Create miniature macro worlds, rich landscapes, otherworldly street scenes, and more with our versatile Velvet 56 art lens. Compose scenes that are lit from within, emanating glow at wide apertures. Shoot at darker apertures to give your photos a sharp, vintage look – with a subtle fall-off on the edges. Focus close to discover an entirely new, larger-than-life miniature world.
Create miniature macro worlds, rich landscapes, otherworldly street scenes, and more with our versatile Velvet 56 art lens. Compose scenes that are lit from within, emanating glow at wide apertures. Shoot at darker apertures to give your photos a sharp, vintage look – with a subtle fall-off on the edges. Focus close to discover an entirely new, larger-than-life miniature world.
Create miniature macro worlds, rich landscapes, otherworldly street scenes, and more with our versatile Velvet 56 art lens. Compose scenes that are lit from within, emanating glow at wide apertures. Shoot at darker apertures to give your photos a sharp, vintage look – with a subtle fall-off on the edges. Focus close to discover an entirely new, larger-than-life miniature world.
Create miniature macro worlds, rich landscapes, otherworldly street scenes, and more with our versatile Velvet 56 art lens. Compose scenes that are lit from within, emanating glow at wide apertures. Shoot at darker apertures to give your photos a sharp, vintage look – with a subtle fall-off on the edges. Focus close to discover an entirely new, larger-than-life miniature world.
Last updated at 06/22/2026 01:21:36
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens Expressive; Unique Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Fujifilm X, Black (LBV56BF)
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm F1.6 Soft Focus Lens Fujifilm X Mount Excellent
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm F1.6 Sony A Mount Soft Focus Black
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Fujifilm X
Delivery between Wed – Sat $10
Lensbaby Velvet 56 for Nikon F
Free delivery between 24 June – 1 July
Lensbaby Velvet 56 for Sony E
Free delivery between 24 June – 1 July
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Nikon Z
Free delivery between 24 June – 1 July
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Nikon F
Delivery $9.90
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens (Nikon F Mount) Black at Etoren
Delivery $36
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens (Fuji X Mount) Black at Etoren
Delivery $36
originally posted on ebay.com
This is a unique lens and will give you a unique look that no other lens will give you in-camera. Opened to f/1.6 it will give you an ethereal glow around your subjects and the specular highlights. It's really at its best when used for portraits or macro photography, especially of plants. Get a good 3 stop ND filter to go with it. When it's wide open it will run up your shutter speed in bright light. Stop it down to f/5.6 and it becomes a nice, sharp lens with a unique bokeh. But if you're just going to stop it down that far then don't bother getting it; the lack of autofocus isn't really worth it. Get a good 50MM f/1.4 instead if you're going to do that. But if you need a portrait lens that will give you a unique look in camera then this is it! Be warned: it's ... MoreThis is a unique lens and will give you a unique look that no other lens will give you in-camera. Opened to f/1.6 it will give you an ethereal glow around your subjects and the specular highlights. It's really at its best when used for portraits or macro photography, especially of plants. Get a good 3 stop ND filter to go with it. When it's wide open it will run up your shutter speed in bright light. Stop it down to f/5.6 and it becomes a nice, sharp lens with a unique bokeh. But if you're just going to stop it down that far then don't bother getting it; the lack of autofocus isn't really worth it. Get a good 50MM f/1.4 instead if you're going to do that. But if you need a portrait lens that will give you a unique look in camera then this is it! Be warned: it's heavy! Carrying it around for a long distance will be a chore. If you're going to do a lot of portraits then get this lens and use it at least once on each shoot. Your clients will like the unique ethereal look. It's a relatively inexpensive way to change up the shoot and maybe sell that extra print.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I'm a hobbyist photographer and I have the most fun with my camera shooting pictures of the flowers in my garden. I shoot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1. The Velvet 56 lens is manual only in all respects. But focus peaking in my E-M1 works wonderfully and I can nail focus with no problem. Shooting in M(anual) mode my camera will still give me exposure metering and I can get consistent exposures across all apertures. I thought my learning curve would be steep because I've been shooting with Aperture priority and auto focus for years now. But to my surprise I had no problem getting pictures that I really like right away. It does make me slow down and think through my shots more, but that is a good thing. The name Velvet is really appropriate, as the bokeh is stunning. ... MoreI'm a hobbyist photographer and I have the most fun with my camera shooting pictures of the flowers in my garden. I shoot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1. The Velvet 56 lens is manual only in all respects. But focus peaking in my E-M1 works wonderfully and I can nail focus with no problem. Shooting in M(anual) mode my camera will still give me exposure metering and I can get consistent exposures across all apertures. I thought my learning curve would be steep because I've been shooting with Aperture priority and auto focus for years now. But to my surprise I had no problem getting pictures that I really like right away. It does make me slow down and think through my shots more, but that is a good thing. The name Velvet is really appropriate, as the bokeh is stunning. Until now I've been using my 70-300mm at 300mm to get the kind of dreamy backgrounds that I want. But this meant standing back away from my subject and the angle I could shoot at was dictated by the distance I had to be from my subject. This lens will go from tack sharp at f16 to dreamy/glowy at f1.6 all at a close focus distance. The transitions are from the outside of the lens in toward the center. This means you can get images that have a nice sharp center with surrounded by beautiful softness with apertures of f5.6 f4. Softness overtakes the center from f2.8 f1.6 but unlike electronic apertures you can set the ring in between apertures and get transitions that are subtler like say f3 or f2.4. The control you have is insane. The images I've uploaded were shot on a tripod with focus locked at f16 and then gradually opened up adjusting shutter speed to maintain exposure. It has never been so easy for me in the past. If you want a lens that gives you creative control over your image and can be used as a normal lens too, this is the lens for you. It won't replace your regular lenses but it is a fantastic addition to your kit.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
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...
