RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Laowa’

Venus Optics releases the Laowa 9mm F5.6 rectilinear lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras

30 Jun

Venus Optics has announced the release of the Laowa 9mm F5.6 FF RL, a lens that takes the title of the world’s widest rectilinear lens for full-frame camera systems.

The lens features a 135-degree angle of view and is constructed of 14 elements in 10 groups, including two extra-low dispersion elements. It isn’t one of Venus Optics’ ‘Zero-D’ lenses, but it features ‘very low’ distortion, which makes it a solid option for landscape, architecture and real estate photography.

A comparison photo showing the difference between a 15mm and 9mm focal length on a full-frame sensor.

In addition to the ultra-wide field of view, the lens also features an incredibly short minimum focusing distance — just 12cm (4.72”) and uses a five-blade aperture diaphragm. The lens measures 60mm (2.4”) in both length and diameter and weighs just 350g (12oz).

Below are a few sample images from Venus Optics:

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_7778798818″,”galleryId”:”7778798818″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

The Laowa 9mm F5.6 FF RL is available in Leica M, Sony FE, Nikon Z and L-mount. This marks the first time Venus Optics has designed a lens for Leica M-mount and to celebrate the occasion, Venus Optics is releasing the M-mount version in black and silver varieties. the Leica M-mount version costs $ 900, while the Sony FE, Nikon Z and L-mount versions costs $ 800.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Venus Optics releases the Laowa 9mm F5.6 rectilinear lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Cine versions of Laowa ultra-wide lenses released for three sensor formats

20 Jun

Venus Optics has announced three additions to its cine range of lenses that each gives users an angle of view equivalent to a 15mm lens on a full-frame camera. The lenses released are for MFT, APS-C and full-frame sensor cameras and come with clickless apertures and 0.8 mod pitch gears for focusing and iris control.

The lenses are the Laowa 7.5mm T2.1 Cine for Micro Four Thirds cameras, the Laowa 9mm T2.9 for APS-C and Super35 sensors and the Laowa 15mm T2.1 for Sony full-frame models. The 9mm and 15mm lenses have the company’s Zero-D designation meaning there is minimal barrel distortion, and all have exceptional close focus abilities – 12cm/4.7in from the sensor for the 7.5mm and 9mm, and 15cm/5.8in for the 15mm lens.

Each of the lenses is an adapted version of an existing stills lens but built with a new housing that has no lens hood, a larger filter thread and slightly longer focus rotation for the 15mm – as well as the geared rings, clickless apertures and T-stop markings.

The lenses are on sale now and come with their own mini Pelican hard case. The 9mm is available in mounts for Fujifilm X, Sony E and MFT, while the 7.5mm is MFT-only and the 15mm is Sony E-only, though the company says versions of the 15mm for Nikon Z, Canon R and L mounts will be coming later this year. The 7.5mm T2.1 and 9mm T2.9 cost $ 599 and the 15mm T2.1 is $ 1,199. For more information see the Laowa website.

Press release

Venus Optics unveiled 3 new Ultra Wide cine lenses for Micro Four Thirds, Super 35 and Full frame cinema cameras

Anhui China, Jun 19, 2020 – Venus Optics, the camera lenses manufacturer specialize in making unique camera lenses, unveiled three new ultra-wide cine lenses for cameras with different sensor sizes. They are the Laowa 7.5mm T2.1 Cine for Micro Four Thirds cameras, Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine for Super35 cameras and the Laowa 15mm T2.1 Zero-D Cine Lens for large format (full frame) cameras. All three lenses feature the same optical system as the their popular photography version and offer premium optical performance. They have also been built with robust cinema lenses housing with design up to the industry standard.

Ultra-wide FoV & fast aperture
All three Laowa cine lenses feature an ultra-wide angle of view and fast aperture. The Laowa 7.5mm T2.1 feature a 110° FoV on MFT while the 9mm T2.9 features a 113° on Super35 sensors. The 15mm T2.1 instead features a 110° FoV on cameras with full frame sensors. The fast maximum t-stop is well suited for filming under low light condition. It also allows filmmakers to have more flexibility in depth of field control.

