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XuanLens 32mm F10
A catalyst for creativity
by Elijah Magana
When in a creative strut, our minds may wonder what is needed to move past it. I admit times like these are when I get absorbed into the endless money traps of “must-have” equipment. I find unconditional reassurance in purchasing the fanciest, most flawless gear even when what I already have works perfectly fine. I didn't want to repeat my infinite pursuit of better equipment, so I looked in the opposite direction. I came across an interesting piece of tech that is low cost, low effort and achieves the nostalgic look creative photographers are going for nowadays. Though its overall simplicity could be troublesome to many professional photographers, it could also present new creative ideas for them as it did for me.
The Xuan 32mm F10 Focus Free Lens, a $30 pancake lens made from the recycled glass of a disposable camera, adapts perfectly to my Nikon Z6. Utilizing this lens, I lose control over zoom, aperture, and focus distance, while inheriting a soft image with a subtle vignette of blur. If I want a subject in focus, I need it to be between four and infinity feet away from the camera.
My first endeavors with this lens happened in the heart of Seattle, Washington. I decided to use only this lens. I wandered beneath the concrete canopies and wet streets near Pike Place. Here, I had longed for another lens, something more familiar. My mind could not help but imagine potential photos that were only possible with other types of glass, not the pancake lens I had on me.
After contemplation, I finally took some shots.
After some time and many repetitions, I was beginning to break it in. As I kept shooting, I familiarized myself with its restraints. Eventually, what once seemed like setbacks now began to feel like features.
Like the discovery that came with this lens put to use, it was a similar feeling to years ago when I picked up my first DSLR and spent time discovering its capabilities, hence my love for photography. This is when I realized that the lens is innocent, and the true problem with my frustration with its lack of features was a problem with my own expectations for it.
Its limitations and characteristics forced me out of my comfort zone, making me think creatively. For instance, it is impossible to natively achieve a close-up of a subject due to the static focus distance. Therefore, I had to find ways to capture my subject in a dynamic matter without being able to adjust the settings in the lens. I was fully in the moment, fixed on composing my frame. Once I became satisfied, I only had to press the shutter. Overall, its restrictions made me think about getting a little lower, moving a little further, and considering the frame in an alternate way compared to my experience using zoom lenses.
Minimal settings to manage meant fewer technical considerations for my shots. The lens knows it’s not fancy. It isn’t trying to be perfect, so neither did I have to be.
The stigma of a monotonous pancake lens disappeared as I composed my surroundings within it. The essence of an imperfect, point-and-shoot photography tool became clear. The lens's disposable camera look showed through the types of compositions I am accustomed to, and it felt like my photography had a fresh twist. The limitations of the lens had ironically granted me opportunities for creative freedom everywhere I used it.
Pancake lenses aside, you don't need to buy something new to limit what you already have. That would be a contradictory suggestion. However, the Xuan 32mm Focus Free lens is simple and relatively cheap, yet authentic glass that worked for me.
