You might think using plastic lenses on cameras in these days of high technology is retro and might not produce the best images. You would be right, but both of these reasons is what makes plastic lens cameras an alternative to the ultra-sharp images you can get on a digital single-lens reflex camera.
Lensbaby
The glass for the lens elements in modern SLR camera lenses is some of the best, sharpest and clearest ever made. It records what you point your camera at in exquisite detail. Which is great, but not always what you want. For example, if you are taking a portrait of a pretty woman against a backdrop of flowers outside, if she isn't far away from the background, she and the flowers both will be in focus. This may detract from the portrait. Use a Lensbaby, instead, which is a plastic lens without a focusing ring that will fit on your SLR. Focus it by pulling it toward you with both hands. Pull it to one side to focus on the woman; the other side will remain out of focus and give the flowers a soft effect.
Holga
Use the entirely plastic Holga camera as another alternative. This camera was made for the booming market in China in the 1980s. It has a fixed-focus plastic lens, light leaks and other problems, and uses 120 film. It may be the worst camera available, and that's why it has such a following. Even the company claims no two Holga cameras are exactly alike. Because of the poor quality of the plastic lens, you can get extraordinary photos, images that you may not have conceived of. Light flares may occur and different portions of the image may fade to fuzzy. If you use color film, the lens may give you colors you don't expect.
Harinezumi
The third alternative is the Digital Harinezumi by Superheadz. It actually is a digital camera, but with all the low-end aspects of a Holga. While there is an LCD screen, use it to view photos shot. Frame photos with the plastic square on top. It basically is point-and-shoot. It has low saturation and a less-than-sharp image. Use it to shoot video clips that will end up looking a bit like old 8mm film.
Tags: plastic lens, that will