Reminiscent of classic 20th century lenses, the black Leica L 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.
Hello, Log InAccount & Orders
Video Chat with a Photography Expert - Live
Key Features
- L-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 Leica L 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.
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Overview
Portrait-length 56mm focal length is compatible with Leica L-mount cameras with full-frame-format sensors.
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: 850024037922
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Specs
Key Specs
| Focal Length | |
| Maximum Aperture | |
| Lens Mount | |
| Lens Format Coverage | |
| Focus Type | |
| Image Stabilization | |
| Filter Size |
| Maximum Aperture | |
| Minimum Aperture | |
| Lens Mount | |
| Lens Format Coverage | |
| Minimum Focus Distance | |
| Maximum Magnification | |
| Optical Design | |
| Focus Type | |
| Image Stabilization | |
| Filter Size | |
| Dimensions (ø x L) | |
| Weight |
Packaging Info
| Package Weight | |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) |
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Reviews
amazing dreamy and creamy. also macro
By Nika
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-23
best vintage lense for that price
Lensbaby Velvet 56 f/1.6 Limited Edition for Pentax K
By Joseph
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-05
This lens is so much fun! Bit tricky at first but now finding a good groove, especially one or two stops down. Fabulous for flowers and gives stunning results. The velvety glow at wide apertures can be mesmerizing with the right subject and distance. It sparks the creative juices!
Save some money
By Mauricio
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2022-11-25
This is for the special edition: first of all, there is no wooden box. I contacted Lensbaby. The copper ring looks very nice and if has what I consider a flimsy copper color cap and that's it! If that is worth for you the extra money (at the time of writing $150) go ahead otherwise just get the regular one, you ain't missing something really special
I am very happy with this lens.
By Ginette
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-11-21
Very happy fort the results of my photography.
Lotta fun to use
By Huntley
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-09-28
Been getting some really fun shots with this lens.
Nice lens.
By Ronald
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-08-23
High quality and fun to use.
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...
I have no idea that there is market for this
By James
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-13
why would you want a lens that you can not have a usable depth of field. Makes no sense to me.... Although, I am not an artsy photographer..
See any errors on this page? Let us know
YOUR RECENTLY VIEWED ITEMS
can you use this lens on an apsc format pentax?
can you use this lens on an apsc format pentax?
The Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Pentax K (Black) is compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor cameras.
Date published: 2022-12-28
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.
Both cameras will produce equally good images.
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?
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.
Date published: 2019-07-29
question
What is the difference between the silver and the black Lensbaby Velvet 56?
Other than the color, the silver finish has etched markings on the lens barrel.
Date published: 2018-08-26
Where is the Limited Ed made?
Where is the Limited Ed made?
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Limited Edition Lens for Canon EF (Black with Copper Accents) country of origin is USA.
Date published: 2023-02-17
will this work on a canon rebel eos t5 1200d ?
will this work on a canon rebel eos t5 1200d ?
This is a RF lens, so it would not work on a Canon Rebel camera.
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.)
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.
Date published: 2019-10-07
The lens cap does not sit, if a filter is ...
The lens cap does not sit, if a filter is attached to the lens. Since the lens cap does not have any clamping mechanism, is there any way to keep the lens cap on?
I am using this one https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1405848-REG/hoya_a_nxtpl62uv_62mm_nxt_plus_uv.html
Date published: 2022-07-06