Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8

Canon RF

Review

The Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8 for Canon RF mount is a unique addition to the market, especially for photographers who thrive on creativity and artistic expression. This lens promises to deliver a soft, dreamy quality to images while retaining enough sharpness to ensure subject detail is not lost.

Build Quality and Design

This lens is built with a robust metal housing that gives it a premium feel. The slightly longer barrel design also provides a comfortable grip, making it easy to handle during shooting. The 85mm focal length is flattering for portraits, allowing for lovely compression and bokeh. The lens features an aperture range of f/1.8 to f/16, providing versatility for various shooting conditions and stylistic choices.

Optical Performance

One of the standout features of the Velvet 85mm is its unique optical design that offers a creamy bokeh and a subtle glow, which is particularly appealing for portrait photography. At wider apertures, the lens produces images with a soft-focus quality that gives portraits a romantic feel. It handles lens flare remarkably well, allowing creative use of backlighting without excessive distortion.

However, the softness that is a hallmark of the lens can sometimes be overly pronounced, especially if you're looking for clinical sharpness. Stopping down to f/2.8 or f/4 can yield sharper results while still maintaining some of that characteristic glow.

Usability and Compatibility

As a Canon RF lens, it benefits from the seamless compatibility with Canon's mirrorless systems. Using autofocus is surprisingly effective given that the Velvet series is known for manual focus. The focus ring is smooth and responsive, though it may require some practice to achieve precise focus, particularly when shooting wide open.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Beautifully creamy bokeh that enhances portrait photography.
• Unique soft-focus effect, perfect for artistic shots.
• Sturdy and premium build quality.
• Solid compatibility with Canon RF cameras.

Cons

• Softness can be too pronounced at wider apertures for some styles.
• Manual focus may require additional practice for precise control.
• Limited versatility for sharpness-centric photography.

Verdict

The Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8 for Canon RF is a delightful lens for photographers who embrace creativity and are not strictly seeking razor-sharp images. Its ability to create stunning soft-focus portraits and an ethereal quality makes it a worthy addition to the toolkit of any artistically inclined photographer. If you're looking to venture into more emotive, dreamlike photography, this lens is an excellent choice—just be prepared for its unique characteristics and embrace them to unfold your artistic vision.