Close-to-zero distortion
Both the 9mm and 15mm feature the distinguishing Laowa close-to-zero distortion (Zero-D) design where the optical distortion at infinity distance has been compressed to the minimal. This is extremely important for motion picture recording when shooting indoor, architecture or footage with straight lines included. This also saves tremendous amount of time in distortion correction in post processing.

Compact & lightweight
All three wide angle prime lenses are extremely compact and lightweight. Both 7.5mm and 9mm weigh close to 0.5 lbs (226g). The 15mm is a little bit heavier due to the larger coverage but Venus Optics still manage to compress it to around 1.2 lbs (540g). On the contrary to the huge and heavy wide angle lenses in the market, the new Laowa cine lenses are extremely handy for run-and-gun productions, shooting with gimbals, in-car shots, indoor scene, etc.

Close Focusing Distance
All three Laowa cine lenses possess an extremely close focusing distance. This provides a great deal of flexibility for directors to compose shots at any distance. Filmmakers can also take advantage of this close focusing to create some wide angle shots with shallower depth of field. Both the Laowa 7.5mm and 9mm can focus as close as 4.7” (12cm) from sensor to subject while the 15mm can focus up to 5.9” (15cm).

Industry standard cinema lens housing
The major difference between the new cinema version and the still version is the improved housing. The new cinema lens housing have been designed with details to facilitate filmmakers to shoot with ease. Both the aperture and focus rings have been built with industry standard 0.8 mod pitch gears for pairing up with follow-focus motors. The aperture ring is now click-less for smooth iris control. Every one of Laowa cine lenses comes with a filter thread for filmmakers to use screw-in filters and mini matte-boxes. Entire lens body is made by premium grade aluminum and build for usage in extreme environment.

Hassel-free transportation
An authentic hard case made by Pelican will be included with the lens to allow filmmakers to travel around for shooting with ease.

A variety of Current & Future mount options
The Laowa 7.5mm T2.1 Cine is available in Micro Four Thirds mount and it is a perfect companion to cameras like Blackmagic Pocket 4K, Panasonic GH5 and Z-Cam E2

The 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine is available in Fuji X, Sony E mount and Micro Four Thirds mount. The Micro Four Thirds mount can cover the same cameras as 7.5mm and serve as an not-as-wide alternative to MFT users. The Fuji X mount is extremely popular among XT-4 or XH-1 shooters. The Sony E mount works really well with Sony cameras with Super35 sensors including FS5, FS7, A6500 series, etc.

The 15mm T2.1 Zero-D Cine is designed for large format sensor with Sony FE mount available. It is best suited with Sony full frame cameras like Sony A7 series and FX9.

New Nikon Z, Canon RF and Leica L mount will be introduced later this year and they will certain be interesting wide angle options for cameras like RED Komodo, Canon R5, Nikon Z6/Z7, Sigma FP, Panasonic S1H and more to come.

Laowa Wide Angle Cine Lenses line-up
Together with the Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine released earlier for EF and PL cinema cameras, Venus Optics currently offer four wide angle cine lenses for cinema cameras with different sensor sizes.

Pricing & Availability
All three cine lenses are currently available to purchase via Venus Optics official website (http://www.venuslens.net/) and authorized resellers. The US price for 7.5mm T2.1 and 9mm T2.9 is $ 599/pc (ex-VAT) and 15mm T2.1 is $ 1,199/pc (ex-VAT). Pricing varies in different countries.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Cine versions of Laowa ultra-wide lenses released for three sensor formats

Posted in Uncategorized

 

DPReview TV: Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine review – Do you need an ultra-wide for video?

07 May

Ultra-wide lenses pose special challenges when shooting video, but can create dramatic effects. We review the Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine lens, which shares the same optical formula as the company’s 12mm F2.8 lens for full frame cameras.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

  • Introduction
  • Using ultra-wide lenses for video
  • How the Cine version differs from the standard Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D
  • Lens breathing
  • Distortion
  • Sharpness
  • Sunstars and flare
  • Do you need an ultra-wide for video?
  • Which version should you get: Stills or Cine?
  • See you next time!

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on DPReview TV: Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine review – Do you need an ultra-wide for video?

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Venus Optics releases Canon RF, Nikon Z mount version of its Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X APO Macro lens

22 Apr

Venus Optics has announced its Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens is now available for Canon RF and Nikon Z camera systems, joining versions for Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony FE mounts.

