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The Lensbaby Velvet 56

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So sharp, and …………….so soft,

About a month ago, I received the Lensbaby Velvet 56.  Now, I am not someone who is into “Form over Function”, but the presentation that Lensababy makes with this lens is …. impressive.

Most lens manufacturers give you their lens in a white, boring shipping container.

The Velvet 56 box is tastefully covered with artsy, slightly muted  images.

You know, those soft yet sharp images that are so cool and yet so difficult to get right?

You get the feeling from the start that this is not like other lenses.

This is an Art lens;… made for artists,.. to make Art.

Okay, …I admit it, now I’m a little intimidated.

Lensbaby-Velvet-56-box

 

Inside was this very dark black, shiny lens.  When I picked it up, I was impressed again. It reminded me a bit of a lens from my old film days.  This is Not a plastic, mass produced lens, or some polymer coated aluminum, flimsy thing.  This lens is very solid and made of metal.  This is a cool looking lens.   But looks are not important with a lens, right?

… it is cool though.

I attached the Velvet56 to my Super Color converted Canon 7DMKII and it is a very solid connection, not hard to attach, but firm.  Everything about this lens is like that; solid, firm, deliberate.

As I said this is an Art lens, and it is also a manual lens. Manual focus and manual f-stop.   There is a simple step before using a manual focus lens.  Take your camera with an autofocus lens attached and focus it on a non-moving object.  Then adjust your cameras diopter so that the image looks sharp.

diopter

Now you are ready.

First, a few technical things.  This lens has a f-stop range of f16 – f1.6.  At f16, and f11, the lens is sharp and there is some softness, but the magic section for me was f8 – f2.8.  This area gave me my favorite results.  The softness at f2 & f1.6 are very intense.

I wanted to try the lens out right away, so I used my closest model, my dog Precious.  There wasn’t much light in the room; just sunlight, so I grabbed a tripod.  I set the ISO at 200, the shutter speed at 1/3 sec, and set the f-stop to 4.  The sunlight was hitting her right in the face.

This was the result.

DW__0008a

All I did to this image was desaturate the color tones.

I was amazed; the eye is so sharp, yet the image is so soft.  I did set my focus on her eye, and I cannot believe the puppy held still.

It was at this point that I was no longer intimidated,…. now I’m excited .

But, that was just one image, I need to try other scenarios.

I walked outside, did a manual white balance and shot a rose.

DANW0391-

This is at ISO200, 1/60sec, and at f8.0.  There was slight red color tone to the petals that I desaturated, that’s it.  Look at the texture in the petals.

This lens is tack sharp, and you know with Infrared that can be challenging.

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Along that same thought, the Velvet 56 also has a macro setting.  Turn the focus ring clockwise and you can now get very close, and very sharp.

This is ISO100, 1/125sec, f 5.6

DANW0031

All I did was desaturate this image.

 

Next I wanted to check it out for something along the lines of a landscape image.  I know this is 56mm lens, but I wanted to see what it would do.

This is at ISO100, 1/125sec, f16

DANW0015a1

Super Color, channel swapped and one with the Red and Yellow color tones removed.    There’s sharpness and some great depth.

 

Here’s f11     First the Raw image

DANW0153-1

 

Now channel swapped

DANW0153-

 

and finally with a few adjustments and a texture layer.

DANW0153a

Now I am hooked.

Lastly, I wanted to try this as a portrait lens.

I contacted a model by the name of Rylie Frohack, and convinced her to be my guinea pig.

I think I called it something classier, ….. like a test subject.

I shot at every f-stop to see what results I could get, but this is where I realized that f8 – f2.8 was My favorite range.

Here’s a few examples.

The RAW file

11-13-15-008

The eyes are sharp, the image is soft.

Here’s a few adjustments.

11-13-15-008a1a

That was f4.0

 

This is 5.6

11-13-15-003a11

 

Here’s f8.0

DANW0195a11

 

Remember I said I liked f2.8?  This is why.

 

 

Rylie

This was made outside, not in a studio.  At f2.8 the depth of field is so narrow that the background just disappeared into softness.  Here eyes and the edge of her hair are sharp, the rest just gets softer.  All I had to do was desaturate the color tones and adjust the levels a bit.

You are not going to be surprised for me to say I love the images I got from the Lensbaby Velvet 56.  It is a quality lens that produces great results in Infrared.

I’d like to thank Rylie Frohock for being my gui….Test Subject for this shoot, AND Lensbaby for allowing me to test their lens.

If you want more information on the Lensbaby Velvet 56, click here

If you would like to view the rest of my test images, click here

  • Latest Articles
  • Author Bio
Dan Wampler

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Dan Wampler

Dan Wampler

Dan Wampler is a digital artist from St Louis, MO. Having been interested in art and photography since childhood, he spent most of adult life working for Kodak and in the portrait photography industry. A student of the works of Ansel Adams, Any Warhol, and David Hamilton, Dan attempted to keep a wide range of artistic style.

