If you still think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, check out the new Lensbaby Sol 45, a manual focus special-effect lens that features a near-normal 45mm focal length and a fixed f/3.5 aperture. The lens’s optical formula is a simple 3-element, 2-group design, with a focus range of 14" to infinity. The Sol 45 accepts 46mm filters and lens accessories, and it allows for up to 8.5° of off-axis tilt for positioning its sweet spot exactly where you want it. The lens can also be locked at its center axis, which keeps the sweet spot centered within the frame lines. The Sol 45 weighs a very manageable 9.6 oz and features all-metal barrel construction.
What sets this lens apart from previous Lenbaby lenses is a pair of hinged plastic “bokeh blades,” located to the right and left of the front lens element, which can be swiveled independently into the light path to create additional blur patterns across the image field. With or without the bokeh blades in place, the Lensbaby Sol 45 is a terrific tool if fuzzy edges and sharp center portions of the frame are to your liking. The Lensbaby Sol 45 is available in mounts for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Pentax K lens mounts.
