The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro and the Lensbaby Velvet 56 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Lensbaby Velvet 56 is the longer of the two lenses at 86mm. The Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro with a length of 67mm, is 19mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Lensbaby Velvet 56 also has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro's 71mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro weighs 320g, which means it is 80g (19%) lighter than the Lensbaby Velvet 56 which has a weight of 400g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Lensbaby Velvet 56 has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Lensbaby Velvet 56:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro and the Lensbaby Velvet 56 has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF, Sigma SA and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Lensbaby Velvet 56 is also available in Canon EF , Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF3, Samsung NX and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75mm.
On the other hand, the Lensbaby Velvet 56 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 56mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 84mm.