Overview
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Lensbaby Composer Pro II
Special Effects - Jump To Details
Lensbaby Spark 2.0
An Effects Lens for Budding Creators - Jump To Details
Lensbaby Creative Bokeh Optic
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Lensbaby Double Glass II
Best Lensbaby for Sweet Spot and Creative Bokeh Effects - Jump To Details
Lensbaby Edge 35 Optic
Special Effects - Jump To Details
Lensbaby Edge 50 Optic
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Lensbaby Edge 80 Optic
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Lensbaby Obscura 50
Just for pinhole fans - Jump To Details
Lensbaby Soft Focus II
Best for Soft Focus Effect - Jump To Details
Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic
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Lensbaby Sweet 50 Optic
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Lensbaby Sweet 80
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Lensbaby Twist 60
Photographers with an artistic eye, as well as wedding and portrait specialists, have likely at least heard of Lensbaby over the years. The company has been making its eponymous line of creative manual focus camera lenses for the better part of two decades. Its catalog covers a range of effects, everything from pinhole to soft focus to the sweet-spot-of-focus "Lensbaby look" that's become synonymous with the brand.
Lensbaby's catalog is diverse too. It makes traditional manual focus lenses like the soft focus Velvet 85, and clip-on Omni creative filters as well. Lenses and filters don't usually call for their own buying guide, however. The company's marquee product is its Optic Swap line, a set of "lens bodies" and optic modules to go inside them. The system enjoys a lengthy time in market, about fifteen years and counting, and support for almost every consumer camera system.
The Optic Swap system is modular, so you can mix-and-match elements to your heart's content. But at minimum you'll need a lens body—a housing that attaches to your camera and supports manual focus—and an optic to go inside it. At press time there are three lens bodies from which to choose, and nearly a dozen optics to go with them. We're here to break them down and help you navigate the Lensbaby system.
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Lensbaby Composer Pro II
Special EffectsThe Composer Pro II uses a lockable ball-and-socket mechanism to set tilt and a ring for manual focus. The second-generation version has better build quality than the original and shouldn't have any problems handling heavyweight optics like the Edge 80. You can lock the degree and direction of tilt with this lens and focus precisely, so it makes for a more traditional photo experience than the push-pull design of the Spark 2.0. This is the housing to get if you're a newcomer to Lensbaby.
Pros
- Ball-and-socket tilt mechanism.
- Lockable design.
- Expands creative options.
- Compatible with Optic Swap system.
- Available for multiple camera systems.
Cons
- Pricey.
Learn MoreLensbaby Composer Pro II ReviewLensbaby Spark 2.0
An Effects Lens for Budding CreatorsThe Spark 2.0 is for photographers who want to live in the moment; it's essentially a light-proof tube with some flex. Pull the tube toward the body to focus far away, push it out to focus close, and move it to any one side to shift the sweet spot of focus. If you primarily plan to use Sweet lenses and like the Spark 2.0's simpler operations, don't hesitate to get it. Just know that Edge optics are heavy enough to cause the housing to droop.
Pros
- Snaps artsy photos with a sweet spot of focus
- Works with Optic Swap lenses
- Bundled with Sweet 50
- Full-frame sensor coverage
- Available for multiple camera systems
Cons
- Push-pull focus is less than ideal
- Not well suited for tripod or video work
- Droops with heavier Optic Swap lenses installed
- Expensive for what it is
Learn MoreLensbaby Spark 2.0 ReviewLensbaby Creative Bokeh Optic
Effects: Bokeh shapes, sweet spot of focusBest With: Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0
The Creative Bokeh Optic is one of the most affordable entries in the system, and the only one in the current lineup with a single-element 50mm formula. It delivers a sweet spot of focus with more color aberrations than you get with the Double Glass II. The lens has an internal aperture, meaning you can use it just like any other Sweet lens, and also includes a set of drop-in plates that change the shape of the bokeh.
Learn MoreLensbaby Creative Bokeh OpticLensbaby Double Glass II
Best Lensbaby for Sweet Spot and Creative Bokeh EffectsEffects: Bokeh shapes, sweet spot of focusBest With: Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0
The Double Glass II takes the optics from the cheaper, plastic Sweet 50 and puts them in an aluminum housing that adds support for magnetic aperture discs. Those discs let you change the shape of background highlights. The two-element 50mm lens captures a sharp center spot of focus without distracting false color, and this latest version even includes an internal aperture that adjusts the size of the sweet spot.
Pros
- Sweet spot of focus effect
- Internal 12-blade aperture
- Includes creative aperture plates
- Versatile standard angle of view on full-frame cameras
Cons
- Lensbaby's Sweet 50 delivers a similar look for less
Learn MoreLensbaby Double Glass II ReviewLensbaby Edge 35 Optic
Special EffectsEffects: Edge-to-edge focusBest With: Composer Pro II
The Edge 35 has a moderately wide 35mm focal length and an internal aperture. Its F3.5 optics offer plenty of background blur at close focus distances (the Edge does 1:2 macros), and its angle of view suits the miniature effect for cityscapes and landscapes.
Pros
- Works with Optic Swap lenses.
- Sharp across frame.
- Good fit for APS-C and full-frame cameras.
Cons
- Pricey.
- Can show flare.
Learn MoreLensbaby Edge 35 Optic ReviewLensbaby Edge 50 Optic
Effects: Edge-to-edge focusBest With: Composer Pro II
The Edge 50 offers a versatile 50mm field of view, a good fit for everyday photography, selective-focus landscapes, and macros. It works best with a Composer body and is especially suitable for portrait work in combination with a crop-sensor camera.
Pros
- Standard-angle field of view.
- Aperture control ring.
- Macro focus capability.
