For photographers looking to get really creative with their gear, Lensbaby is well known for its various DSLR lenses that can create tilt-shift and other popular effects. But for the first time, the company is letting iPhone photographers get in on the fun too, with a tiny smartphone-friendly lens providing extreme focus effects.
The LM-10 Sweet Spot Lens—as it's officially known—doesn't require the use of a special case, either. You just attach an adhesive metal ring around the lens on the back of your iPhone 4S, 5, 5S, or 5C, and magnets on the front and back of the Sweet Spot let it easily be attached or removed.
As the name implies, the LM-10 Sweet Spot Lens produces a very distinct effect, where the center of the frame is in sharp focus while the surrounding image is gradually blurred away. And due to the optical elements inside the tiny lens, when using most camera apps the image actually appears upside-down. So Lensbaby has created an accompanying camera app that automatically flips the image right-side up when you're framing a shot.
The LM-10 is actually being launched on Kickstarter, as Lensbaby looks to raise $20,000 to put it into production. A donation of $40 gets you one, if you're one of 50 early bird supporters. But if you prefer to hold off, it will eventually sell for around $50 (if the crowdfunding campaign is successful). And given the popularity of the company's lenses so far, there's little reason to think it won't see the light of day. [Kickstarter]