As an early adopter of digital imaging, he found it gave him a way to completely incorporate art and photography. Began shooting Digital Infrared in 2004, and had first camera converted in 2006. His work has been seen in numerous gallery shows, is featured in an iTunes app. He produces Infrared and natural color digital art for sale and teaches his post-production techniques online.

Dan is LifePixel's Creative Director,  social media manager, lead blog author, main workshops and training sessions instructor. His images appear in this gallery and throughout the website.

If you have a topic suggestion or request feel free to shoot him an email at danwampler@lifepixel.com

Otherwise all LifePixel customer service inquires should be directed to service@lifepixel.com or by phone at 866-610-1710.

View more of Dan's work on his Website | Facebook


See All Articles by Dan Wampler
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Filed Under: Gear

Comments

  1. Eduardo Ramirez says

    April 30, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Will this lens also work for full spectrum converted cameras? Is the lens strongly coated? I would like to use it with UV and I was wondering if the muticoating would filter out the UV.

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      May 1, 2016 at 10:51 am

      I have used the Velvet 56 on a full spectrum camera, without issues. As for the questions regarding the coatings, I would suggest contacting Lensbaby directly for those answers.

      Reply
  2. Toby Van de Velde says

    February 1, 2016 at 2:45 pm

    Great images in this article. I have a D70 shooting at 690nm and recently got an Edge80. Not put them together yet tho….
    Thanks for the insight.

    Reply
  3. Heather Campbell says

    December 4, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    Your images with this lens are amazing! Thank you for sharing them.

    Based on your review here, I think I am going to grab this lens.

    Reply
  4. Mark davis says

    December 1, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    I was so impressed with your article I BOUGHT ONE. Got the Special Edition in a walnut box at the Black Friday special. On it’s way to Oz now and should have it by Christmas for my holidays – stay tuned.

    Reply
  5. Mark Hilliard says

    November 24, 2015 at 5:30 pm

    Great article and product evaluation as usual! Nice to see you embrace your artsy fartsy side. ?

    Reply
  6. Matt Elenbaas says

    November 21, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    Dan,
    Great review I have a D200 in supercolor w/a 18×200 zoom.can I go back and forth w/the lens Baby? Life pixel did my conversion.

    Thanks, Matt

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 21, 2015 at 4:43 pm

      I have been able to go back and forth with no issues on my camera.

      Reply
  7. Joye Ardyn Durham says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    Love the tree image Dan and especially like the dog! I was lucky enough to be a beta tester of the Velvet 56, in fact a couple of the photos on the box are mine. It is my favorite Lensbaby lens and I have worn it out. Thanks for showing your images and the review of the Velvet 56. It’s going to be hard to top this lens.

    Reply
  8. A. J. Arechederra says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:07 am

    Dan;
    You have a natural gift…the intuitive ability to “see” potential for a aesthetically superior picture beyond what can be seen by others. Your pictures suggest that your insightful gift combined with knowledge of your tools (lighting, filters, camera, lenses) allow you to naturally pre-visualize in your minds eye the subject or scene “selectively” as opposed to the camera or casual observer seeing the same scene or subject “indiscriminately.”
    I encourage you to continue nurturing this gift, not everyone has it. May wealth and fame follow.

    Sincerely,
    A.J.

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 20, 2015 at 6:13 am

      Thanks. I was lucky to have a great mentor when I first started.

      Reply
  9. Patrick Shipstad says

    November 19, 2015 at 11:52 am

    I love that you’re mixing it up, experimenting and going for something different. And the Lensbaby lenses are perfect for that. Great work.. thanks for the post! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Larry says

    November 19, 2015 at 8:14 am

    Hi Dan, thanks for your great review. The Lensbaby Velvet 56 sounds like next lens for me in the new year.

    Reply
  11. StuartHershon says

    November 19, 2015 at 5:13 am

    Hi Dan, thanks for your great review. I wonder if it matters which lens your IR conversion was originally calibrated for? I have a converted Canon 10D with a 50mm 1.8 and I have a IR converted 40D with a 28-300mm lens. Would you know if the Lensbaby could work with those differing calibrations?

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 19, 2015 at 5:21 am

      I have used the Lensbaby Velvet 56 now on two Life Pixel converted cameras, both Super Color conversions, and both were calibrated for the nifty-50, the 50mm f1.8. It works well on both.

      Reply
  12. Thee Todd Heilman says

    November 18, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    As I said of this sexy beast of a lens on Facebook… just take my money now. I am sold.

    Reply
  13. Jan says

    November 18, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Those images are just beautiful, amazing model too. I have just bought the V56 and still “playing” am yet to get another fab shots, it confuses me a bit!! How do you mean you desaturate, how do you do that? Jan

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 18, 2015 at 7:43 pm

      In Photoshop, under Hue & Saturation, you can adjust color tones.

      Reply
  14. Donald C Cook says

    November 18, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    This lens seems amazing. To be able to get the sharpness and the drop off into a soft almost glow right out of the camera helps with the post production on processing. I can think of a number of situations and l would use with this lens. I too was surprised at the price, at $500 it is very good value. Now added to my wish list.