- Compatible with Lensbaby Optic Swap system.
Cons
- Pricey.
Learn MoreLensbaby Edge 50 Optic ReviewLensbaby Edge 80 Optic
Effects: Edge-to-edge focusBest With: Composer Pro II
The Edge 80 is the biggest, most expensive lens you can get for the Optic Swap system. As such, you should use it only with Composer housings; it's just too much for a Muse or Spark to handle. Full-frame photographers should appreciate its 80mm focal length for portraiture, while its 17-inch minimum focus distance makes it a good pick for macro work, too.
Pros
- Excellent depth-of-field control.
- Wide f/2.8 aperture.
- Traditional portrait focal length.
Cons
- Expensive.
- A little tough to use with the Muse lens.
Learn MoreLensbaby Edge 80 Optic ReviewLensbaby Obscura 50
Just for pinhole fansEffects: PinholeBest With: Straight Body
The Obscura 50 skips optics in favor of capturing the pinhole effect. It gives you three options (pinhole, zone plate, or pinhole sieve) and works best with the Straight Body. It costs more than alternatives, but Lensbaby includes a protective glass filter for the pinholes, something generic pinhole body caps don't offer.
Pros
- Pinhole, pinhole sieve, and zone plate looks
- Compatible with optic swap system
- Available for Canon and Nikon SLRs
Cons
- Makes SLR viewfinders appear very dim
- Divisive look isn't for everyone
Learn MoreLensbaby Obscura 50 ReviewLensbaby Soft Focus II
Best for Soft Focus EffectEffects: Bokeh shapes, soft focus Best With: Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0, Straight Body
The Soft Focus II draws images with a soft glow, a desirable trait for portraits and flower macros. This latest iteration has the same optical character as the original but adds an internal aperture so you can control just how soft photos look. It also supports drop-in apertures, so you can add funky shapes to bokeh highlights. Lensbaby sells it with a Straight Body, but this one works just as well with the Composer or Spark housings.
Pros
- Glowing soft focus effect
- Works with Optic Swap housings
- Supports 46mm filters
- Includes both internal and drop-in apertures
- Circular bokeh highlights
Cons
- Straight barrel housing available only for a few systems
- Heavy focus breathing
Learn MoreLensbaby Soft Focus II ReviewLensbaby Sweet 35 Optic
Effects: Sweet spot of focusBest With: Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0
The Sweet 35 is the widest-angle Lensbaby with the iconic sweet-spot-of-focus look. Like the other Sweet lenses, it trades support for drop-in bokeh discs for an in-lens aperture and does best with a lens body that offers tilt support. We especially like the Sweet 35 for APS-C camera systems because its angle shows more blur around in-focus portions of your photo than you get with the Sweet 50 or 80.
Pros
- Wide field of view.
- Internal aperture control.
- Compatible with Lensbaby lenses.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Awkward to use with Muse lens.
Learn MoreLensbaby Sweet 35 Optic ReviewLensbaby Sweet 50 Optic
Effects: Sweet spot of focusBest With: Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0
The Sweet 50 is the de facto standard Lensbaby optic for photographers with full-frame cameras. Its standard angle of view works well for everyday snaps, portraits, and close-ups, and it accomplishes the sweet spot of focus most people buying into the Lensbaby system desire. The lens includes aperture controls, but you can't use creative bokeh plates. Step up to the Double Glass II if that's important to you.
Pros
- Standard-angle field of view on a full-frame camera.
- Compatible with Lensbaby Optic Swap system.
- Integrated aperture ring.
- Macro converter available.
Cons
- Not for everyone.
- Too heavy for entry-level Lensbaby Spark.
Learn MoreLensbaby Sweet 50 Optic ReviewLensbaby Sweet 80
Effects: Sweet spot of focusBest With: Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0
Portrait specialists should try the Sweet 80 because its moderately telephoto focal length leads to more pleasing compression for head-and-shoulders framing. The sweet spot of focus effect simply adds some creative flair. This is also the best of the Sweet lenses for macros; it focuses as close as 22 inches for dramatic detail shots.
Pros
- Fun special effect lens.
- Works with Lensbaby system.
- Aperture control ring.
- Classic focal length for full-frame portraiture.
Cons
- Not for everyone.
- Aperture ring can be tough to turn.
Learn MoreLensbaby Sweet 80 ReviewLensbaby Twist 60
Effects: Swirly bokehBest With: Straight Body
The Twist 60 came out at the height of the Petzval lens craze. Like others, it takes inspiration from an optical formula Joseph Petzval created in the 19th century and produces images with swirly bokeh. The Twist 60 pairs well with full-frame cameras and works best without any tilt effects.
Pros
- Compact.
- Petzval optical design.
- Sharp at center of frame.
- Inexpensive.
- Lensbaby Optic Swap system support.
- Available for multiple camera systems.
Cons
- Signature look and manual focus design aren't for everyone.
- Effect is lessened on APS-C cameras.
Learn MoreLensbaby Twist 60
Buying Guide: The Best Lensbaby Optic Swap Lenses for Creative Photography
Photographers with an artistic eye, as well as wedding and portrait specialists, have likely at least heard of Lensbaby over the years. After all, the company has been making its eponymous line of creative manual focus lenses for the better part of two decades. Its catalog covers a range of effects, everything from pinhole to soft focus to the sweet-spot-of-focus Lensbaby look that has become synonymous with the brand.
The company's marquee Optic Swap system has been around since nearly the beginning. It comprises a set of lens bodies (or housings), along with optic modules that go inside them. You can mix and match elements to your heart's content, but with three lens bodies and nearly a dozen optics to pair with them, you might have questions. We break down your options below to help you decide on the right combination for your needs.