It’s been exactly two years since the lens was originally announced and in that time the Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO has earned numerous accolades and positive reviews for being an impressive-yet-affordable macro lens that punches well above its price point.

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_3808734518″,”galleryId”:”3808734518″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

Aside from the additional mount options, the new models remain unchanged from their previously-announced counterparts. They’re constructed of twelve elements in ten groups, feature an F2.8 through F22 aperture range, offer 2x magnification and have 13-blade aperture diaphragms (same as the Sony FE version).

A size comparison from Venus Optics showing the Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO lens (far-right) compared to similar macro lenses from Nikon, Canon and Sony.

The new models come in at the same size as the Sony FE model, weighing 650g (23oz) and measuring in at 72mm (2.8in) in diameter and 155mm (6.1in) long. Below is a gallery of sample images we captured with the original Canon EF version of the Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X APO Macro lens adapted to an EOS R:

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_1571838117″,”galleryId”:”1571838117″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

The Canon RF and Nikon Z mount models are also priced the same, retailing for $ 449 on Laowa’s website and authorized retailers. An optional tripod collar is available as an accessory for $ 30.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Venus Optics releases Canon RF, Nikon Z mount version of its Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X APO Macro lens

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO Lens Review

26 Feb

The post Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO Lens Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

Laowa-65mm-f2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-lens-review

When I was offered the chance to review the Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens, I must admit I wondered what all the fuss was about. From a quick look, it appeared roughly the same size and price as the Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 R macro lens – but it is a manual focus lens.

Then I realized I had misread the specs – this is not a 1:2 macro like the Fujifilm XF 60mm f2.4 R lens, where objects appear half their size on the sensor. Nor is it a true 1:1 macro like the Fujifilm XF 80mm f2.8 R LM OIS WR lens, where objects appear their actual size. The Laowa Ultra Macro lens boasts 2:1 magnification. That’s right! It can take photos where objects appear up to twice their actual size.

Laowa-65mm-f2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-lens-review

The Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens mounted on my Fujifilm X-T2.

In this gear review, I put the Laowa 65mm f2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens through its paces on my Fujifilm X-T2. If you’re not a Fujifilm shooter, keep reading anyway, Laowa has released lenses for many full-frame and APS-C mount systems.

Background

Venus Optics has made Laowa lenses in China since 2013. Most of the lenses they’ve created so far have been for full-frame cameras. Their line-up boasts an impressive range of lenses, including fisheye (fancy a 4mm f2.8 lens?), probe, ultra-wide, and ultra-macro lenses for a variety of camera systems.

Laowa-65mm-f2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-lens-review

These flowers are tiny, measuring less than 10mm (3/8 inch) across. I found the bokeh of the lens to be very pleasant. Fujifilm X-T2 with Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

 

The Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X macro APO is the first macro lens that Venus Optics has launched for non full-frame cameras. While this review is for the Fujifilm X-Series mount lens, it’s also available for two other mirrorless camera systems: the Sony E-mount and Canon M-mount.

Laowa specs

Let’s take a look at the specs for this lens, the Laowa 65mm f2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO.

  • The focal length is 65mm, which is approximately 97.5mm in a full-frame equivalent when you take into account the 1.5 crop factor of APS-C cameras.
Image: A light blue soldier crab on the beach. It’s a wonder I managed to get a shot like this, thes...

A light blue soldier crab on the beach. It’s a wonder I managed to get a shot like this, these little guys move so fast, and they don’t like people! I had to prefocus before the crab came into view. Adults measure 25mm (1 inch). Fujifilm X-T2 with Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

  • 2x Ultra Macro refers to the magnification of this lens – it’s possible to take images where objects appear twice as large on the sensor as real life.
  • Typically, a macro lens is considered a true macro when it achieves 1:1 magnification. So with double that magnification, it seems the Laowa offering is worthy of the title “ultra macro.”
  • APO stands for apochromatic optical design. The lens has 14 elements in 10 groups, including three extra-low dispersion glasses to minimize chromatic aberrations across the frame.
  • Apertures range from f/2.8 to f/22, which you control via the aperture ring on the lens. It focusses from 17cm (2X life-size) to infinity.
Image: Close up of the peeling paintwork on a boat. Even when shooting at f/16, you won’t be able to...

