Lensbaby Sweet 22
Summary Verdict
The Lensbaby Sweet 22 is easy to use and can produce eye-catching images with a sharp central zone surrounded by strong blur. It’s a great choice of lens if you want to capture something a little different and enjoy a simpler form of photography. It also encourages photographers to explore new perspectives and subjects.
Score: 4.5/5
For
Produces a strong effect in-camera
Easy to use
Compact a lightweight
Against
No electrical contacts with the camera
Manual focus only
Sweet spot can’t be moved around the frame like with the Optic Swap Sweet optics
What is the Lensbaby Sweet 22?
The Lensbaby Sweet 22 is one of Lensbaby’s standalone lenses, so it mounts directly on a camera like a regular lens and doesn’t require one of the company’s barrels, housings or bodies such as the Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0 or the Straight Barrel. However, it creates the same in-camera effect as the brand's Sweet series optics for Lensbaby’s Optic Swap system that uses the Composer Pro II, Spark 2.0, or Straight Barrel.
This lens is designed for full-frame cameras, boasting a 22mm focal length, however, with the correct mount it can be used on APS-C format cameras on which it has an effective focal length of around 33mm.
Lensbaby makes the Sweet 22 specifically for mirrorless cameras and it’s available with the Canon RF, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X and Sony FE mounts, in addition to the L-mount used by some Leica and Panasonic cameras. There isn’t a commercially available Micro Four Thirds Mount Sweet 22.
Lensbaby Sweet 22 Price
$179 / £179 lens-only
$222.95 / £222 with a clamshell case, ND filter and lens cloth
Lensbaby Sweet 22 Specifications
Product type: Creative lens
Format: Full-frame or smaller
Creative effect: Sweet spot of focus
Available mounts: Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Sony FE, L-Mount
Aperture range: Fixed f/3.5
Closest focusing: 127 mm / 5 inches from the front element
Focus: Manual
Filter thread: 46mm
Construction: Zone plate: 4 elements in 2 groups
Number of diaphragm blades: 0
Dimensions: 73 x 38.5 mm / 2.87 x 1.52 inches
Weight: 140g / 4 oz (Sony FE)
It’s good to see the Lensbaby Sweet 22 has a metal mount.
Key Features
The Lensbaby Sweet 22 is engineered to produce a distinct visual effect, a central sharply focused ‘sweet spot’ surrounded by a dramatically blurred periphery. In some cases, it also creates a zoom-burst-like effect.
Unlike Lensbaby’s Optic Swap barrels (the Composer Pro II and Spark 2.0), the Sweet 22's solid barrel maintains the sweet spot's central position, and it cannot be moved around the image frame.
Another difference from the Sweet 35, 50, and 80 optics is that the Sweet 22 has a fixed aperture of f/3.5, simplifying its operation. It works especially well in aperture priority or manual exposure modes, particularly when the camera is in 'Auto' ISO mode, so the camera can adjust for different conditions.
Build and Handling
The Lensbaby Sweet 22's compact form means it’s likely to be referred to as a 'pancake' lens. As such, it has a sleek profile on most compatible mirrorless cameras.
All Lensbaby lenses, including the Sweet 22, are manual focus only and there are no electric connections between the lens and camera. This means that most cameras need to be told to work without a lens before the shutter will fire with the Sweet 22 mounted. This only takes a couple of minute searching through the camera’s menu to set, and it only needs to be done once as the setting can be left on when other non-Lensbaby lenses are mounted.
The lens's focusing mechanism is straightforward, using a single focus ring with a fluid movement through around 90-degrees. As usual, its helpful to activate the camera’s focus peaking and use a magnified view to ensure the subject is in focus.
It’s worth noting that the Sweet 22’s closest focusing distance is just 127 mm / 5 inches from the front element. That opens up a wealth of photographic opportunities.
Performance
Having previously shot with Lensbaby's Sweet optics in the bendy Spark 2.0 and Composer Pro 11 which allow the sweet (sharp) spot to be moved around the frame, I had to rethink my composition when using the Sweet 22. The central sweet spot means the subject needs to be at or near the middle of the frame, so the ‘rule of thirds’ goes out the window. That can make a refreshing change that opens your eyes to different compositions.
With correct focusing, the central area of the image captured with a Sweet 22 is sharp, but don’t expect it to show the level of detail that you see with a top-notch lens. The Sweet is about artistic expression and creativity, it’s not a lens for avid pixel-peepers.
