Lensbaby has released a more affordable version of its creative lens system, geared towards younger photographers. The Spark, for both Canon and Nikon DSLRs, lets users focus on a specific area of the frame, allowing the photographer to perform some creative shots using a manually-controllable artistic blur.
SalesVu has updated its mobile payment application for iPhone and iPad to version 2.0, enabling additional retail-related functionality. Employee shift management, barcode scanning, and receipt printing have been added, along with a simplified end-of-day process. Food service users can split checks and relay orders to the kitchen through the app. SalesVu made the updates while facing competition from competing payment system Square, which is reportedly aiming for a $4 billion valuation.
Lensbaby has added a new 80mm Edge 80 Optic to its Optic Swap System. It will attach to the company's current SLR lenses including the Composer Pro, Composer, Muse, Scout, and Control Freak lens bodies, effectively turning them into tilt-shift lenses. It can take regular photos when set straight ahead, or be made to emit a selective slice of sharp focus through the image.
Lensbaby has released the Composer Pro for SLRs. Like the original Composer, the new lens is ball and socket-based optic that allows the user to focus each shot in the neutral position. The user can then move the focal point, or “sweet spot” anywhere in the frame that they choose. It improves the repeatability of shots, while also offering more precise control. The Pro version is also said to deliver improved build quality and function over the original version.
Lensbaby has introduced a new Fisheye lens for DSLR cameras, the Scout. The Fisheye lens function has a 12mm focal length and can capture a 160-degree angle of view and offers extreme close-up of shots up to as little as half and inch from the lens. Although a number of the Lensbaby lenses are movable, the Scout is a fixed dual purpose optic system. It ships with the Fisheye optic pre-installed, though this can be removed to enable a lens flare effect when pointed directly at bright light sources.
Lensbaby, makers of unusual optics add-ons for DSLRs, continues to evolve the product, as seen with the recently introduced Composer. We've taken a quick look at the system to see how it works as well as to provide some anecdotes from our experience using it in practice. We've also taken a look at the Optic Swap System that lets you tailor the visual effects of the Composer.
