Lensbaby's soft-focus series – creates silky glow at wide aperture, sharpens when stopped down. Available as 28mm, 56mm and 85mm for dreamy portraits and macro.
What is the Lensbaby Velvet?
The Lensbaby Velvet series are soft-focus lenses with controlled glow. At wide apertures, they create a velvety, dreamy glow, and when stopped down, they become sharp. Available as 28mm (macro), 56mm, and 85mm – perfect for portraits, beauty, and romantic scenes.
Technical Definition
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Soft-focus lens |
| Effect | Controllable glow |
| Variants | 28mm, 56mm, 85mm |
| Characteristic | Soft → Sharp (Aperture) |
The Velvet Series
Available Models
| Model | Focal Length | Aperture | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velvet 28 | 28mm | f/2.5 | 1:2 Macro |
| Velvet 56 | 56mm | f/1.6 | Portrait Standard |
| Velvet 85 | 85mm | f/1.8 | Portrait Tele |
Comparison
| Aspect | Velvet 28 | Velvet 56 | Velvet 85 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perspective | Wide | Standard | Compressed |
| Macro | 1:2 | No | No |
| Portrait | Environment | Classic | Tight |
| Price | ~€450 | ~€450 | ~€500 |
The Soft-Focus Principle
Effect by Aperture
| Aperture | Effect |
|---|---|
| f/1.6–2 | Maximum Glow |
| f/2.8 | Strong Glow |
| f/4 | Moderate Glow |
| f/5.6 | Subtle Glow |
| f/8+ | Largely Sharp |
Characteristics
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Glow | Enveloping softness |
| Highlights | Soft transitions |
| Contrast | Reduced at wide open |
| Skin Tones | Flattering |
Application Areas
Portrait
| Application | Effect |
|---|---|
| Beauty | Smoothed skin |
| Glamour | Hollywood glow |
| Boudoir | Romantic |
| Wedding | Dreamy |
Other Uses
| Genre | Application |
|---|---|
| Flowers | Ethereal mood |
| Macro | Velvet 28 |
| Landscape | Misty, mystical |
| Music Video | Dreamy sequences |
Comparison with Alternatives
| Method | Velvet | Diffusion Filter | Post-Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Aperture | Filter Strength | Unlimited |
| Naturalness | Very High | High | Variable |
| Flexibility | During Shooting | During Shooting | Afterwards |
| Cost | ~€450 | ~€50–150 | Time |
| Authenticity | Organic | Filter Look | Digital |
Technical Specifications
Velvet 56 (Example)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 56mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.6 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Close Focus Distance | ~13cm |
| Weight | ~410g |
Optical Quality
| Property | At Wide Open | Stopped Down |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpness | Soft | Good–Very Good |
| Contrast | Reduced | Normal |
| Vignetting | Slight | Minimal |
| Bokeh | Creamy | Classic |
Workflow
Tips for Film
| Step | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Choose Aperture | Control glow intensity |
| Lighting | Backlight enhances glow |
| Skin Tones | Naturally flattering at wide open |
| Focus | On eyes, precise |
Challenges
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Autofocus | Manual only |
| Flare | Can be amplified |
| Finding Focus | Use focus peaking |
| Consistency | Document aperture settings |
The Legacy
Soft-Focus History
- 1920s: Hollywood Soft-Focus
- Classic Glamour Photography
- 2014: Lensbaby Velvet 56
- Today: Modern Interpretation
Influence
The Velvet has made classic soft-focus accessible for modern cameras – without special vintage optics or filters.
Today
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Portrait Specialists |
| Equipment | Velvet 28/56/85 |
| Cost | ~€450–500 |
| Trend | Popular Portrait Tool |
Modern Situation
The Lensbaby Velvet series is the best modern option for controlled in-camera soft-focus – more organic than filters, more flexible than post-production.
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