Lensbaby Sol 45 lens announced (tilt-shift on a budget)

Lensbaby Sol 45
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Lensbaby Sol 45 at a glance:

  • Canon EF-Mount Lens
  • Metal Body with Tilt from 0-8.5°
  • Fixed f/3.5 Aperture
  • Manual Focus
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 14″
  • Filter Diameter: 46mm
  • 2-Blade, Adjustable Diaphragm

Lensbaby released a new lens made for creative minds on a budget (it’s $199.95), the Lensbaby Sol 45. With an 8.5° of tilt, the Lensbaby Sol 45 lets you easily isolate a subject within the frame and surround it in blur and smooth bokeh. The Lensbaby Sol 45 can be ordered at B&H Photo or directly on Lensbaby’s site.

Photography Blog has a review, DPReview a sample gallery.

Press release (via Photography Blog):

Lensbaby Inspires New Audiences With the Fun and Accessible Sol 45

A tool to inspire. A tool to be bold. A tool to build memories.

Portland, OR (August 7th) – Lensbaby—makers of award-winning creative effects lenses, optics and accessories—announces the launch of their most playful and accessible lens yet, the Sol 45.

“Sol 45 opens up a new creative experience for those who want to dip their toes in the Lensbaby pool,” said Craig Strong Lensbaby Co-Founder and CCO. “Sol inspires visual artists to find new and fun ways to see their world by creating unique images in camera – no filters needed.”

The Sol 45 responds to those curious and insightful individuals who desire intention, imagination, and passion within each experience they live. This fixed aperture lens features an ease-of-use that injects the classic Lensbaby energy into images while creating a fun photography experience that benefits from the creation of unique photos that are representative of the users’ passions.

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Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L MACRO review (superb creative tool, ePhotozine)

Canon TS-E 135mm F/4L MACRO
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Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L MACRO at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4 to f/45
  • Two Ultra-Low Dispersion Elements
  • Subwavelength Coating
  • Maximum Tilt: +/- 10°
  • Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 1.6′
  • Maximum Magnification: 0.5x

ePhotozine reviewed the new Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L MACRO, a specialised, tilt-shift lens. This is a Canon L lens, everything is top notch. Unfortunately, the price is too, $2,199.

ePhotozine’s conclusion:

The Canon range of tilt and shift lenses is unique and impressive, and without a doubt, if there is a commercial need for what they offer then they will be purchased for that purpose and the price will be acceptable. The fact that it is a macro lens as well as a tilt and shift lens is a very powerful combination.

The Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L Macro is a beautiful lens and has the potential to produce beautiful and unique results, but for an amateur purchase, we would need deep pockets. However, for some, it might be a possibility and it would be a very desirable lens to own. Read the review…

ePhotozine gives the TS-E 135mm f/4L Macro a rating of 4.5/5 (highly recommended).

Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L MACRO

America: B&H Photo, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO review (highest quality and exciting creative possibilities, ePhotozine)

Canon TS-E 90mm F/2.8L MACRO
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Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/45
  • One Ultra-Low Dispersion Element
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Air Sphere Coating
  • Maximum Tilt: +/- 10°
  • Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 1.3′
  • Maximum Magnification: 0.5x

ePhotozine posted their full review of the new Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO. The TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO is a highly specialised lens that’s not for everyone (and not for everyone’s budget, it’s $2,199).

From ePhotozine’s conclusion:

Some lenses gel straight away, others grow on us and this one grows on us very quickly as the new possibilities of mixing a 90mm lens with macro and tilt and shift start to fire the imagination.

This is a specialised optic that would be delightful to own, but at the price level will probably be for professional photographers with particular applications clear in their minds. It will be a workhorse and it will earn money.

In the general marketplace it is expensive, but if it’s affordable then it will not disappoint. Canon are to be congratulated for producing such a wide range of specialist tilt/shift lenses that break new ground and push back the boundaries of creativity. Read the review…

This is another masterpiece by Canon, though this lens will be bought mostly by professionals who need this very kind of specialised lens. ePhotozine gave the Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO a score of 4.5/5.

Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO Review (a superb lens, Photography Blog)

Canon TS-E 90mm F/2.8L MACRO
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Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/45
  • One Ultra-Low Dispersion Element
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Air Sphere Coating
  • Maximum Tilt: +/- 10°
  • Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 1.3′
  • Maximum Magnification: 0.5x

Photography Blog posted their full review of the new Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO lens.

From their conclusion:

The Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 L Macro Lens is a specialist lens, with a high asking price which probably excludes most ordinary enthusiasts from buying it. It does however make for an excellent option for rental, especially if you’re not sure if you want one – or if you have the patience to learn how to properly use it. Some of the more creative effects it produces can be a bit gimmicky, so again, renting it makes sense to see if you think you will get much use out of the effects.

Canon has produced a superb lens here, with excellent sharpness, high image quality and fantastic build quality. It is a more than worthy replacement for the older 90mm tilt shift lens, considering it now has “L” series designation and macro capability. Just like other tilt shift lenses, you pay a premium to own it, but for those who need one, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. Read the review…

Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L MACRO review (Photography Blog)

The Canon TS-E 50mm F/2.8L (for RF Mount)
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Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro: B&H Photo, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
  • Two Ultra-Low Dispersion Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Air Sphere and Subwavelength Coatings
  • Maximum Tilt: +/- 8.5°
  • Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 10.6″
  • Maximum Magnification: 0.5x

Photography Blog posted their full review of the new Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L MACRO lens.

From the conclusion:

Although it takes some time to get used to using a tilt-shift lens, once you do, the rewards are high. Being able to control precise areas of focus, whether for creative effect or for fine-tuning product shots, is a dream. Be prepared to put in the effort to learn exactly how to use a lens like this if you’ve never used a tilt-shift before, while those who are more experienced are likely to have more luck straight out of the box.

Sharpness is excellent […]

Overall, the Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro Lens is a very impressive performer. Having the macro ability, as well as the L series designation makes it a fantastic improvement on the previous TS-E 45mm f/2.8 tilt shift lens, but you do of course pay a premium for it. Read the review…

Photography Blog’s sample photos shot with the Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L MACRO are here.

Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro world-wide:

America: B&H Photo, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Future Canon tilt-shift lenses may have image stabilisation, patent application suggests

Tilt-shift
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Canon might experimenting with the idea to feature image-stabilisation on the company’s future tilt-shift lenses.

Canon patent application (in Japan) 2017-227697 describes the implementation of image-stabilisation technology in tilt-shift lenses.

A patent application filed by a company doesn’t necessarily mean the technology described in the patent application will hit the market any time soon. Patents are a way companies have to protect their intellectual property and research.

Some patent applications that in our opinion might indeed go into production are these:

Canon tilt-shift lenses on Amazon.