So who's behind this neat little contraption? Why, Dog Schidt Optiks, don't you know.
Richard Gale, the designer, made the lens based on a popular 1960's Carl Zeiss design, which operates at a maximum aperture of f/2. On his Vimeo page are countless examples of what his lenses can do, and all of them are configured in different ways to demonstrate the lens' abilities. The success of his Flare Factory lens has led to a suspension of the online ordering, as he is struggling to keep up with demand.
On one hand, most of the washy contrast/"split-toning" that these lenses produce can easily be replicated, to a large degree, in any decent color correction software. On the other, the lens can run at f/2, which is pretty exciting. I will admit, too, that it looks pretty nifty in Brushed with a blue color tint (as above). It remains to be seen if the boutiquey photo gear market will scoop up this Dog Schidt gear en masse, however. A whimsical doodad? A useful piece of kit? Let us know what you think.
Video: Dog Schidt Optiks 'Flare Factory 58g' (Green Tint) Taking Lens + Iscorama 36 from Melting Bloke (Richard Gale) on Vimeo.