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Lensbaby Velvet 56 KAF3 Mount Review

Lensbaby Velvet 56

Main Features

  • 56mm Focal Range
  • F1.6 Max Aperture
  • Filter Thread: 62mm
  • Max Format: 35mm FF
  • Pentax KAF3 Mount
  • Weight: 400g / 0.88 lb
  • Dimensions(øxL): 72mm x 86mm
  • Min Focus Distance: 5m
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Lensbaby Velvet 56 Overview


Lensbaby Velvet 56 is a Fixed aperture Manual Focus (MF) Standard Prime lens with 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with KAF3 Mount cameras.

What type of photography is the Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens good for?

The type of photography that you are planning to use the Lensbaby Velvet 56 is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated its suitability to various photography scenarios:

Photography Type Suitability
Bird/WildlifeFair
SportsAverage
PortraitExcellent
TravelGood
StreetVery Good
WeddingExcellent
Walk AroundGood
VloggingGood
LandscapeGood
Macro

Reasons to Buy Lensbaby Velvet 56 Lens

Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens in a list form to help you determine whether it offers the features you need.

PROs
Aperture Ring
Distance Scale
Full-time Manual Focusing
Fast Aperture
Covers Full-Frame Sensor
Report a correction

Buy Lensbaby Velvet 56 from Amazon or B&H PHOTO


CONs
No Weather Sealing
No Autofocus
Hood is not supplied
Pricey


Lens Mount

Lensbaby Velvet 56 is compatible with cameras that have a Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF3 lenses are Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.

Lensbaby Velvet 56 is also available in Canon EF , Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F (FX), Samsung NX, Sony Alpha and Sony E mounts.

Size, Weight and Filter Thread

Size and weight is a very important decision factor when searching for your next lens. Lensbaby Velvet 56 has a maximum diameter of 72mm and total length of 86mm. It weighs 400g / 14.1 oz.

Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Lensbaby Velvet 56 and HD Pentax-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW (Pentax KAF3 mount) to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life. Check the detailed comparison of these two lenses here.

Lensbaby Velvet 56 vs HD Pentax-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW Lens Size Comparison
Comparison image of the Lensbaby Velvet 56 and the HD Pentax-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW Size and Weight

Lensbaby Velvet 56 has a filter thread of 62mm. Below are links to the filters that we recommend you to consider for your Lensbaby Velvet 56:

  • 62mm Variable ND Lens Filters
  • 62mm Circular Polarizer Lens Filters
  • 62mm Clear Protection Lens Filters




Focal Range

Lensbaby Velvet 56 has a fixed focal length of 56mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 84mm.


Optical Image Stabilization

Lensbaby Velvet 56 doesn't have an optical image stabilization system so the only option to stabilize the image taken with this lens is to mount on a camera body with IBIS (sensor based In-body image stabilization).

Below are the 3 Standard Prime type Pentax KAF mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:

  • Pentax 35mm F2.4 AL: 0.17x - (Compare)
  • Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM: 0.17x - (Compare)
  • HD Pentax-FA 35mm F2 AL: 0.17x - (Compare)

Aperture

Lensbaby Velvet 56 has a max aperture of F1.6.

Lens Hood

Lensbaby Velvet 56 doesn't come with a lens hood.

Body Colour

Lensbaby Velvet 56 is available in Black color.

