Photographium

Two New Optics from Lensbaby^® Expand a Photographer’s Creative Possibilities

Portland, OR (January 4, 2010) The addition of the new Fisheye Optic and Soft Focus Optic to the Lensbaby Optic Swap System of lenses and interchangeable optics brings even more ways for Single Lens-Reflex (SLR) camera owners to instantly create fun and unique images in camera.  Each new optic is available for use with the Lensbaby Composer^® and Muse^®* SLR lenses.  In addition, the Soft Focus Optic is compatible with the Lensbaby Control Freak^™ SLR lens.

“With the introduction of these new optics, Lensbaby now offers photographers a complete Creative Effects SLR lens system with six different optic options,” said Craig Strong, Lensbaby president and co-founder. “The award-winning new Fisheye Optic transforms a Lensbaby Composer into a fun fisheye lens and the new Soft Focus Optic creates images that are overall soft and diffused, much like a classic Imagon portrait lens. The Lensbaby Optic Swap System now offers three selective focus optics and three creative focus optics that provide even more options for consumers interested in creative photography.”

About the Lensbaby Fisheye Optic

Recently awarded a 2010 Hot One Award from Professional Photographer magazine, the Lensbaby Fisheye Optic allows photographers to turn their Lensbaby Composer or Muse into a fisheye lens by swapping out the installed optic and dropping the new Fisheye Optic into the lens. This optic features an ultra-wide 12mm focal length capable of capturing a 160 degree fisheye angle of view from infinity all the way down to one half-inch from the front of the lens.  The Lensbaby Fisheye Optic features a system of interchangeable aperture disks, with possible aperture settings ranging from f/4 to f/22.

FISHEYE AND SOFT FOCUS JOIN THE OPTIC SWAP SYSTEM

With the arrival of new Soft Focus and Fisheye optics, Lensbaby is moving beyond the realm of selective focus to offer photographers a comprehensive Creative Effects SLR lens system. Unlike Lensbaby’s signature optics, the Fisheye and Soft Focus optics do not feature a sweet spot of focus surrounded by a graduated blur. Instead, each of these new optics allows you to turn your Composer® or Muse®* into a traditional soft focus or fisheye lens.

FISHEYE

With a six element multi-coated optical design, Lensbaby’s new Fisheye is our most complex optic to date. Fisheye features an ultra-wide 12mm focal length capable of capturing a 160 degree fisheye angle of view from infinity all the way to one-inch from the front of the lens. Apertures are adjusted using drop-in disks and range from f/4 to f/22.

THE LENSBABY TWIST: The Lensbaby Fisheye Optic features a creative lens flare effect; the edge areas, which would be black in an image taken with a typical fisheye lens, glow with color whenever there are bright light sources in the image.