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How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III
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The first time you try to shoot an image with the Lensbaby Burnside 35 mounted on your Sony A7 III you’re like to see an error message. In this post, we’ll explain how to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III.

The error message is shown because the camera doesn’t support the lens. Helpfully, as the image below shows, the camera also explains how to resolve the problem. 

How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

 

All you have to do is press the Menu button and navigate to the 4th page of the second tab (Shutter/SteadyShot).

Then scroll down to the third option, ‘Release w/o Lens’, which by default is set to ‘Disable’.  

How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

Now press the Centre button in the navigation pad and select ‘Enable’ before pressing the Centre button again.

How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

The camera will now shoot images without a lens mounted. And more significantly, it will let you shoot images with the Lensbaby Burnside mounted.

How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

As the Lensbaby Burnside 35 is a manual focus lens, it can be helpful to activate the manual focus assist (MF Assist) on page 13 of the first menu tab. This activates the Focus Peaking setting to highlight the areas of highest contrast in the image as you focus the lens.

Setting Exposure with the Lensbaby Burnside on Sony A7 III

The Burnside 35 doesn’t communicate exposure data the A7 III. But you can assess the exposure in the viewfinder or on the screen. If you use Shutter Priority mode, the A7 III is effectively in Manual exposure mode. Logically, it makes more sense to shoot in Aperture Priority or Manual exposure mode.

The aperture is set using the aperture ring on the lens. There are settings running from f/2.8 to f/16 in whole stops.

Even if you plan to shoot with a small aperture, it’s sometimes easier to ensure that the focus point is exactly where you want it by focusing at maximum aperture. That’s because the greater depth of field at a small aperture makes the Focusing Peaking highlight a wider area. This means its harder to be sure you’ve got the focus just where you want it.

How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

It can be helpful to set the camera to Auto ISO mode. This means the sensitivity (ISO) will adjust as the light level changes.

Vignetting Control

A gold sliding control on the side of the lens barrel allows you to adjust the degree of corner shading in your images. Pushing this control up with your left thumb as you hold the camera, closes a secondary iris to create more vignetting. Alternatively, pull it down to open the iris and minimise vignetting.

How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

Summary of How to use the Lensbaby Burnside on the Sony A7 III

  1. Mount the Burnside 35 on the camera.
  2. Enable ‘Release w/o Lens’ via the 4th page of the second tab (Shutter/SteadyShot) in the main menu.
  3. Shoot in Aperture Priority or Manual Exposure Mode.
  4. Set the aperture via the aperture ring. If in Manual Exposure mode, set the shutter speed.
  5. Assess exposure in the viewfinder.
  6. Focus the lens.
  7. Adjust the Vignetting control.
  8. Take the shot.