Lensbaby has announced a new and improved Composer Pro II and the Soft Focus II 50 Optic. Combined, these will give you a ton of creative options with recognizable bokeh, but still keep the center of your photos sharp. If you’re a fan of 50mm lenses and the unique Lensbaby bokeh, read on.
The Composer Pro II features a tilt function that ranges from 0-15° in any direction, for the tilt-shift effect practically on the budget. The Soft Focus II 50 Optic features a 12-blade internal aperture, so you no longer have to rely on the drop-in magnetic aperture system alone. The internal aperture is manually adjustable and you can still combine it with the drop-in aperture effects, so you’ll get even more creative options.
When you open the Soft Focus II 50 Optic all the way up to f/2.5, it creates dreamy, soft, impressionistic images. But if it’s not really your cup of tea, you can stop it down to f/8 or darker. In this case, you’ll get images that are detailed and sharp in the center, and still retain that soft focus towards the edges. Here are a couple of examples:
The Soft Focus II 50 Optic is compatible with Lensbaby Optic Swap System and drop-in magnetic aperture disks, and you can add 46mm filters for additional creativity. It comes in as many as eight mounts: Canon EF, Canon RF, Fuji X, Leica L, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Sony E. Here are the specs and a few more photos:
In case you’ve never used it, Lensbaby founder Craig Strong has got you covered:
The Composer Pro II with Soft Focus II 50 is available for preorders at $349.95. If you’d like the Soft Focus II 50 Optic only, it’s available for $179.95.