Popular Comparisons of Lensbaby Velvet 56

Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Lensbaby Velvet 56 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Top Alternatives of Lensbaby Velvet 56 Lens
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
HD Pentax-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW Lens HD Pentax-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW
Compare
35mm FF 910 g / 2.00 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 50mm F1.8 Lens Pentax smc DA 50mm F1.8
Compare
35mm FF 122 g / 0.27 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 Nokton SL II Lens Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 Nokton SL II
Compare
35mm FF 320 g / 0.70 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 55mm F1.4 SDM Lens Pentax smc DA 55mm F1.4 SDM
Compare
APS-C / DX 375 g / 0.83 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro Lens Pentax smc D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro
Compare
35mm FF 265 g / 0.58 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Lens Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Compare
35mm FF 505 g / 1.11 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4 Lens Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4
Compare
35mm FF 220 g / 0.48 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 250 Lens Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 250
Compare
35mm FF 530 g / 1.17 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Lensbaby Velvet 56 Alternatives in Pentax KAF3 Mount
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
HD Pentax-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW Lens HD Pentax-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW
Compare
35mm FF 910 g / 2.00 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
smc Pentax-FA 50mm F1.4 Classic Lens smc Pentax-FA 50mm F1.4 Classic
Compare
35mm FF 216 g / 0.48 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax-FA 50mm F1.4 Lens HD Pentax-FA 50mm F1.4
Compare
35mm FF 223 g / 0.49 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Lens HD Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited
Compare
35mm FF 270 g / 0.59 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited Lens HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited
Compare
35mm FF 155 g / 0.34 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro Lens Pentax smc D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro
Compare
35mm FF 265 g / 0.58 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax DA 40mm F2.8 Limited Lens HD Pentax DA 40mm F2.8 Limited
Compare
APS-C / DX 80 g / 0.18 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax DA 70mm F2.4 AL Limited Lens HD Pentax DA 70mm F2.4 AL Limited
Compare
APS-C / DX 147 g / 0.32 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 Limited Lens Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 Limited
Compare
APS-C / DX 90 g / 0.20 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens Lens Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens
Compare
APS-C / DX 45 g / 0.10 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 50mm F1.8 Lens Pentax smc DA 50mm F1.8
Compare
35mm FF 122 g / 0.27 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 70mm F2.4 AL Limited Lens Pentax smc DA 70mm F2.4 AL Limited
Compare
APS-C / DX 130 g / 0.29 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 55mm F1.4 SDM Lens Pentax smc DA 55mm F1.4 SDM
Compare
APS-C / DX 375 g / 0.83 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc FA 43mm F1.9 Limited Lens Pentax smc FA 43mm F1.9 Limited
Compare
35mm FF 155 g / 0.34 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4 Lens Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4
Compare
35mm FF 220 g / 0.48 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc FA 77mm 1.8 Limited Lens Pentax smc FA 77mm 1.8 Limited
Compare
35mm FF 270 g / 0.59 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC Lens Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC
Compare
35mm FF 535 g / 1.18 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro Lens Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro
Compare
35mm FF 320 g / 0.70 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro Lens Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro
Compare
35mm FF 527 g / 1.16 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo
Voigtlander 40mm F2 Ultron SL II Lens Voigtlander 40mm F2 Ultron SL II
Compare
35mm FF 200 g / 0.44 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 Nokton SL II Lens Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 Nokton SL II
Compare
35mm FF 320 g / 0.70 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Schneider PC-TS Super-Angulon 2.850 HM Lens Schneider PC-TS Super-Angulon 2.850 HM
Compare
35mm FF 1400 g / 3.08 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Irix 45mm F1.4 Lens Irix 45mm F1.4
Compare
35mm FF 925 g / 2.04 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 250 Lens Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 250
Compare
35mm FF 530 g / 1.17 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Carl Zeiss Planar T1.4 50 Lens Carl Zeiss Planar T1.4 50
Compare
35mm FF 350 g / 0.77 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Hartblei Superrotator 40mm F4 IF TS Lens Hartblei Superrotator 40mm F4 IF TS
Compare
35mm FF 1550 g / 3.41 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Lensbaby Sol 45 DSLR Lens Lensbaby Sol 45 DSLR
Compare
35mm FF 144 g / 0.32 lb MF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Lens Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Compare
35mm FF 505 g / 1.11 lb AF Amazon B&H Photo

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Lensbaby Velvet 56 Detailed Specifications


General
Brand Lensbaby
Lens Type Prime
Lens Type Standard Prime
Lens Mount Pentax KAF3
Max Format 35mm FF
Focal Range 56mm
Image Stabilization No
Colour Black
Zoom Method No Zoom
Power Zoom No Zoom
Zoom Lock No Zoom
Zoom Ratio 1.0X
APERTURE
Max Aperture F1.6
Min Aperture
Aperture Ring Yes
Diaphragm Blades unknown
Optics

FOCUSING
Min Focus Distance 5m
Max Magnification unknown
Autofocus No
AF Motor Type No AF
Full Time Manual Yes
Focus Method Extending front
Distance Scale Yes
DoF Scale No
PHYSICAL SPECS
Weight 400g
Diameter 72mm
Length 86mm
Weather Sealing No
Filter Thread 62mm
Filter Notes -
Hood Supplied No
Tripod Collar No
Report a Correction
Frequently Asked Questions about Lensbaby Velvet 56
is the Lensbaby Velvet 56 a Weather-sealed lens?
What is the Minimum Focusing Distance of Lensbaby Velvet 56
is the Lensbaby Velvet 56 an Autofocus (AF) lens?
What is the Filter Thread Size of Lensbaby Velvet 56
Does Lensbaby Velvet 56 have Image Stabilization?
Does Lensbaby Velvet 56 have Aperture Ring?


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