Lensbaby Composer: Conclusions

CONCLUSIONS
A Lensbaby isn't for everyone. Either it appeals to you or it doesn't. If it does appeal to you, then I can recommend it as a fun and annoyingly addictive toy for your photo arsenal. The price tag is worth noting - for around $270 (at the time of this writing) you'd be able to purchase (or at least make a serious dent in) a more traditional lens. There's the danger, too, of the novelty wearing off. But what's the fun in talking about that?

The Composer is the product of several evolutions in Lensbaby's lineup, and it's the most user-friendly of the selective-focus lenses in the catalog. However, there are still a few frustrations with the lens's functionality. You'll have to fumble around with a little magnetic tool to change aperture on the fly. Manual focus will slow down some photographers and make shooting moving objects tricky.

Anyway, part of the appeal of the lens is that it does take some time to get used to. Photographers love to fiddle with things, make adjustments, try new tricks and get lost in the process of making images. If the cost doesn't bother you, and maybe even if it does a little, the Lensbaby Composer is sure to offer hours (and hours) of entertainment.

Individual Ratings: *

Image/Video Quality 
Features 
Design/Ease of Use 
Performance 
Expandability 
* Ratings averaged to produce final score