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Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Sony E (Black)

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Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Sony E (Black)
Key Features
  • E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.6 to f/16
  • Singlet-Doublet-Singlet Optical Design
  • Soft Glowing Effect at Wide Apertures
Reminiscent of classic 20th century lenses, the black Sony E mount Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens from Lensbaby produces a uniquely soft, glowing image quality that is well-suited to making expressive and ethereal portraits. The overall softness can be controlled by stopping down the lens while still retaining the smooth tonality of a soft focus lens. Compatible with full-frame sensors, this slightly longer-than-normal focal length pairs with the fast f/1.6 maximum aperture to excel in difficult lighting and achieve a shallow depth of field with controllable sharpness. Additionally, for increased creative versatility, the lens also offers a 1:2 maximum magnification and a minimum working distance of 5" for macro shooting. Housed within a black metal barrel, this lens also features smooth, dampened manual focus control to further benefit creative flexibility. Consistent with Lensbaby's aim of purveying selective focus capabilities and a unique velvety image quality, the Velvet 56mm f/1.6 is a versatile tool that marries classical looks with contemporary control.
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Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Overview

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From Manufacturer

Reminiscent of classic 20th century lenses, the black Sony E mount Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens from Lensbaby produces a uniquely soft, glowing image quality that is well-suited to making expressive and ethereal portraits. The overall softness can be controlled by stopping down the lens while still retaining the smooth tonality of a soft focus lens. Compatible with full-frame sensors, this slightly longer-than-normal focal length pairs with the fast f/1.6 maximum aperture to excel in difficult lighting and achieve a shallow depth of field with controllable sharpness. Additionally, for increased creative versatility, the lens also offers a 1:2 maximum magnification and a minimum working distance of 5" for macro shooting. Housed within a black metal barrel, this lens also features smooth, dampened manual focus control to further benefit creative flexibility. Consistent with Lensbaby's aim of purveying selective focus capabilities and a unique velvety image quality, the Velvet 56mm f/1.6 is a versatile tool that marries classical looks with contemporary control.

Portrait-length 56mm focal length is compatible with Sony E mount cameras with full-frame format sensors as well as APS-C format sensors, where it will provide an 84mm equivalent focal length.
Fast f/1.6 maximum aperture offers extensive control over selective focus and shallow depth of field, and also benefits working in difficult lighting conditions.
The unique singlet-doublet-singlet lens design renders imagery with a soft, smooth, and glowing image quality reminiscent of mid-20th century portrait lenses.
Softness can be controlled by stopping-down the lens: when stopped-down to f/16, the image exhibits a smooth quality with greater central sharpness.
A 1:2 maximum magnification ratio and 5" minimum working distance enable working with close-up subjects.
Manual focus design with a smooth, dampened focusing movement is complemented by engraved focus distance indicators.
Manual exposure control requires stop-down metering and manual setting of the aperture.
UPC: 850366006099

Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Specs

Focal Length
56mm
Aperture
Maximum: f/1.6
Minimum: f/16
Lens Mount
Sony E
Lens Format Coverage
Full-Frame
Minimum Focus Distance
5" / 12.7 cm
Magnification
1:2 Macro Reproduction Ratio
0.5x Magnification
Optical Design
4 Elements in 3 Groups
Focus Type
Manual Focus
Filter Size
62 mm (Front)
Dimensions
ø: 2.8 x L: 3.7" / ø: 72 x L: 95 mm
Weight
14.1 oz / 400 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
1.225 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
5.7 x 4.2 x 4.1"

Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Reviews

Coming up on my 10 year anniversary!

By chris
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2025-01-08

Every now and then, a breakthrough product will emerge and the Lensbaby 56 is one of them! I've been using this lens for 9 years simply because of the SOOC results that require either no or very little editing. My clients are always blown away by the results and it keeps them happy and the referrals keep coming!

Awesome!

By Paul
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-28

I was very impressed with the build quality! It attached to my Canon 90D perfectly! Here are a few tips...You have to use live view to obtain the sharpest focus. I have found that focus tweaking set on high and red is the way to go...F4 is the best setting to start with while you learn how to compose your shot and focus. Wide open, the entire image is very very dreamy...

See any errors on this page?

Is this lens compatible with aps-c? Would it mean ...

Is this lens compatible with aps-c? Would it mean it is equivalent to an 84mm macro lens?
Asked by: Melissa
Yes and it works great.
Answered by: Tom
Date published: 2020-06-19

question

Can I use this on my Sony a7? Will I have autofocus?
Asked by: Anonymous
The Lensbaby Velvet is manual focus only.
Answered by: Dana G.
Date published: 2018-08-26

question

Auto or manual f stops ?
Asked by: Anonymous
The Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Sony E is fully manual and would have a manual aperture ring for setting the lens' desired f-stop setting.
Answered by: Manzell L.
Date published: 2018-08-26

I want to buy the Nikon F version so I can use it ...

I want to buy the Nikon F version so I can use it on my Nikon Film cameras, then attach the Lens baby to my fujifilm X-t3 with my vello adapter. Will the lens give its best performance on both cameras? The Vello adapter has no glass-it only adjusts the difference between the sensor and the lens. Nikon F cameras have a greater distance between lens mount and film.
Asked by: Roger A.
Both cameras will produce equally good images.
Answered by: Rob
Date published: 2020-08-18

For those that own one, how would you ...

For those that own one, how would you characterize the overall build quality (fit and finish) of this lens?
Asked by: Bryce
This lens seems to be well made, better than some other Lensbaby lenses. It resembles a regular lens, with smooth focusing and a good aperture ring.
Answered by: Lee
Date published: 2019-07-29

question

What is the difference between the silver and the black Lensbaby Velvet 56?
Asked by: Caroline R.
Other than the color, the silver finish has etched markings on the lens barrel.
Answered by: Nicolaas S.
Date published: 2018-08-26

will this work on a canon rebel eos t5 1200d ?

will this work on a canon rebel eos t5 1200d ?
Asked by: hubert
This is a RF lens, so it would not work on a Canon Rebel camera.
Answered by: Stephen G
Date published: 2021-02-02

I shoot a Nikon F2AS, the last fully mechanical F ...

I shoot a Nikon F2AS, the last fully mechanical F series film camera Nikon made. Since this is a manual lens with an F mount, would it work on this camera? (The camera does have a built-in light meter which obviously would not couple with this lens, but I seldom use that anyway and it is not a consideration for me.)
Asked by: Ted
As the Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Nikon F is a fully manual lens and has a built-in aperture ring, it would be compatible for use with the Nikon F2AS 35mm film SLR camera.
Answered by: Manzell L
Date published: 2019-10-07
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