Here’s a quick comparison of Lensbaby's two creative systems, the Composer Pro and the Spark 2.0 with the Edge 50 optic.

Just recently, Lensbaby came out with a new lens, the Spark 2.0. Since its release, I have gotten many questions about it and whether or not it is worth buying over the Composer Pro. I wanted to be able to explain more comprehensively to anyone who has questions, so here are my thoughts on the two lenses! Below I will address the differences and similarities as well as the individual pros and cons of each lens, and also my personal opinion.

Before I start, I think it would be important to mention that the Spark 2.0 that was just released was an upgrade from the Spark 1, the only difference being that the Spark 2.0 allows you to change the aperture. While the v.1 has fixed f/5.6 aperture, the Spark 2.0 features a f/2.5-22 adjustable aperture range and a 12-blade diaphragm. The Spark 2.0 is delivered with the Sweet 50 optic and made to be used with the Optic Swap System.s. This gives you more options in the kind of pictures you can take with it, and it upgrades the lens to the level of the Composer Pro, of which you can also change the aperture.

Differences

Although the Spark 2.0 and Composer Pro seem very similar, they have a few big differences that are important to consider when choosing one to buy. The Spark 2.0 is very versatile and flexible, making it the perfect creative tool. When you move it around, it continues to bend. On the other hand, the Composer Pro is a more traditional lens and when you set it to a setting, it stays in that setting until you change it. A good way to explain this difference is by thinking of the Spark as watercolor and the Composer as a pencil. The watercolor is unpredictable and constantly changing, whereas the pencil is more steady and does exactly what you expect. Both are creative tools, but the watercolor allows more creative freedom and the pencil is easier to control.

Another factor is the speed of the lens: with the Spark taking photos is incredibly quick and intuitive, and the Composer is a little slower and more thoughtful. The Composer requires more deliberate action and thought since you have to plan your shot specifically. Staying true to their names, the Spark is like a burst of creativity that can be used in an instant, and the Composer is more like carefully designing a photo.

The last difference I find worth mentioning is the weight of both lenses. The Spark is much lighter than its counterpart, making it easier to travel with and more spontaneous. However, both are manageable and are very comfortable in your hands.

Similarities

As different as they are, the lenses are still super similar. With both lenses it can be incredibly difficult to find the focus. The Composer was a little easier to handle when trying to set the focus at the outer edge of the frame, but in the end it depended on the specific photo setting with both systems. While this might sound intimidating, I also want to point out that both lenses are fantastic tools to create dreamy and painterly looking pictures. There really was not a huge difference in the lenses, so when deciding which lens you want, it comes down to user preference: you have to ask yourself if you are looking for something steady and controlled or something super flexible and artistic.

Opinion

Composer is a wonderful entry into the Tilt-Shift System that Lensbaby offers, but the Spark is a truly awesome way to further your creativity and your photographic skills. Personally, I enjoyed the Spark more because I prefer to create very dreamy pictures over pictures with a lot of focus. I would say that the Composer is a fun entry-level model, but if you are looking for something really exciting and different, I would recommend the Spark 2.0!

Comparison in Pictures

The following pictures were taken at the same time and location for comparison, with the photos on the right having been taken with the Composer Pro and those on the left with the Spark 2.0. They really show how similar the two lenses are and how minute the effect is.

In both pictures I tried to set the focus to the other leaves of the tree on the left side. The picture on the left was taken with the Composer Pro and the focus is exactly where I wanted it to be. The picture on the right was taken with the Spark a… — In both pictures I tried to set the focus to the other leaves of the tree on the left side. The picture on the left was taken with the Composer Pro and the focus is exactly where I wanted it to be. The picture on the right was taken with the Spark and while the effect is beautiful I did not manage to get the focus where I wanted it to be. It’s close to my vision, but definitely not on the outer left of the tree.

In this set of pictures I was able to achieve focus as planned. While both pictures are pretty, I personally prefer the effect on the right hand picture that I took with the Spark. The light is a tad more dramatic and the blur is more intense..

To my surprise in this example the Spark (right hand picture) created better focus than the Composer here.

The picture on the left is a good example for how the Composer Pro performs a little better when you want to set the focus to an outer edge of the frame. In both cases I’ve tried to get the palm trees in focus. You can see the aforementioned “waterc… — The picture on the left is a good example for how the Composer Pro performs a little better when you want to set the focus to an outer edge of the frame. In both cases I’ve tried to get the palm trees in focus. You can see the aforementioned “watercolor effect” of the Spark in the right picture; it blends things together more and makes a softer, more unexpected look.

The picture on the left, again taken with the Composer Pro, has more focus in subjects. The people and the clouds are detailed, while the picture on the right (taken with the Spark) is a little softer if you look at the clouds in the sky. They both … — The picture on the left, again taken with the Composer Pro, has more focus in subjects. The people and the clouds are detailed, while the picture on the right (taken with the Spark) is a little softer if you look at the clouds in the sky. They both had a good focus, however, which impressed me!

Have you had a chance to try the two systems? Let me know what your thoughts are!

This post is part of a monthly blog circle and this month I’m sharing the link of Michele, who is a photographer in Minneapolis and writes about 2020 Holiday cards.