First Look: DX Lensbaby

Just the other day I was thinking, what Lensbaby really needs to do is make a series of optics for DX Cameras. And ironically, they did just that, with last week’s introduction of the Sweet 35.


The Sweet 35 is a four element, 35mm optic with a 12-bladed diaphragm, with apertures ranging from f/2.5 to f/22. For the first time, Lensbaby users can adjust the sweet spot in real time with a normal field of view on an APS-C camera. It looks like a great product.

It’s not cheap however, weighing in at $180.00. And some hard core Lensbaby users may feel that it’s a departure from the whole Lensbaby experience.

One of the qualities that made the Lensbaby unique was the ability to swap between simple glass, plastic and pinhole/zone plate optics. The double glass element was a nice option for those requiring a higher degree of center sharpness. All the optics in the series combined cost far less than this optic, which gives us only one option, albeit a good one.

My solution to the DX dilemma was to purchase the .6X wide angle adapter. This converts a 50mm lens to 30mm (an almost perfect 45mm in the APS-C world) and allows me to take advantage of all the features of the Lensbaby system I’ve come to enjoy.

For even wider shots, there’s another option; the .42X super wide converter lens. It’s a two-element design that converts your 50mm lens to a 21mm wide angle lens, which is 31.5mm in the DX world. It’s multicoated, so flaring and ghosting are kept to a minimum. And while it exhibits some barrel distortion, this can actually enhance certain shots.

The Sweet 35 is a little hard to get right now, but as soon as the hype subsides, it promises to be a good purchase for those willing to shell out almost two bills for it. However, it leave me wanting for more.