Lensbaby 2.0

Do you seek after new creative techniques? Do you yearn for the flexible control of the bellows from a large format camera? Then check out the newest 35mm lens called Lensbaby 2.0 from Lensbabies.com.

Lensbaby 2.0 features a coated, high refractive index, low dispersion optical glass doublet. This lens allows you to bring one area of the image into sharp focus and the surrounding image to a graduated blur, glowing highlights, and subtle prismatic color distortions. Focus is easily changed by fine tuning the flexible tubing much like a bellows in a large format camera. With lensbaby 2.0 the photographer can control the sweet spot of focus by changing the magnetic aperture ring system. . Lensbaby 2.0 uses three shielded magnets embedded inside the optics cup to suspend metallicized plastic aperture disks just above the coated optical glass doublet. When a photographer drops an aperture disk into Lensbaby 2.0, it quickly snaps into position. Aperatures are available in f2.0, f2.8, f4.0, f5.6, and f8.0 Removal is also very easy: Lensbabies provides a complimentary Cell-Klear™ Lenspen® that the photographer inserts through the center hole in the aperture disk to lift it out.

“Lensbaby 2.0 has proven to be a wonderful creative tool for demanding photographic assignments. Compared to The Original Lensbaby, Lensbaby 2.0 has a greater range of aperture settings, a much sharper ‘sweet spot’ of focus, and a new levitating magnetic aperture system, which makes it a snap to change apertures,” said Craig Strong, the inventor of the Lensbaby and Co-CEO of Lensbabies, LLC.

“In the year since we launched The Original Lensbaby, we learned many photographers wanted to create Lensbaby images that had an even sharper sweet spot. Lensbaby 2.0’s optic creates a much sweeter sweet spot of focus, which allows photographers to print large photos and see fine details like eye lashes or individual threads of fabric in the sharp area. Photographers will also find that Lensbaby 2.0 has minimal diffusion even at the f2.0 aperture setting,” said Strong

Kevin Kubota, a professional photographer who used a prototype Lensbaby 2.0, was thrilled. “The optic is bright and crisp. The images have beautiful mix of clarity and dreaminess. I love using it with my wedding work and find it perfectly suited to feminine portraits like pregnancy and high school seniors. My customers love the ‘new’ look,” said Kubota.

Lensbaby 2.0 is available for sale now at www.lensbabies.com for $150, in camera mounts for virtually all SLR camera bodies. It will be rolled out to specialty photographic supply stores starting in mid-April.

Lensbaby 2.0 specifications

Available in mounts for Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Olympus E1, Minolta Maxxum, Olympus OM, Canon FD, Leica R, Minolta Manual, Sigma, Contax/Yashica, and Screw mounts
Focal Length: right around 50 mm
Focus Type: Manual, fingertip, actually
Optical element: coated, high refractive index, low dispersion optical glass doublet
Aperture Type: Interchangeable levitating magnetic apertures
Apertures: f2.0, f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8
Nominal Focus: approximately 18 inches
Maximum Focus: infinity and beyond
Minimum Focus: approximately 10 inches (achieved by pushing on the back of the focusing collar)
Size: 2.25" high x 2.5" wide
Weight: 3.6 oz.
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $150

Posté par chad à 11:01, March 22 2005