Lensbaby has released the Lensbaby Spark, a new selective-focus lens geared toward young photo enthusiasts who are “looking for a creative spark to help break out of the box of traditional photography.” Like most other Lensbabies, the Spark is a manual-focus lens with a sweet spot of focus that users can move around the frame by bending the lens. Unlike its more expensive stablemates, the $80 Lensbaby Spark doesnt’t come with interchangeable aperture disks but makes do with a fixed f/5.6 aperture - meaning the size of the sweet spot cannot be controlled, and depth of field is dependent solely on camera-to-subject distance. It also lacks the Lensbaby Composer’s convenient focus ring - photographers squeeze to focus, and tilt to move the sweet spot around the image. The Spark is available now.

Lensbaby Press Release

Lensbaby Ignites Creativity with Spark™ – a Fun & Affordable Selective Focus Lens

Lensbaby Spark is a perfect entry point into the Lensbaby system for photo enthusiasts who want a fun way to break out of the box

Portland, OR – Lensbaby, today at Photokina, announces the release of Spark, a fun and affordable addition to the Lensbaby lens family. Spark is geared toward young photo enthusiasts who are looking for a creative spark to help break out of the box of traditional photography.  It retails for $80 and is available for Canon and Nikon DSLRs.

Spark lets photographers capture creative images in-camera that have a sweet spot of focus surrounded by beautiful artistic blur.  It is a manual focus lens that provides a fun, tactile shooting experience. Photographers squeeze to focus, and tilt to move the “sweet spot” of focus around the image.

“Spark sprouted from Lensbaby’s fun and creative roots,” said Craig Strong, Lensbaby Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder.  “We crafted Spark for photographers who look to go beyond their predictable kit lens and experiment with visual spontaneity in-camera.”

This new Lensbaby speaks to youthful, adventurous photographers looking for fun, creative tools to help tell their unique story. Indomitable photographers who harness energy and inspiration by capturing the magic of fleeting moments through their camera lenses will find a kindred spirit in Spark. Whether documenting their experiences on vacation or their daily escapades in their own hometown, Spark is designed to help young, creative photographers express themselves.

Spark is a lightweight lens with a unique 50mm selective focus multi-coated glass doublet optic.  The optic features an f/5.6 fixed aperture providing ease of use for new Lensbaby enthusiasts.

Lensbaby Spark Product Specs:
Focal Length: 50mm
Aperture: fixed f/5.6
Optic: multi-coated glass doublet
Focus type: manual
Sweet spot, selective focus lens (creates a sweet spot of focus surrounded by gradually increasing blur)
Available for Canon and Nikon mount DSLRs
Focusing range: approximately 13” (33 cm) to infinity
Compatible with Lensbaby Optic Swap System and all Lensbaby 37mm threaded accessory lenses

Spark will be available starting September 18, 2012 from amazon and select specialty photo stores worldwide and from www.lensbaby.com.  For more information, visit www.lensbaby.com

About Lensbaby
Lensbaby is a Portland, Oregon based manufacturer of award-winning Creative Effects SLR and mirrorless camera lenses.  Lensbaby was launched in February 2004 by Craig Strong, a professional photographer and the inventor of the patented Lensbaby Creative Effects SLR lens system.  Lensbaby sells to photographers all over the world through its website, www.lensbaby.com, by calling 877-536-7222 /  971-223-5662, at tradeshows, in leading photo retailers and through a growing global network of international distributors.

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