| General | |
| Length | 3.4 in |
| Diameter | 2.8 in |
| Weight | 14.46 oz |
| Color | Black |
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens Expressive; Unique Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Fujifilm X, Black (LBV56BF)
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm F1.6 Soft Focus Lens Fujifilm X Mount Excellent
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm F1.6 Sony A Mount Soft Focus Black
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Fujifilm X
Delivery between Wed – Sat $10
Lensbaby Velvet 56 for Nikon F
Free delivery between 24 June – 1 July
This is a unique lens and will give you a unique look that no other lens will give you in-camera. Opened to f/1.6 it will give you an ethereal glow around your subjects and the specular highlights. It's really at its best when used for portraits or macro photography, especially of plants. Get a good 3 stop ND filter to go with it. When it's wide open it will run up your shutter speed in bright light. Stop it down to f/5.6 and it becomes a nice, sharp lens with a unique bokeh. But if you're just going to stop it down that far then don't bother getting it; the lack of autofocus isn't really worth it. Get a good 50MM f/1.4 instead if you're going to do that. But if you need a portrait lens that will give you a unique look in camera then this is it! Be warned: it's ... MoreThis is a unique lens and will give you a unique look that no other lens will give you in-camera. Opened to f/1.6 it will give you an ethereal glow around your subjects and the specular highlights. It's really at its best when used for portraits or macro photography, especially of plants. Get a good 3 stop ND filter to go with it. When it's wide open it will run up your shutter speed in bright light. Stop it down to f/5.6 and it becomes a nice, sharp lens with a unique bokeh. But if you're just going to stop it down that far then don't bother getting it; the lack of autofocus isn't really worth it. Get a good 50MM f/1.4 instead if you're going to do that. But if you need a portrait lens that will give you a unique look in camera then this is it! Be warned: it's heavy! Carrying it around for a long distance will be a chore. If you're going to do a lot of portraits then get this lens and use it at least once on each shoot. Your clients will like the unique ethereal look. It's a relatively inexpensive way to change up the shoot and maybe sell that extra print.
I'm a hobbyist photographer and I have the most fun with my camera shooting pictures of the flowers in my garden. I shoot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1. The Velvet 56 lens is manual only in all respects. But focus peaking in my E-M1 works wonderfully and I can nail focus with no problem. Shooting in M(anual) mode my camera will still give me exposure metering and I can get consistent exposures across all apertures. I thought my learning curve would be steep because I've been shooting with Aperture priority and auto focus for years now. But to my surprise I had no problem getting pictures that I really like right away. It does make me slow down and think through my shots more, but that is a good thing. The name Velvet is really appropriate, as the bokeh is stunning. ... MoreI'm a hobbyist photographer and I have the most fun with my camera shooting pictures of the flowers in my garden. I shoot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1. The Velvet 56 lens is manual only in all respects. But focus peaking in my E-M1 works wonderfully and I can nail focus with no problem. Shooting in M(anual) mode my camera will still give me exposure metering and I can get consistent exposures across all apertures. I thought my learning curve would be steep because I've been shooting with Aperture priority and auto focus for years now. But to my surprise I had no problem getting pictures that I really like right away. It does make me slow down and think through my shots more, but that is a good thing. The name Velvet is really appropriate, as the bokeh is stunning. Until now I've been using my 70-300mm at 300mm to get the kind of dreamy backgrounds that I want. But this meant standing back away from my subject and the angle I could shoot at was dictated by the distance I had to be from my subject. This lens will go from tack sharp at f16 to dreamy/glowy at f1.6 all at a close focus distance. The transitions are from the outside of the lens in toward the center. This means you can get images that have a nice sharp center with surrounded by beautiful softness with apertures of f5.6 f4. Softness overtakes the center from f2.8 f1.6 but unlike electronic apertures you can set the ring in between apertures and get transitions that are subtler like say f3 or f2.4. The control you have is insane. The images I've uploaded were shot on a tripod with focus locked at f16 and then gradually opened up adjusting shutter speed to maintain exposure. It has never been so easy for me in the past. If you want a lens that gives you creative control over your image and can be used as a normal lens too, this is the lens for you. It won't replace your regular lenses but it is a fantastic addition to your kit.
