Lensbaby has released the Burnside 35 lens for DSLR & mirrorless cameras.
The lens features a 35mm focal length and a maximum f/2.8 aperture which can be used to create images with a shallow depth of field. Just like the other lenses from Lensbaby, the Burnside 35 is a manual focus only lens and has some very special characteristics.
The Burnside 35 has a sharp sweet spot in the center of the frame, gradually softening as it gets to the edges. This fall-off happens no matter what aperture the lens is set at. A gold effect slider on the lens allows for direct control over the amount of vignetting in the image. The other main characteristic of the lens is its swirly bokeh. If you have ever used the vintage Helios m44-2 58mm lenses, you will be familiar with this look, producing a spinning bokeh effect.
Let us know in the comments if you have one in your kit bag, we’d love to see some of your swirly bokeh images.
Getting the Swirly Effect
To get the swirly bokeh effect, Lensbaby recommends shooting at f/2.8 with the subject 3 feet or less from the camera and around 12 feet of separation to the background.
Changing the position of these three elements will change the amount of swirly bokeh in the final image.
In addition to the positions of the camera, subject & background, adjusting the effect slider will change the amount of swirl in the bokeh.
At a focal length of 35mm, the Burnside 35 is also suitable as a general walk around or landscape lens, letting you focus the viewer’s eye with just the right amount of vignetting on the edges.
Pricing & Availability
The Burnside 35 retails for $499.95 and is available in a range of mounts from Canon EF, Sony E, Fuji X, Micro 4/3 & more. See the lens compatibility chart to see if the lens is suitable for your camera.
The lens is expected to ship mid-March.
Do you use any Lensbaby lenses? What do you think about the new Burnside 35, let us know in the comments section below.
