Things are buzzing over at Lensbaby today…have you heard the exciting news? They’ve just released a new lens! Meet Spark, the newest addition to the Lensbaby family.

A shiny new Spark arrived on our doorstep last week, and we couldn’t wait to tell you all about it! If you’re just starting out in photography or looking for an affordable upgrade from your kit lens, then Spark has your name written all over it. Doesn’t it look right at home on my Nikon D60?

You might be thinking, “This looks a lot like the Muse, how is it different?” I wondered the same thing. The difference is that it’s more of an entry-level option with an “all plastic body, a fixed f/5.6 aperture, and optimized for crop-sensor cameras (amount of tilt keeps sweet spot within frame).” Affordably priced at just $80, it’s a great way for you to introduce yourself to the Lensbaby system and experiment with a fun, fresh, and creative style of photography.

Spark is a manual focus lens that allows you to bend and compose your photo right in-camera, creating the “sweet spot” of focus Lensbaby is famous for. Just squeeze the lens to focus, then tilt it to move the sweet spot around the photo.

I love how the Lensbaby effect pulls your eye right to the focal point, adding energy and motion. I had the perfect opportunity to experiment with the new Spark this weekend as I was hanging out with my little two-year old niece, playing with blocks, eating cheese snacks, and watching Elmo…you know, the normal two-year old routine! She was so intrigued with my camera that she had to be up close and personal with the lens…luckily, it worked out perfectly in this instance, filling the frame and focusing right on her beautiful brown eyes!

NOTE: The following photos were taken using my Nikon D7000. Due to low lighting, in order to capture these images I needed high ISO capabilities. These same types of images can be taken in brighter lighting situations with an entry-level camera.

Nikon D7000 | Lensbaby Spark | f/5.6 | 1/200 sec. | ISO 2500

I love the blurring effect, giving me the perfect opportunity to add in a subtle texture. Ahhh yes, love the texture…

Nikon D7000 | Lensbaby Spark | f/5.6 | 1/80 sec. | ISO 1000

Spark gets rid of all those pesky details around the edges of your photos, taking them from forgettable snapshots to memorable photos. Give those distracting details the boot…just like you’d love all your children’s toys to be…neatly put away out of sight!

Nikon D7000 | Lensbaby Spark | f/5.6 | 1/80 sec. | ISO 1000

So, if you’re looking for a fun creative lens to capture those fun fall-time outings, definitely check out the new Lensbaby Spark!

Specifications

  • 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.
  • No electronic communication between the lens and the camera body.

*All current Lensbaby optics will fit but Spark is not recommended for use with the Sweet 35, Fisheye and Edge 80 optics as these optics are heavy and it is difficult to hold the lens steady and focus.

Available for both Nikon and Canon cameras.