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...
Micro Four Thirds version. I use it for portraits and macro photography. Buyers should be aware that the angle of view is different for every mount system essentially. This is a very flattering lens for women. It is attractive on my GH5. I forgive Lensbaby for not making the mount to tight tolerances as they make many very sions for different systems. However, I would have never noticed the slight mount issue if it were not for Youtubers that pointed it out. Its a nonissue. I like that the filter thread is 62mm as many MFT lenses are. My lens came w/ a hood, but have seen unboxings where that was not the case, but they were older reviews and for systems using larger sensors. Not sure if that was why. The lens is sexy, has a long, precise focus throw, and has such a ... MoreMicro Four Thirds version. I use it for portraits and macro photography. Buyers should be aware that the angle of view is different for every mount system essentially. This is a very flattering lens for women. It is attractive on my GH5. I forgive Lensbaby for not making the mount to tight tolerances as they make many very sions for different systems. However, I would have never noticed the slight mount issue if it were not for Youtubers that pointed it out. Its a nonissue. I like that the filter thread is 62mm as many MFT lenses are. My lens came w/ a hood, but have seen unboxings where that was not the case, but they were older reviews and for systems using larger sensors. Not sure if that was why. The lens is sexy, has a long, precise focus throw, and has such a large gap behind the elements that once I get a teleconverter it would be fun to see if it works just for fun.Enjoy!
If you're looking to create images with an artistic flair, this is the lens for you. It's like having multiple lenses in one shooting wide open at f/1.6 or f/2 gives a soft, dreamy effect with huge halos. I consider f/2.8 f/5.6 the sweet spot where you can create an out-of-focus background with a spiral effect but still keep your subject in sharp focus, much like how the famous Zeiss Otus 55mm does. Higher f-stops lose the blur effect and make images sharper like an ordinary lens. And if that isn't enough, try using this lens for macro shots (as close as 5 inches). The blurry effect on close-ups is fantastic! When I first tried this lens, I was reminded of my days of shooting film with a manual camera when you get a good exposure, you've earned it. There's no ... MoreIf you're looking to create images with an artistic flair, this is the lens for you. It's like having multiple lenses in one shooting wide open at f/1.6 or f/2 gives a soft, dreamy effect with huge halos. I consider f/2.8 f/5.6 the sweet spot where you can create an out-of-focus background with a spiral effect but still keep your subject in sharp focus, much like how the famous Zeiss Otus 55mm does. Higher f-stops lose the blur effect and make images sharper like an ordinary lens. And if that isn't enough, try using this lens for macro shots (as close as 5 inches). The blurry effect on close-ups is fantastic! When I first tried this lens, I was reminded of my days of shooting film with a manual camera when you get a good exposure, you've earned it. There's no autofocus but this lens has a huge throw, so achieving focus manually isn't a chore. Also, make sure to shoot in manual or aperture mode and use your camera's internal light meter to get a proper exposure. If you're not used to shooting manually, this lens will definitely increase your photography skills! Those who say the effects of this lens can be reproduced in Photoshop don't understand the complexity of the image. It would take a lot more than just a blur filter plug-in to reproduce focused objects surrounded by a wildly colorful, bokeh-filled & distorted background that's unique to the image. For shots that benefit from this artistic look, I'd much rather get it in-camera than spend hours trying to reproduce it in post. This lens should make a great addition to my wedding & portrait lens collection, and though I may only use it for 5% of my shots, I expect the Velvet 56 to give my clients a look that's unique and special.
