Olympus 14mm
What I love about photography is the vast amount of creativity that can come out of a single scene. There can be ten people all taking a picture of the same scene, and each one will tell a different story and have a different feeling from the photographs we make with our unique perspectives. It is all in how you see your subject and your knowledge of how to use the equipment you have with you.
I often love to push my creativity by changing up my lenses and cameras. It forces me to come up with a new perspective that best fits the camera or lens I have with me. My iPhone won't capture the same dreamy bokeh that my 50mm on my full frame mirrorless can create. So because of that, I have to get creative and know how to make a pleasing-to-the-eye photo that gives separation to my background in a way I wouldn't with my full frame. This can take some practice, but it teaches you how to use your equipment no matter what you might have on hand. All this to say, I fully believe you can create beautiful photographs with any camera you might have with you. Are there benefits to having the more expensive equipment? Well, sure, but it doesn't have to stop you from creating amazing photographs no matter what you might have on hand today, and it gives you the confidence to know you can make frame-worthy photos no matter what camera you have with you. (It just may have to be a 4x6 frame if your iPhone is all you have with you. ;) )
I have been working on a 365 project, where I take a picture a day for 365 days, for the last eight years. It has been a deeply personal project in many ways, and it has also pushed me in ways I could never have imagined it could. Because of this, I am usually found with some type of camera by my side at all times. Over the years, I got tired of carrying my large DSLR with me, not to mention my shoulder was over it too. But at the same time, I am a lover of skies and sunsets, and I knew my iPhone couldn't always capture the full dynamic range of these spectacular skies we have here in Oklahoma, so I needed something with a little more room/sensor. Being a hobbyist photographer, my budget wasn't very large for a second, use only on occasion kind of camera. After some research, I settled on my Olympus OM-D M10 Mark III, and it has been perfect for me! It lives in my purse and sometimes is the only camera I grab when going out on an evening run or walk with my family. I can't tell you how many times we've walked out of the grocery store after a long day only to be greeted by a fantastic sunset, and guess how excited I am to have this little guy in my purse ready to go!
Since the kit lens isn't anything fancy, I wanted to be able to add to the creative potential this little camera had and purchased the Lensbaby trio 28mm for the 4/3sensor. It has been such a great addition, and because of these lense sizes, I can easily throw both in my purse without needing a giant bag or case to carry them in. I eventually added a lens converter to my gear and can now use any of my full-frame lenses with my little 4/3 sensor camera. By doing this, you must be aware of the cropping ratio that happens when using a full frame lens on a crop sensor or 4/3 sensor. It is easy to calculate for any crop sensor camera (APS-C sensor) you multiple the full frame lens length by 1.5x(for Nikon and Sony) and 1.6x(for Canon crop sensors), or for a 4/3 sensor, you multiple the full frame lens length by 2x. So for my 50mm lens that I use on my full frame r6, to use it on my Olympus 4/3 sensor, I would multiple it by 2x: 50 x 2 = 100mm. The full frame 50mm lens would essentially be similar to that of a 100mm lens on my Olympus 4/3 sensor camera.
I will often use my other Lensbaby lenses, such as the Sol 45mm or Burnside 35mm, on my little Olympus, knowing that they will instead be more like a 90mm or 70mm when on my Olympus because of the crop factor. Just another fun way to push my creativity and make the most out of any lens I own!
Here are a few examples of the different types of photos I can get using a variety of Lensbaby lenses on my Olympus OM-D M10 4/3 sensor camera.
Olympus 14mm
These were taken with the Trio 28mm, made for the 4/3sensor sized camera.
"I can easily throw both in my purse without needing a giant bag or case to carry them in."
These were taken with the Sol 45mm made for a full frame camera used on a 4/3sensor.
These were taken with the Soft Focus II made for full frame used on 4/3sensor.
These were taken with the Burnside 35mm made for a full frame used on 4/3sensor.
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Kristen Ryan
My name is Kristen Ryan. I am a wife, mother and family historian. I have been in love with photography as long as I can remember. My cameras and gear have just gotten more expensive the older I get. Photography has made me really slow down and appreciate/be thankful for every moment life has to offer. I want the photographs I take to be the legacy I leave behind for my family, a vision into how I see my world and those around me. I am constantly learning and searching for new inspiration. I live in Oklahoma and am surrounded by wonderful family and friends. My family and I love to travel, camp, hike, fish, ride bicycles, pretty much anything to be outdoors. I try to stay fully open to my surroundings, soaking in what each day has to offer, good or bad. I know that life moves fast and I just want to take as much of it in as I can, capturing it along the way.