Lensbaby Twist 28

The Lensbaby Twist 28 is a manual focus 28 mm pancake lens with a fixed f/3.5 aperture and a Petzval-inspired optical design. It is meant for photographers who want a deliberate, swirling background look. The lens is built for mirrorless cameras and is offered for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, Sony E, Micro Four Thirds and L-mount. According to Lensbaby it covers full frame, and on smaller sensors part of the outer swirl is cropped away. Lensbaby announced it on 26 February 2026, and sales started on 2 April 2026.

Optical design

The Twist 28 uses 4 elements in 3 groups. According to Lensbaby, the design keeps a defined central point of focus while the blur twists and builds toward the edges. The aperture is a fixed circular f/3.5. There is no iris, so exposure is set with shutter speed, ISO or exposure compensation. The lens has no filter thread, and Lensbaby advises against step-up rings, filters or macro converters.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual, with a single ridged focus ring. The minimum focus distance is 20 cm (8 inches). The lens has no electrical contacts, so the camera cannot record lens data, and some cameras need a "shoot without lens" setting enabled before they release the shutter. Unlike the tiltable Lensbaby bodies such as the Composer Pro II, the sharp area stays fixed in the centre of the frame, which makes central compositions the natural choice.

Build and size

The lens weighs 140 g and has a diameter of 73 mm. Its length is under 40 mm, and 38.5 mm is listed for the Nikon Z version. That is pancake territory, and it adds very little to a bag.

Where it fits

The Twist 28 builds on the look of the Twist 60 optic, but it is a complete standalone lens rather than an interchangeable optic for Lensbaby's Optic Swap bodies. Lensbaby's Velvet 28mm f/2.5, which is also in this database, offers a different rendering at the same focal length. Lensbaby's Sweet 22 has the same fixed f/3.5 aperture and similar size, but a different blur character and a wider view.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Compact and light at 140 g
• Wide 28 mm view gives the swirl room to develop
• Close focusing down to 20 cm
• Full frame coverage according to Lensbaby

Cons

• Manual focus only, with no electronic communication
• Fixed f/3.5 aperture and no filter thread
• Sharp area fixed in the centre
• Swirl is partly cropped on smaller sensors

Verdict

The Twist 28 is a specialist tool. It trades flexibility for a distinctive, repeatable look in a very small package. Anyone who wants a neutral wide angle should look elsewhere, but for creative portraits, flowers and street scenes with textured backgrounds it is a compact way to get the Petzval swirl on a modern mirrorless camera.