike images, the Lensbaby Obscura 50 Pentax K Fixed Body Camerafrom Lensbaby Obscura 50 Pentax K Fixed Body Camerafor Pentax K 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. Is this the type of paper you can put directly into the camera, or is it strictly for enlarger/contact sheet?

A: You can choose to expose either film or paper, or use the paper for enlarging/printing/contact sheets. It's totally up to you! With the Ilford Obscura Pinhole camera, you can use the provided 20 sheets 4x5" Ilford Multigrade IV RC Paper to make paper negatives. The pros of shooting with paper is that you can load it in a darkroom with a safelight (easier loading), but the cons are pretty significant, such as lower ASA, limited tonal reproduction, and a more difficult reprinting workflow.

Q: 2. How is the negative developed?

A: If you want to develop it yourself, search online for a PDF from Ilford called Processing Your First Black & White Film . You'll need a darkroom. Also developer, stop bath and fixer; all three chemicals can be purchased from B&H. A developing tank is handy, but not required. You can use glass baking trays to hold the chemicals and develop by hand (wear rubber gloves). But the room must be completely dark; the slightest light, even the dial on a wristwatch, will fog or ruin film. I started developing in a bathroom with thick black plastic covering the door. It worked well.If you want to print your negative, you can use the same stop bath and fixer, but buy paper developer. You can also use that to develop Harmon Direct Positive Paper, DPP, that should come with the Obscura kit. You can use a darkroom safe light, or red light, with paper. B&H also sells those. With a 4 x5 negative, you don't have to have an enlarger, just place the negative flat on the paper and expose it to light. This produces a contact print. Drop that in the developer and watch the magic.

Q: 3. will the Astrotracer go with this body?

A: The Astrotracer is not compatible with this camera.

Q: 4. Does the camera contain the latest firmware v1.4?

A: Cameras often ship without the latest firmware updates installed. We recommend checking the firmware when you power on your Pentax K-1 Mark II (BH #PEK1M2KK) and updating it if necessary.

Q: 5. If there are no film backs used how do you change film in the field? It doesn't seem very practical if I have to use a dark bag to add new film.

A: You will need a film changing bag or tent to properly change film in the field. For example, https://bhpho.to/3gHObwO

Q: 6. Is the novoflex Pentax k mount to Leica T adapter work on Pentax DA lens? Thank.

A: Yes, it will work with a Pentax DA lens.

Q: 7. Will my Pentax AF-540FGZ flash work on the K-1 Mark II?

A: The Pentax AF-540FGZ is compatible with the Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR Camera.

Q: 8. Does it take 4 x 5 Film Holders?

A: No it does not take 4X5 holders. So far I have used it to make paper negatives by cutting RC paper into 4X5 sheets. The camera separates into two halves with the paper layed into the bottom halve. When closed the paper is held securely in place. Now that Ilford is again making direct positive papers I plan to try them soon.

Q: 9. Is there a instruction manual included with the camera?

A: Yes, the instruction manual is included with the purchase of the Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR Camera (Body Only), B&H # PEK1M2. For your convenience, a digital version of the manual is also listed on our website under the "In The Box" section under the Overview tab on our website.

Q: 10. Why use a film holder with this camera?

A: There is no film holder needed for this camera, as you infer. The holders listed under accessories, are listed in error.