I have been looking for a Lensbaby to start with. On a Sony a6400, the Velvet 85mm was a little too much. The Velvet 56mm is just right, with the crop sensor at 1.5, giving me 84mm...close enough. I rented and played with some macro shooting, but plan to start doing some portraits of friends since it will still allow me to be far enough away (oh COVID!). There is some chromatic aberration when wide open, so you do have to check that especially on white/bright subjects, like a white flower. Sometimes I like that in a photo, sometimes I don't.It's well made and has the macro capability which makes it versatile. As I played with it, I simply practiced photographing the same subject at different stops and it's easy to figure out what the sweet spot is for your photo. ... MoreI have been looking for a Lensbaby to start with. On a Sony a6400, the Velvet 85mm was a little too much. The Velvet 56mm is just right, with the crop sensor at 1.5, giving me 84mm...close enough. I rented and played with some macro shooting, but plan to start doing some portraits of friends since it will still allow me to be far enough away (oh COVID!). There is some chromatic aberration when wide open, so you do have to check that especially on white/bright subjects, like a white flower. Sometimes I like that in a photo, sometimes I don't.It's well made and has the macro capability which makes it versatile. As I played with it, I simply practiced photographing the same subject at different stops and it's easy to figure out what the sweet spot is for your photo. While it doesn't record the fstop in exif, after a few days of using, you can figure out 2.8, 4, 5.6 and 8 are mainly where you'll shoot for the right amount of softness for the subject or mood you're trying to convey.I had considered buying it direct from Lensbaby during their sale, but wanted to try it first. And now, I'm paying a lot less for this well taken care of rental as a "keeper"! Thanks Lensrental!!
A specialist manual lens that is orientated towards soft, diffused, dreamy macro images with interesting bokeh.Stopped down and at distances over a few metres it works almost as a normal standard lens, particularly in the centre of the frame, but opened up towards its maximum aperture of f1.6 and minimum focussing distance of 130mm is where its soft focus and strong bokeh comes into play delivering a range of creative results. The results are not always entirely predictable but that is part of its charm. Hand-held and wide open focussing can be a challenge so tripod mounting calls. There are of course no electrical connections between lens and camera so operations are like going back 50 years or more.The focusing control has got a good feel and the small amount ... MoreA specialist manual lens that is orientated towards soft, diffused, dreamy macro images with interesting bokeh.Stopped down and at distances over a few metres it works almost as a normal standard lens, particularly in the centre of the frame, but opened up towards its maximum aperture of f1.6 and minimum focussing distance of 130mm is where its soft focus and strong bokeh comes into play delivering a range of creative results. The results are not always entirely predictable but that is part of its charm. Hand-held and wide open focussing can be a challenge so tripod mounting calls. There are of course no electrical connections between lens and camera so operations are like going back 50 years or more.The focusing control has got a good feel and the small amount of free play detectable at base doesn't intrude in the field. The main disappointment is the aperture control ring which has a pretty normal feel at the f16, stopped down, end of its range but at f2.8 to f1.6 the detent action is very light and it is all to easy to disturb the setting during normal handling and focussing.It's massively cheaper than something similar from Meyer Optik and if you're looking for this sort of result the Velvet 56 is a bit of a bargain.
I'm a big fan of collecting different lens for different systems. Over the years I have played with several focal lengths with different systems and find 55mm + or - a mm (this is 56mm) is just a great sweet spot of focal lengths. I wanted to try this to see what a soft focus lens is like first hand. Here's my impression. The image quality is astounding at this price point. Very little chroma visible in the soft glowing fringes at f/1.6 but that dissipates at f/2. Image quality in terms of creating macro images and portraits improves up to f/5.6 but at and after f/5.6 you start to loose what makes this lens so alluring. At f/5.6 the image becomes pretty contemporary - that is to say sharp. Personally at f/2.8 and f/4 is where I'll be doing all shooting with this ... MoreI'm a big fan of collecting different lens for different systems. Over the years I have played with several focal lengths with different systems and find 55mm + or - a mm (this is 56mm) is just a great sweet spot of focal lengths. I wanted to try this to see what a soft focus lens is like first hand. Here's my impression. The image quality is astounding at this price point. Very little chroma visible in the soft glowing fringes at f/1.6 but that dissipates at f/2. Image quality in terms of creating macro images and portraits improves up to f/5.6 but at and after f/5.6 you start to loose what makes this lens so alluring. At f/5.6 the image becomes pretty contemporary - that is to say sharp. Personally at f/2.8 and f/4 is where I'll be doing all shooting with this lens. The soft fringing at f/2.8 still overpowers the area of sharp focus by just a little but at f/4 you get thin slice of ultra sharp high contrast image that falls off pleasantly. Just imagine a medium shot portrait where the sliver of sharp focus is just enough for the eyes with the tip of the nose starting to get really soft and the same at the ears with the hair so soft as to appear etherial. It's not the same softness like that of fast lens - more like a softness you get from being out of focus (but not exactly - hard to describe). Just to be objective I'm including a screen shot (so you'll have to make it large to see) of photos of a lens chart demonstrating each aperture from f/1.6 to f/5.6 as seen from about 5' and at the closest focusing distance which is 5. The name of the file in the top right of each image will indicate the aperture. These were shot on the Canon 5D mkIV This lens will not get alot of use but it will get you unique results when you do use it. At f/5.6 you could use it as a normal lens with the depth of field being just shallow enough to still give a nice look. So to me it's a very versatile lens and overall I recommend this lens. If you don't have a nifty fifty yet, you should get one of those first but I plan to use this for a few poses for paid work (just a few on each shoot) to provide a unique view. I can't wait for the next infant shoot with this lens, should be fun.
