The Lensbaby Optic Swap System: A Creative Playground for Photographers
Some cameras and lenses simply capture what’s in front of them. The Lensbaby Composer Pro, however, invites you to play. I still remember the first time I used it—the weight of seriousness I had felt in my photography up until then seemed to lift. Instead of chasing technical perfection, I found myself exploring, experimenting, and embracing happy surprises. This lens gave me permission to break free from rigid rules and, in doing so, helped me see myself as a photographer—and as a person—in a new, more honest way.
Of course, the Composer Pro isn’t for every situation. It’s not the lens you’d grab for a sports event or high-speed action shots. But if you're looking to step out of a creative rut, discover fresh perspectives, or even use photography as a form of therapy, this system is an incredible tool. It encourages artistic expression, sparks curiosity, and challenges you to see differently. For artists, dreamers, and photographers eager to explore beyond what the eye typically sees, the Composer Pro opens up an entirely new world.
In this post, I’ll break down how the Composer Pro works, introduce you to the different optics, and share why this lens system has become one of my favorite creative companions.
Photography isn’t just about capturing what’s in front of you—it’s about translating emotion, movement, and vision into an image. The Lensbaby Optic Swap System does exactly that, offering a unique, hands-on approach to creativity that turns your camera into an extension of your artistic expression.
The Lensbaby Optic Swap System features a variety of interchangeable optics, each designed to create a unique visual effect:
Edge for a slice of focus
Sweet for a central spot of sharpness with dreamy blur
Double Glass for a vintage glow with a touch of softness, and
Soft Focus for an ethereal, diffused look—giving photographers endless creative possibilities with just one lens body.
At the heart of this system is the Composer Pro, a flexible housing that allows you to swap out different optics in seconds. Whether you’re drawn to the soft blur of the Sweet, the sharp slice of focus from the Edge, or the dreamy glow of the Soft Focus optic, the possibilities are endless. The best part? With its ability to tilt, shift focus, and create painterly effects, this system makes you feel like you’re dancing with your camera rather than just taking a picture.
Why Invest in the Lensbaby Optic Swap System?
For photographers looking to push beyond traditional sharpness and embrace artistic expression, this system is an excellent investment. The Composer Pro’s tilting mechanism enables users to shift the focal point creatively, making it an incredible tool for unique compositions.
One System, Endless Creativity – Swap between wide-angle (22 / 35mm), standard (50mm), and telephoto (80mm) optics, each offering a unique way to see the world.
Tilt to Move Your Focus – Unlike traditional lenses, the Composer Pro lets you bend and shift the plane of focus, creating mesmerizing effects straight out of camera.
Lightweight & Perfect for Travel – A compact system that gives you multiple focal lengths without weighing you down.
A True Hands-On Experience – Manual focus may take some practice, but once mastered, it allows for precise, intentional storytelling in ways that autofocus never could.
Like a Set of Artist’s Brushes – While you can buy similar focal lengths from other brands, these are tools for artistry, designed to break the rules and spark new ideas.
What to Expect When Learning the System
While the Lensbaby system is intuitive in its physical design—inserting and swapping optics is quick and simple—using it effectively requires practice. All Lensbaby optics are manual focus, which often surprises first-time users who are accustomed to autofocus. This means you’ll need to develop a more hands-on approach to setting focus, but once mastered, it becomes second nature. The learning curve is similar to playing a musical instrument—after a few hours of practice, you’ll start to feel the rhythm and fluidity of the system.
For still-life and landscapes, focusing is intuitive. For moving subjects, it’s trickier but absolutely possible with practice. The key is simultaneously tilting the Composer Pro and adjusting the focus ring, allowing you to place your focal point exactly where you want it. Once you get the hang of it, it’s not just photography—it’s play.
Breaking Down the Lensbaby Optics: Finding Your Creative Flow
The beauty of the Lensbaby Optic Swap System is that it lets you shape your images in ways no traditional lens can. Each optic transforms how you see and capture the world—whether through sharp slices of focus, dreamy soft glows, or artistic swirls of blur. Let's dive into how each optic works and when to use them.
Edge - Precision with a Slice of Focus
The Edge 35 carves a striking slice of focus along the left third of the frame, drawing the eye to two figures walking through the dynamic lines of the Disney Concert Hall, while the rest of the cityscape melts into a soft blur, enhancing the sense of movement and depth.
The Edge optics (like the Edge 35, Edge 50, and Edge 80) create a sharp slice of focus within the frame, keeping a thin plane crisp while the rest of the image fades into a smooth blur.
Aperture Impact:
Slice of Focus – When shot wide open at f/2.8, the effect is strong; stopping down to smaller apertures (like f/8) makes it more subtle.
Tilt for Placement – By tilting the Composer Pro, you decide where this line of sharpness appears—diagonally, vertically, or horizontally across your image.
