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

Canon 6D: We chose the 6D because of who the photographers are that will use this lens. Shoot a photo and send it right over to the web with the built in WiFi feature.

This manual focus standard macro lens, offers a fast f/1.6 maximum and metal build. Being a Lensbaby product, this isn't your run of the mill 56mm macro lens. The Velvet 56mm employs a unique optical design that promises to provide a velvety, glowing, ethereal look to images, whilst still providing...

As far as effects lenses go, this one seems to strike a good balance between blurring details for effect, and being able to produce usably sharp images. The hazy effect itself is quite pleasant.

The Velvet 56mm is solidly built and fairly heavy for its size. The focus ring moves smoothly across a wide arc, but the aperture ring feels a bit loose. The lens can create sharp images at smaller apertures (F8 to F16), and larger apertures introduce a glowy unsharpness.

This lens is not for everyone. There's a pretty steep learning curve and keep in mind that everything is manual. But I love how it makes me slow down and really think about each shot, and the pictures that I've got from it are really lovely, some of my favourite shots of all time. Highly recommend!

I purchased this lens to use as a macro. Several photographers had recommended it. I was not disappointed. I have used it close-up - I can get 5 inches away - or further away to get a cleaner focus. Mostly I've used it on flowers. I'm glad I purchased it!

I like to take candid portraits and this lens takes some time to use. Manual focus is OK but metering through a stopped down lens takes some time. Took me awhile to figure out how to use the lens on my K-50 until I put the camera on Av. Instructions are minimal. At f5.6 and higher, images are sharp.

Very happy with my purchase. This is a beautiful, well made piece of kit. It does take some time getting use to what this lens does (240 practice frames so far) but the results show a lot of potential.

I use this lens for flower shots.I can get very close in macro mode.Get this lens!

I havent tried a scenic or portrait but this lens works great on flower macros. Low apertures produce a glow look w higher settings producing sharp images w rapid fade depending on aperture selection. It works well on my Sony using peaking to choose the focal point

I was taken aback by how large this lens is, but...It is all and more I expected. Sharp as a tack at f5.6 and lower, old fashioned portrait at f2.0 to f4.0, everything fuzzy and glowy at f1.6. I LOVE THE CAPABILITIES.

I recently received my Lensbaby Velvet 56 mm lens and am having a great time experimenting with it. Not normally use to manual focus, its a bit of a challenge, but once you figure out what you are doing, their are so many things you want to start taking photos of.

Very nice lens for close up photos especially photographing flowers.