Lensbaby is back with some new lenses for tilt-shift and bokeh photography

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Lensbaby is well-known for their tilt-shift lenses which enable photographers to creatively keep one focal point in-focus while blurring the rest of the scene. They’re back with a couple of lenses that won’t break the bank, while still letting you get that signature Lensbaby look. That look is characterized by “a tack-sharp circle of focus with dramatic blur and smooth bokeh” in the rest of the image. The Sol range takes this one step further, with two “bokeh blades” that can be swung over the aperture to add even more striking effects.

Image: Lensbaby

The Sol 45 has a 45mm focal length and a set f/3.2, and in keeping with the rest of Lensbaby’s products – mounts for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, and Pentax. The Sol 22 has a 22mm focal length and a set f/3.5, and is the first lens from the company that is specifically for micro-four-thirds cameras from Panasonic and Olympus. Both lenses only differ in focal length and mount compatibility. At $199.99 MSRP it’s also considerably cheaper than the other offerings from Lensbaby, so if you’ve been wanting to get one of their artistic effect lenses and been put off by the price – this is the one to get.

In use it’s kinda part-way between a portrait lens and a tilt-shift, since using the shift function doesn’t actually shift the frame, just shifts the in-focus area around the existing frame.

I’m hoping to have one in my hands soon, so look out for a Sol 22 review with extensive image gallery here on KnowTechie.

What do you think of the Lensbaby lenses? Do you use any? Let us know in the comments below.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.