Lensbaby Twist 60mm F2.5 E-mount lens review by QuietOC

reviewer#45762 date: Sep-29-2021
sharpness: 4
color: 5
build: 3
distortion: 4
flare control: 3
overall: 3.8
tested on:
  • film camera:Film camera
  • APS-C: 6MP6 MP; 10MP10 MP; 12MP12 MP; 14MP14 MP; 16MP16 MP; 20MP20 MP; 24MP24 MP
  • full frame: 12MP12 MP; 24MP24 MP; 36MP36 MP; 42MP42 MP; 61MP61 MP
ownership:I own this lens
compared to:Lensbaby Burnside 35 F2.8
Lensbaby Sol 45 F3.5
Sony FE 55 F1.8 Sonnar
Lensbaby Velvet 56 F1.6
Konica AR 57 F1.4
Minolta MC 58 F1.4
Tamron SP 60 F2
Sigma 60 F2.8 Art
Sigma 65 F2 DG DN Contemporary
Sigma 70 F2.8 EX DG
Samyang AF 75 F1.8
Lensbaby Velvet 85 F1.8
Minolta Varisoft 85 F2.8
price paid:206 USD (refurb)
positive:Petzval swirl
E-mount adapter included
negative:Heavy
Alignment/variation
Ugly
Goofy controls
Barrel distortion
No electronics
comment:This is a standard Lensbaby Optic Swap Unit combined with a non-tilting, manual focus adapter. The Twist 60 Optical Unit can be easily removed and used in other Optic Swap carriers like the Composers. I assume their other Optical Swap Units can be used with this non-tilting adapter. This is refurbished lens purchased directly from the Lensbaby website.

Like most other Lensbaby designs it only uses 4 lens elements in 3 groups and the image gets rather blurred toward the edges. Unlike the Velvets it is fairly corrected and reasonable sharp wide-open, though the radially uneven fringing must be the result from some misalignment in this example.

It has a much narrower angle-of-view than the Minolta 58mm.

So far their lenses seem less well-made than the typical generic manual lens from China though their asking prices do not reflect this. The tiny aperture markings on the Optical Unit are engraved and there are detents at whole stops. The painted circles on the focus adapter which seem like they should align with the aperture marks on the optical unit are a few millimeters off. The stops are not spaced evenly and don't seem accurate. It appears to use a similar 12 bladed aperture as my Fotasy lenses.

This is a much more practical lens than the Velvet, but it is still fairly limited for possible uses. I haven't tried other Petzval designs. The recent Lomography 55mm F1.7 mirrorless lens seems to be the closest alternative. Overall a decent toy lens that wasn't terribly expensive.

rating summary

lens image
  • total reviews: 1
  • sharpness: 4.00
  • color: 5.00
  • build: 3.00
  • distortion: 4.00
  • flare control: 3.00
  • overall: 3.80
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