Lensbaby Burnside 35

Variable vignette control ; Beautiful, Petzval-style bokeh ; Good center sharpness ; Solid build quality ; Fun, if challenging, user experience

A wider aperture would have been nice ; All-manual operation unforgiving to novices

The Burnside 35 stands out thanks to its Petzval-like bokeh and vignette-enabling effect slider, offering a level of control simply not found elsewhere (the Lomography Petzval 58 has a bokeh control ring, which is about the closest thing we could find...

Wide-angle field of view. Petzval optics. Dual aperture design. Solid build. Available for multiple systems.

Manual focus and Petzval look aren't for everyone. Pricey.

The wide-angle Burnside 35 is another solidly built, art-focused lens from Lensbaby. It's built to the same standard as speciality lenses like the soft focus macro Velvet 85, but delivers a distinctly different look. If you've been thinking about...