Lensbaby Composer Mini-Review
Lensbaby introduced the Composer at Photokina. It’s a completely new lens, based on a ball and socket configuration that delivers selective focus photography with greater precision than previous Lensbaby models.
I’ve been using Lensbaby products since they launched. (Long before there even was a TWIP.) For those who unaware of the concept, all Lensbaby lenses (old and new) provide photographers with a way to control depth of field (area of focus) by bringing one area of a photo into sharpest focus surrounded by graduated blur. By bending the Lensbaby lens, the photographer moves the sharp area around the photo for customized creative effects.
Photo by Scott Bourne
The new Composer retains its position after being bent and is easy to use even with one hand. Photographers do not squeeze the lens to focus, but can simply tilt the lens to a desired angle and then focus with a barrel focusing ring. The Composer stays in the desired bent position without requiring a locking mechanism and features the new Lensbaby Optic Swap System. The Composer’s barrel focusing ring has a unique design that becomes more sensitive (requiring greater rotation to move the optic in and out) as you approach infinity, making it easer to focus on subjects from 10 feet to infinity.
For me, the focus ring on the Composer moves a bit too freely, but after some practice, I got the hang of it, and was able to focus really well. In case you haven’t realized it, this is a strictly manual focus lens.
You adjust the aperture of the Composer by changing aperture rings. The unit ships at F/4, which is my personal favorite aperture for Lensbaby use. It shows enough detail to keep the subject recognizable, but allows for a soft, pleasing blur everywhere else.
Along with the new Composer, Lensbaby announced the Optic Swap System. The product comes with the sharpest lens installed. Additional optics are available as optional accessories. When a photographer wants to change the optic in their Lensbaby, they will simply pop the optic out and drop in a different optic using a supplied Optic Swap Tool. Each optic has different features and image qualities, allowing photographers to choose the look that fits their creative style. Most simply offer additional degrees of softness into the image. So if you want a more dreamy or artistic effect, you may want to opt for the Single, Glass or Zone Plate optic.
All the optics feature magnetically levitating interchangeable aperture disks that allow aperture settings from f/2 to f/22.
The Single Glass, Plastic, and Pinhole/Zone plate optics are sold individually as well as in an Optic Boxed Set to retail for $95.00. The Composer retails for $270.
For more information, visit Lensbaby.
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Scott, sounds interesting. Would love to see more samples; on Flickr?
I have this lens too and LOVE it! Just had it for about a month now. You can really get the focusing down quick by practicing, and then it’s really easy. BTW, another thing to note for Nikon photographers is that you also probably need to set your camera to manual exposure. Not sure with Canon, but I’ve heard it might work on aperture-priority.
Here’s a set I have on Flickr with a few of my recent Lensbaby images all taken with the Composer:
http://flickr.com/photos/nicolesy/sets/72157608988658661/
Am I the only one that doesn’t really like the resulting style of image all that much?
Am I the only one that doesn’t really like the resulting style of image all that much?
@JeffDM – yes.
@JeffDM – yes.
I preordered one of these, have had it for a little while now and absolutly love it! I was really interested in Lensbaby after TWiP interviewed them at PMA’s last year and when the composer was announced it seemed like a perfect fit. Scott, since this is my first Lensbaby, could you give me a better idea of how this stacks up to other Lensbabys you have used? Just curious. Thanks for the review!
@ACM I have every Lensbaby model ever made. The Composer is my favorite because it’s easiest to lock in the focus than other models.
@ACM I have every Lensbaby model ever made. The Composer is my favorite because it’s easiest to lock in the focus than other models.
I’ve been looking at the Lensbaby glass for over a year now and was initially turned off on the previous model because of the required extra work to get the bellows in position and such.
This new version I’ve been more excited about though. I like the ball/socket joint it now uses and seems to be very nice.
My local camera shop though doesn’t have the new one in yet for me to play with so I”ll either have to order one on faith or wait.
My only worry is how well the ball/socket will hold up over time. @ACM since you’ve had yours for a little while now can you speak on how well it’s holding up? Is the lens still staying in place once you adjust it or is it slipping?
I purchased a Lensbaby 2.0, tried it out over a weekend on several trips and returned it the following Monday. While I do like the effect, I found the bellows/push+pull operation of the lens to be incredibly annoying as well as nigh-impossible to use for moving subjects. Based on my prediction that this lens’ main appeal will be replaced via software within 12-24 months, I returned the product.
I purchased a Lensbaby 2.0, tried it out over a weekend on several trips and returned it the following Monday. While I do like the effect, I found the bellows/push+pull operation of the lens to be incredibly annoying as well as nigh-impossible to use for moving subjects. Based on my prediction that this lens’ main appeal will be replaced via software within 12-24 months, I returned the product.
@JeffDM – no, you’re not. I’m sorry but I have not liked one single image I’ve seen taken with any Lensbaby product. I have never used it but I see the results and I’m with you on that! I’d rather take the $300 and buy a real lens or something.
@Nick the Lensbaby is a real lens. It appears it’s just not one you enjoy. I also think it’s telling that you are against something you’ve never used.
@Nick the Lensbaby is a real lens. It appears it’s just not one you enjoy. I also think it’s telling that you are against something you’ve never used.
@Scott – that’s true about being against something I’ve never used. I enjoy everything you show us of your work but, with all due respect, I don’t really care for the pictures *you’ve* taken with the Lensbaby, so I have little confidence I would be able to do anything good with it. Not trying to bash a good product (much less a sponsor), just remarking to JeffDM that he’s not the only one who doesn’t care for the look.
@Scott – that’s true about being against something I’ve never used. I enjoy everything you show us of your work but, with all due respect, I don’t really care for the pictures *you’ve* taken with the Lensbaby, so I have little confidence I would be able to do anything good with it. Not trying to bash a good product (much less a sponsor), just remarking to JeffDM that he’s not the only one who doesn’t care for the look.
@John your prediction that you’ll be able to replace the effect of the Lensbaby within 24 months is dead wrong.
No piece of software can help you create a composition in the field, using the creative inspirations as you bend the lens’ focal point around in real time. This is a common misconception by someone who has little or no experience with the lens.
When I first met the Lensbaby folks, which was years ago, I brought up that same objection. But they convinced me that using it in the field would convince me otherwise and they were right. I have often received creative inspiration from the Lensbaby that I couldn’t get later in post.
Add to that the fact that you’d need to spend additional time to do something in post that you can do much, much more quickly in the field, and it makes the argument even less compelling.
I can accept that the Lensbaby isn’t for everyone. But I won’t let stand blatantly false comments about recreating the effect in post. It’s not the same thing.
@Nick, judging the value of the Lensbaby strictly by looking at my work is a mistake. They have lots of better images on their site, all taken by better (and more famous) photographers than me. But I do appreciate the spirit in which you seem to be offering the comment.