A Mirrorless Lens with Light Leaks. WHAT? Don’t Worry, it’s Intentional

Who would think of deliberately designing a camera lens that contains an optical flaw? Well, PolarPro had that thought and decided to run with it. The result of this very unusual production choice is a lens that lets the photographer introduce and control the presence of light leaks onto the camera’s sensor.

Yes, as baffling as that sounds, it actually lends a refreshing creative element to the otherwise clinical perfection of digital photography. Known as the LightLeak, this is a well-made metal product that attaches to your mirrorless camera as a 28mm fixed focus f/11 lens with a 58mm filter thread.

Joining the light leaks, this lens also provides a claimed specification of 1m to infinity depth-of-focus, optical similarities to a disposable plastic lens, and the ability to create “timeless, nostalgic look straight in-camera.” Additionally, accompanying the 28mm lens, there are 16mm and 50mm focal length lenses, but these additional models are restricted to only being available for Canon RF, Fuji X, Nikon Z, and Sony E mounts.

Conversely, the 28mm lens is available in L mount, along with the aforementioned other mounts, too. Recognizing the popularity of the 28mm variant, PolarPro acknowledges that this focal length is “the ONE.” Whatever that means?

Gimmick or Great Gizmo?

Elsewhere in the PolarPro marketing materials, another attribute of the 28mm lens is casually mentioned, but it will lend a strong creative element to your photography. Called out as a lens, “…with soft focus fading at the edges,” which roughly translates into a lens with distinctly blurred vision, as well as a Rembrandt-lighting vignette along the edges and in the corners.

Now add the light leak effect and you have effectively converted your mirrorless camera into a point-and-shoot. But what about that light leak? Well, the operation is easy enough, this visual aberration is controlled via a plastic ring that encircles the front of the lens.

When the ring is pulled toward the camera, the light leak is reduced/eliminated. When the ring is pushed towards your subject, however, a narrow plastic window is exposed. This window is the source of the light leak. There is a small cutout in the plastic ring that is able to control both the intensity of the light leak and the direction of the light’s source.

The direction of the light source is altered by rotating the ring while the plastic window is exposed. Rotate the ring toward your light source for an “authentic” light blur or in the opposite direction for a “fogged film” effect. The flexibility of all of these controls for adding a light leak makes for a lot of creative adventure.

Here are some sample photographs taken with the PolarPro 28mm LightLeak lens. Judge the merits of both the lens, as well as the creative influence of intentionally introducing controlled light leaks to a photograph.

Priced at $129.99, the PolarPro 28mm LightLeak lens lends a more full-bodied pinhole-like aesthetic to photography. Throw in the optional ability to add a variable light leak to the photograph and you have a new powerful lens option for adding impressive visual impact. And remember, it’s a “feature” and not a “flaw.”

Enjoy.

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