    Reply
  15. Mark G says

    November 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    What I love about these images is that the lens is taking over some of the post-production “work.” We always learn to get as much right in the camera as we can. I am literally blown away at how sharp the finite circle is in the center (the hair and eyelashes!), and how quickly it softens as you move toward the edges of the frame. I followed the link to get more info and found the lens’ bonus: at $500, it’s a downright steal~

    Reply

Comments

  1. Eduardo Ramirez says

    April 30, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Will this lens also work for full spectrum converted cameras? Is the lens strongly coated? I would like to use it with UV and I was wondering if the muticoating would filter out the UV.

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      May 1, 2016 at 10:51 am

      I have used the Velvet 56 on a full spectrum camera, without issues. As for the questions regarding the coatings, I would suggest contacting Lensbaby directly for those answers.

      Reply
  2. Toby Van de Velde says

    February 1, 2016 at 2:45 pm

    Great images in this article. I have a D70 shooting at 690nm and recently got an Edge80. Not put them together yet tho….
    Thanks for the insight.

    Reply
  3. Heather Campbell says

    December 4, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    Your images with this lens are amazing! Thank you for sharing them.

    Based on your review here, I think I am going to grab this lens.

    Reply
  4. Mark davis says

    December 1, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    I was so impressed with your article I BOUGHT ONE. Got the Special Edition in a walnut box at the Black Friday special. On it’s way to Oz now and should have it by Christmas for my holidays – stay tuned.

    Reply
  5. Mark Hilliard says

    November 24, 2015 at 5:30 pm

    Great article and product evaluation as usual! Nice to see you embrace your artsy fartsy side. ?

    Reply
  6. Matt Elenbaas says

    November 21, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    Dan,
    Great review I have a D200 in supercolor w/a 18×200 zoom.can I go back and forth w/the lens Baby? Life pixel did my conversion.

    Thanks, Matt

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 21, 2015 at 4:43 pm

      I have been able to go back and forth with no issues on my camera.

      Reply
  7. Joye Ardyn Durham says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    Love the tree image Dan and especially like the dog! I was lucky enough to be a beta tester of the Velvet 56, in fact a couple of the photos on the box are mine. It is my favorite Lensbaby lens and I have worn it out. Thanks for showing your images and the review of the Velvet 56. It’s going to be hard to top this lens.

    Reply
  8. A. J. Arechederra says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:07 am

    Dan;
    You have a natural gift…the intuitive ability to “see” potential for a aesthetically superior picture beyond what can be seen by others. Your pictures suggest that your insightful gift combined with knowledge of your tools (lighting, filters, camera, lenses) allow you to naturally pre-visualize in your minds eye the subject or scene “selectively” as opposed to the camera or casual observer seeing the same scene or subject “indiscriminately.”
    I encourage you to continue nurturing this gift, not everyone has it. May wealth and fame follow.

    Sincerely,
    A.J.

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 20, 2015 at 6:13 am

      Thanks. I was lucky to have a great mentor when I first started.

      Reply
  9. Patrick Shipstad says

    November 19, 2015 at 11:52 am

    I love that you’re mixing it up, experimenting and going for something different. And the Lensbaby lenses are perfect for that. Great work.. thanks for the post! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Larry says

    November 19, 2015 at 8:14 am

    Hi Dan, thanks for your great review. The Lensbaby Velvet 56 sounds like next lens for me in the new year.

    Reply
  11. StuartHershon says

    November 19, 2015 at 5:13 am

    Hi Dan, thanks for your great review. I wonder if it matters which lens your IR conversion was originally calibrated for? I have a converted Canon 10D with a 50mm 1.8 and I have a IR converted 40D with a 28-300mm lens. Would you know if the Lensbaby could work with those differing calibrations?

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 19, 2015 at 5:21 am

      I have used the Lensbaby Velvet 56 now on two Life Pixel converted cameras, both Super Color conversions, and both were calibrated for the nifty-50, the 50mm f1.8. It works well on both.

      Reply
  12. Thee Todd Heilman says

    November 18, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    As I said of this sexy beast of a lens on Facebook… just take my money now. I am sold.

    Reply
  13. Jan says

    November 18, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Those images are just beautiful, amazing model too. I have just bought the V56 and still “playing” am yet to get another fab shots, it confuses me a bit!! How do you mean you desaturate, how do you do that? Jan

    Reply
    • Dan Wampler says

      November 18, 2015 at 7:43 pm

      In Photoshop, under Hue & Saturation, you can adjust color tones.

      Reply
  14. Donald C Cook says

    November 18, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    This lens seems amazing. To be able to get the sharpness and the drop off into a soft almost glow right out of the camera helps with the post production on processing. I can think of a number of situations and l would use with this lens. I too was surprised at the price, at $500 it is very good value. Now added to my wish list.

    Reply
  15. Mark G says

    November 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    What I love about these images is that the lens is taking over some of the post-production “work.” We always learn to get as much right in the camera as we can. I am literally blown away at how sharp the finite circle is in the center (the hair and eyelashes!), and how quickly it softens as you move toward the edges of the frame. I followed the link to get more info and found the lens’ bonus: at $500, it’s a downright steal~

    Reply

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