I wasn't sure how I would like this lens as, with most photographers, I strive for tack sharp in focus images and this lens is clearly not designed to deliver that. What I have found is that this allows me to let my traditional requirements fly and be truly creative. I use it primarily for shooting portraits of children and while it will never be on my lens during the entire time of a shoot, I do like using it to add variety and find that when it is on my lens it almost forces me to be a little more creative and let the rules fly. The name of the lens is accurate - the bokeh does have a velvet quality and the colours are very rich and deep. It is a manual focus lens and while many people recommend to use the LCD zoomed in to achieve tack sharp focus on your subject, ... MoreI wasn't sure how I would like this lens as, with most photographers, I strive for tack sharp in focus images and this lens is clearly not designed to deliver that. What I have found is that this allows me to let my traditional requirements fly and be truly creative. I use it primarily for shooting portraits of children and while it will never be on my lens during the entire time of a shoot, I do like using it to add variety and find that when it is on my lens it almost forces me to be a little more creative and let the rules fly. The name of the lens is accurate - the bokeh does have a velvet quality and the colours are very rich and deep. It is a manual focus lens and while many people recommend to use the LCD zoomed in to achieve tack sharp focus on your subject, I find the viewfinder on my canon 5dmkiii to be sufficient, but that may be as I have trouble using my LCD to shoot through. Additionally when zoomed in, it will help you achieve sharp focus, but you may loose some of your composition if using it for portraits and hand holding it as it's almost impossible (for me, anyway) to keep my hand steady. For the price, the lens is nice and solid, and reminds me of some of my canon L lenses. The reason for the 4 stars is that the aperture must be changed by moving a dial on the lens. I have knocked it several times when focusing. Additionally, at 1.6 the focal plane is so thin I've found it almost impossible to use successfully, although this may be because the only times that I've been at this aperture is because i've accidentally knocked it whilst focussing. Overall, this is a nice lens and one that you can have a lot of fun with.
You cannot fault WEX service, ordered 10:30am Tuesday, received 2:30pm Wednesday, using the lens by 5pm same day. Maybe I was optomistic but I couldn't wait to get out with my new Lensbaby Velvet 56mm. But out I went and had a challeging but fun couple of hours taking night shots with this cool lens. All of the marketing for it shows it used in daylight but it handles night shots well too. Not being able to record the aperture info into exif makes it difficult when coming to process but thats not a major issue and with use I'm sure I shall find my favourite settings and know what's what. I've added a couple of low angle shots from my time last night and no they are not perfect but with practice who knows.....To sum up. A great lens, lovely soft bokeh, easy to ... MoreYou cannot fault WEX service, ordered 10:30am Tuesday, received 2:30pm Wednesday, using the lens by 5pm same day. Maybe I was optomistic but I couldn't wait to get out with my new Lensbaby Velvet 56mm. But out I went and had a challeging but fun couple of hours taking night shots with this cool lens. All of the marketing for it shows it used in daylight but it handles night shots well too. Not being able to record the aperture info into exif makes it difficult when coming to process but thats not a major issue and with use I'm sure I shall find my favourite settings and know what's what. I've added a couple of low angle shots from my time last night and no they are not perfect but with practice who knows.....To sum up. A great lens, lovely soft bokeh, easy to handle, and fun.
| General | |
| Length | 3.4 in |
| Diameter | 2.8 in |
| Weight | 14.46 oz |
| Color | Black |