Best Uses:
Ideal for environmental portraits, cityscapes, or any image where you want to guide the viewer’s eye along a sharp pathway.
Sweet - A Dreamy Spot of Focus
Captured in motion—water droplets transform into magical oval bokeh around the sharp center, thanks to the Sweet 50 lens.
The Sweet optics (Sweet 22, Sweet 35, Sweet 50, Sweet 80) bring a central spot of focus with gradual blur radiating outward. This effect mimics the way we instinctively focus on a subject while letting the rest of the scene melt away.
What to expect and how to control the effect:
Spot of Focus – The spot grows larger as you stop down the aperture (wide open at f/2.8 = small focus area, f/8 = larger focus area).
Oval Bokeh Magic – These optics create beautiful oval bokeh, adding texture and depth to out-of-focus areas.
Best Uses:
Perfect for portraits, macro shots, and storytelling images where you want to create a painterly effect.
Soft Focus - Dreamlike Imagery
The Soft Focus optic transforms this fleeting moment into a dreamlike painting—gentle and ethereal,.
If you’ve ever wanted to paint with light, the Soft Focus optic (Soft Focus II) is your tool. It gently blurs details, creating a glowing, ethereal effect—perfect for adding atmosphere to your images.
What to expect:
A Soft, Almost Foggy Look – The entire image takes on a dreamlike softness, especially at wide-open apertures (f/2.8).
Aperture Controls the Glow – Stopping down (f/5.6 or smaller) reduces the effect, giving a more controlled softness.
Best Uses:
Ideal for portraits, floral photography, and romantic landscapes, where you want a touch of nostalgia or fantasy.
Double Glass Optic - Sharp Center, Dreamy Surroundings
Captured with the Double Glass optic, this image of a Mexican cemetery blends moments of sharp detail with a soft, dreamlike haze—transforming vibrant flowers into a gentle wash of color that evokes emotion more than precision.
The Double Glass optic provides a soft and dreamy look with a vintage touch. Unlike the Soft Focus optic, which blurs the entire image in a gentle way, the Double Glass creates a slightly more defined center of focus, with edges that become softer and more blurred.
Aperture impact:
Like the other lenses in the system, the aperture size plays a role in how soft the image appears. Wider apertures (f/2.8) will create a more pronounced dreamy effect, while smaller apertures (f/8 and beyond) will lessen the softness, allowing more of the image to be in focus while retaining that vintage, glowing feel.
Best Uses:
It’s ideal for portraits, still life, or when you want a gentle yet artsy touch without fully sacrificing detail. It’s also fantastic for highlights—those spots of light will have a soft glow that makes the image feel dreamy, but with a touch of clarity that adds contrast.
How to Swap Optics with Ease
The Lensbaby Composer Pro at the center, surrounded by a variety of interchangeable optics—each one a unique creative tool, ready to transform the way you see and capture the world.
One of the best things about the Lensbaby Optic Swap System is how simple and intuitive it is to change optics. Once you’ve mounted the Composer Pro onto your camera, swapping optics takes just a few seconds:
Twist & Release - Hold the Composer steady and gently twist the optic counterclockwise until it pops out.
Insert the New Optic - Align the replacement optic with the opening and drop it into place.
Lock It In - Twist clockwise until you feel a secure fit. That’s it—you’re ready to shoot!
With a little practice, changing optics will become second nature, allowing you to seamlessly shift between creative effects while staying in the flow of your photography. Whether you’re drawn to the crisp slice of focus from the Edge series, the dreamy softness of Soft Focus, or the striking in-focus spot from Sweet, each swap opens up new creative possibilities.
Why I Keep Coming Back to the Composer Pro
What makes the Composer Pro so special to me isn’t just its creative potential—it’s the way it fits into my life as a traveling, ever-curious photographer. I love that I only need one housing to explore a whole world of visual possibilities. Each optic is compact—most of them fit right into the pocket of my jacket—making it easy to carry a variety without lugging around a heavy bag.
But more than convenience, what keeps me inspired is that each Lensbaby optic has its own personality, its own creative voice. No two lenses feel the same, and that keeps me on my toes. I’ve used the Optic Swap System to get out of creative ruts more than once—and it never fails me. Unlike traditional lenses that can start to feel predictable, the Composer Pro system stays fresh, surprising, and full of potential.
There’s something incredibly energizing about working with gear that constantly invites exploration. It challenges me to grow, to experiment, and most importantly—to truly see. Lensbaby’s old slogan, “See in a new way,” has always stuck with me, and even though today’s motto is “Shoot Extraordinary,” I believe both are true. With the Composer Pro, I do both—and that’s why I love it.
Ready to experiment? Grab your Composer, try a new optic, and let the creative adventure begin!
Looking for more photography inspiration? Check out this helpful guide to your senior portraits by a talented San Diego Senior Photographer and discover how to make your next photo session truly unforgettable.