Reminiscent of classic 20th century lenses, the silver Pentax K 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.

K-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format    Aperture Range: f/1.6 to f/16    Singlet-Doublet-Singlet Optical Design    Soft Glowing Effect at Wide Apertures    Inspired by Classic Portrait Lenses    1:2 Magnification, 5" Working Distance    Manual Focus and Exposure Control    All-Metal Lens Barrel    Filter Thread: 62mm

Portrait-length 56mm focal length is compatible with Pentax K-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.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Because this is a full frame lens will it work with a Canon 40D?

A: Yes

Q: 2. What the best lens for photograph coins

A: Any 1:1 macro lens would be good for photographing coins like the Canon 60mm macro or the 100mm macro.

Q: 3. Auto or manual f stops ?

A: 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.

Q: 4. Is this lens compatible with aps-c? Would it mean it is equivalent to an 84mm macro lens?

A: Yes, it is compatible with APS-C which it'll give an 84mm equivalent focal length.

Q: 5. Is it adaptable to the Sony XIII or Sony XIV? Thanks!

A: If mounting this lens to a Sony E mount camera, you can use an adapter such as the Vello Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E-Mount Camera Lens Adapter, BH # VELANEXCEFII https://bhpho.to/2PDQTcd

Q: 6. Do you need any adapter for the A7RII?

A: No adapter required it is compatible with Sony A7 lens mount. The lens is manual focus.

Q: 7. I'd like to use the lens on a full and cropped sensor Canon. I assume the equivalent focal length on my 7D would be about 85? Thanks.

A: Hi Robert, I use mine on a 6D, 1DIV, 60D and an old 1000D successfully. As with any prime or fixed lens, the focal length of the lens is fixed by the engineering and design of the lens and is not altered by what camera is attached. What does change is the field of view, and as this lens focusses softly from the centre out, (sharper in the centre), some of the dreamier focus attributes are theoretically not able to be captured with the crop sensor. But I haven't found this to be any sort of issue as the range from extreme soft focus to extreme sharp available by aperture adjustment is so great I usually dial it down a bit anyway. I think the field of view of the Velvet 56 would work out to be more similar to a 90mm lens than an 85mm lens though. Hope that's useful - Phil

Q: 8. Can I use this on my Sony a7? Will I have autofocus?

A: The Lensbaby Velvet is manual focus only.

Q: 9. Is this lens good for macro photography? And is it compatible with Lumix GX85?

A: Yes. The following lens is based on a micro our thirds system.

Q: 10. Is this compatible with the Olympus EM-5? the first one not the mark II

A: Yes, the Velvet 56 will be compatible with your Olympus EM-5 camera. It will work in Aperture Priority mode and your in-camera light meter will work. Or you can shoot in Manual mode.