In some cases, the subject is surround by smooth, uniform blur, but in others there’s an almost zoom-burst effect that helps to add impact to the image and draw attention to your subject. Small highlights outside of the focus area are often stretched, adding a sense of movement and drama.
There’s obvious vignetting when the Sweet 22 is mounted on a full-frame camera, but flare and chromatic aberration aren’t major problem. As someone who often adds a bit of creative cornering shading, I see the vignetting as part of the creative look achieved by the Sweet 22.
Lensbaby Sweet 22 Sample Images
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Verdict
The Sweet 22 is a great introduction to Lensbaby’s creative lenses. It’s easy to use, having a similar design and mode of operation to standard manual focus lenses. The fixed aperture also means that there’s one less thing to think about. With the camera set to aperture priority and Auto ISO mode, you can concentrate on composition and focusing.
As my experience shows, the Lensbaby Sweet 22 isn’t just suitable for Lensbaby novices, experienced users will appreciate the lens's straightforwardness and the distinctive flair it brings to images.
Its effect is dramatic and you can occupy yourself with finding subjects that suit the results it produces. Consequently, it helps you look at the world in a new way and can kickstart your creativity if your running low or lost your photo mojo.
SheReviews
Name: Paula Wilks
Camera: Sony A7R V
Favourite type of photography: Landscape and wildlife
Website: paulawilks.com
Instagram: @saxtraction
Do you have any other Lensbaby lenses? If so, which?
Composer Pro II with Sweet 50/80 and Edge 50/80.
What was it that attracted you to buy the Sweet 22?
The images that I could see other people were getting with it.
Which type of subjects do/will you use it for?
Landscape.
What do you like about the Lensbaby Sweet 22?
As far as Lensbaby lenses go, it is easy to use. The simplicity means there is less to worry about.
Has it lived up to your expectations?
Yes.
How do you find the size and weight of the lens on your camera and in your bag?
Perfect - it is nice and small.
Is there anything you would like to change about the Sweet 22?
No - it would be nice to move the position of the sweet spot, but I'll forgo that for the simplicity.
Is there another Lensbaby lens that you are considering buying?
Not at the moment.
Is there anything else you would like to add about the Sweet 22?
It is a lot of fun to use - it really helps you to get creative.
Which other lenses do you use regularly?
Sony 40mm / 50mm primes, Sony 100-400 and Sony 70-200.
Name: Liz Hammond
Camera: Canon EOS R7
Favourite type of photography: Multi-genre, creative feel and response to the subject
Instagram: @lizhammondphotographer
Do you have any other Lensbaby lenses? If so, which?
Composer Pro II with optics including Double Glass Ii, Twist 60 and an original Double Glass, and a Spark
What was it that attracted you to buy the Sweet 22?
I love the look.of the images taken with the lens. It also has a small profle and is very affordable in the Canon RF mount
Which type of subjects do/will you use it for?
Central compositions with good separation between the subject and background, flowers and portraits are obvious choices. I love the blossom shots I got and it even works well for multiple exposures.
I'm particularly looking forward to trying blue hour or city street shots with background lights for beautiful effects, but I haven't had a chance yet.
What do you like about the Lensbaby Sweet 22?
I think it will be a great gateway to Lensbaby lenses for those new to the system. And that makes me happy.
As a more experienced user of the Optic Swap system, I love that the creative restriction of fixed aperture and static sweet spot simplifies what I need to decide, but equally it forces me to look for different compositions to make a successful shot.
It’s a great-value creative lens.
Has it lived up to your expectations?
Very much so.
How do you find the size and weight of the lens on your camera and in your bag?
It’s a very neat, compact and light lens. It looks very discreet and yes, it’s stylish.
Is there anything you would like to change about the Sweet 22?
Micro Four Thirds users may be asking for Sweet 22s in their fit.
It would be nice if the creative apeture discs could be used with it, but not if it had to be heavier or larger. I'm guessing Lensbaby already tried it and decided no for good reasons
Is there another Lensbaby lens that you are considering buying?
Please don't tempt me! (ok, of course, I have a list for more optics and the Edge 35 is at the top.)
Is there anything else you would like to add about the Sweet 22?
It will take a bit of work and figuring out how to get the best from this lens, but its well worth the effort.
Which other lenses do you use regularly?
I love the Lensbaby Double Glass II with the Composer Pro II, and with the macro adapters. Its been on my camera such a lot!
I also have various Canon RF and EF lenses with converters for more 'standard' shots and wildlife photography.
