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Venus Optics, the company behind the Laowa line of lenses, has announced two new lenses through Japanese parent company Sightron. The first is the Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D, a ‘zero distortion’ wide-angle prime for mirrorless APS-C cameras. The second is another strange full-frame macro lens: the Laowa 25mm F2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro.
Neither of these lenses have appeared on Venus Optics’ English language website just yet, but we expect them to pop up soon. In the meantime, here’s what we know about the new glass.
Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D
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The long-rumored Venus Optics Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D is an wide-angle prime designed for mirrorless APS-C cameras—specifically, the Sony E, Fuji X, and Canon EF-M mounts. With its 113° angle of view, Venus Optics claims this lens is the widest angle F2.8 lens currently available for APS-C cameras.
Inside, you’ll find 15 lens elements in 10 groups—including three low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements—that attempt to reduce distortion to ‘zero’ (or as close to it as Venus Optics could manage). You’ve also got a 7-blade aperture and a metal construction that promises “excellent robustness and luxury.”
The lens is scheduled to arrive in April, but price for this one is still TBD.
Laowa 25mm F2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro
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Slightly more defined—and lots more weird—is the Laowa 25mm F2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro lens for full-frame cameras. Specifically, you’ll find this one in the Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Sony FE mounts when it, too, ships in April.
At its closest, the lens offers 5x magnification, using an optical design of 8 elements in 6 groups—including an ultra low dispersion lens and multilayer coating on each element—to deliver a working distance of just 40mm at 5x.
Here’s a full review of the newly announce lens by YouTuber Photos by Richard (sample photos available on his website).
Like the 9mm F2.8 Zero-D, the 25mm F2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro also ‘adopts a metal enclosure,’ and is scheduled to ship in April. Venus Optics hasn’t announced pricing yet, but according to Photo Rumors, the lens will cost $ 400 in the US.
To learn more about either of these lenses, check out both Google Translated press releases below.
Press Release
LAOWA 9mm F2.8 Zero-D
SiteLong Japan Co., Ltd. announces the new product “LAOWA 9mm F2.8 Zero-D” of LAOWA (Venus Optics).
Product Overview
- Product name LAOWA 9mm F2.8 Zero-D
- Suggested retail price Open price
- Expected market price TBD
- Scheduled release date around early April 2018
Main Product Features
- This product is the best lens for photographing landscape photographs, architectural photographs, interior photographs, star photographs and so on.
- Use 3 special low dispersion lens (ED lens) and 2 glass aspheric lenses luxuriously. By adopting an optical design with extremely reduced distortion to zero, it is possible to capture landscape photographs and architectural photographs without the influence of distortion.
- It is the widest angle lens (113 °) lens among the wide-angle lenses for APS-C cameras of the open F 2.8 which are on sale now.*
- It adopts metal enclosure with excellent robustness and luxury. Effective flower type hood is attached.
- This product is the brightest, the most compact and lightweight lens among the same class products. Because it is very convenient to carry, it is also ideal for daily snapshot.
Main Specifications
- Focal length: 9mm
- Maximum F value: F2.8
- Viewing angle: 113 degrees (corresponding format: APS-C)
- Lens construction: 10 groups of 15
- Number of diaphragm blades: 7
- Shortest shooting distance: 12 cm
- Maximum magnification: 0.13 times
- Filter diameter: ? 49 mm
- Weight: ~ 215g* Variable depending on mount
- Corresponding mount: FUJIFILM X, Canon EF-M, Sony E
*Product specifications are subject to change without notice due to improvements etc.
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LAOWA 25mm F2.8 2.5-5X ULTRA MACRO
SiteLong Japan Co., Ltd. announces the new product “LAOWA 25 mm F 2.8 2.5-5 X ULTRA MACRO” of LAOWA (Venus Optics). LAOWA 25mm F2.8 2.5-5x ULTRA MACRO is a macro exclusive lens with a magnification of 2.5x to 5x.
Product Overview
- Product name LAOWA 25mm F2.8 2.5-5x ULTRA MACRO
- Suggested retail price Open price
- Expected market price TBD
- Scheduled release date around early April 2018
Main Product Features
- It is a macro lens for full size of manual focus.
- The shortest shooting distance is 173 to 223.5mm and shooting magnification 2.5 to 5 times is available.
- It is possible to secure a working distance of 40mm (5 times) to 45mm (2.5 times) by optical design with a special configuration. It can correspond to various lighting to obtain better shooting result.
- By adopting ultra low dispersion lens (UD lens), by appropriately suppressing chromatic aberration and color fringe, it is possible to capture images with high sharpness and high color reproducibility.
- Each lens is coated with multilayer coating, minimizing ghost and flare. Therefore, under a strong light source, it is possible to take pictures with a very high contrast and neutral color.
- Adopting a metal enclosure with excellent robustness.
- It is compact, lightweight and excellent in portability.
Main specifications
- Focal length: 25mm
- Open F value: F2.8
- Field of View: 10.3 degrees
- Lens construction: 6 groups 8 pieces
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum photographing distance: 173 mm to 223.5mm
- Working Distance: 40mm – 45mm
- Shooting magnification: 2.5 times to 5 times
- Number of diaphragm blade: 8
- Weight: 400g
- Corresponding mount: Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Sony FE
*Product specifications are subject to change without notice due to improvements etc.
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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)