Close up of the peeling paintwork on a boat. Even when shooting at f/16, you won’t be able to achieve a wide depth of field at such a short working distance with macro lenses. Fujifilm X-T2 with Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

 

The Laowa is slightly bigger in size and weight to Fujifilm’s 60mm macro lens, but is still very compact. It measures 57mm in diameter, 100 mm long, and weighs 335g. It takes 52mm filters.

What’s in the box

The lens comes attractively packaged in a sturdy box. Rather oddly, the lens seems to have two different names. On the website, it’s the Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens. On the packaging and on the lens itself, it’s the CF 65mm F2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X.

Laowa-65mm-f2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-lens-review

The lens is attractively packaged and is all metal, apart from the plastic lens cap.

Removing the sleeve from the box, there’s an illustration of the lens on the lid. Inside the box, there’s plenty of foam to protect the lens, which comes wrapped up in a plastic bag with a drawstring.

Build quality

The build quality of the lens – especially at this price point – is excellent. Unlike many other lenses at this price point that are plastic, this lens is an all-metal construction. Even the lens hood is metal, with only the lens cap being plastic.

Using the lens

The Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X macro APO is a manual focus lens – there’s no communication between the lens and the camera body. You achieve focus by rotating the lens until the subject comes into focus.

Given that the lens has quite a wide range of magnification (from infinity to 2x life-size), sometimes it feels like you are twisting the barrel quite a lot to get your subject in focus at different distances.

Laowa-65mm-f2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-lens-review

Select your aperture on the lens and twist the barrel to achieve focus.

If you’re new to manual lenses, don’t be put off. A lot of macro photography work is done using manual focus, anyway.

At first, I did find it difficult to determine exactly what was in focus and what wasn’t, but this is more due to my eyesight more than anything else. As soon as I turned on focus peaking on my X-T2, things became much easier. I did find that at very close distances, focus peaking didn’t seem to work at all.

When using the lens, remember to check the barrel to see which aperture you’re using. As there’s no communication between the lens and the camera body, this won’t show up in your viewfinder display.

You may also want to keep notes on which apertures were used for your images, as these won’t record in the metadata either.

The lens has a nice click as you change aperture across the range. My only issue is that the settings for f/16 and f/22 do look a little alike at first glance due to the design of the indicators.

Depth of field at even the narrowest aperture of f/22 is very shallow when shooting up close. You may want to consider focus stacking to get a sharp image across the frame.

There are some stunning sample images on Laowa’s website, but I’d guess they achieved them with both focus stacking and possibly even extension tubes.

Image: Boats on the beach. I’m really happy with the sharpness, colors, and contrast of the images t...

Boats on the beach. I’m really happy with the sharpness, colors, and contrast of the images taken with this lens. Fujifilm X-T2 with Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

Image quality

I’m really impressed with the image quality of photos taken with this lens. As well as being sharp, they display good color and contrast.

I took the lens down to my local beach and took a lot of images of boats, items on the beach, as well as very fast-moving soldier crabs. I took the images of the boats handheld but shot the close-up images using a tripod and remote release. These two items are essential when working at such close distances, where shutter speeds may be slower than 1/60 second, and where any tiny movement may blur the shot or change focus.

Laowa-65mm-f2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-lens-review

Boat close-up shot. Fujifilm X-T2 with Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

Laowa-65mm-f2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-lens-review

Rope detail. For this second shot, I moved my tripod to the minimum focus distance to get this shot. Fujifilm X-T2 with Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

Value for money

The lens sells for around $ 399 USD. This is very good value considering the image quality, and build quality, and the fact that you’re unable to achieve this magnification with any other lens available at present.

Conclusion

The Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens boasts some impressive specifications. The most impressive, of course, is its ability to produce images of objects that are up to twice their actual size.

Image quality is very good, I’m happy with the results the lens gave me on my Fujifilm X-T2. Photos were sharp and displayed good color and contrast.

The lens is light and compact, has an excellent build quality, and is competitively priced.

Although I’m not a specialist macro photographer, I really enjoyed using the lens. If you enjoy shooting macro images, I’d recommend giving it a go. It’s certainly a great lens for flora and fauna enthusiasts, keen to get up close to the action.

Image: I took the lens down to my local beach to see what I could photograph up close. Pine cone on...

I took the lens down to my local beach to see what I could photograph up close. Pine cone on the beach. I was impressed with the results from this lens. Fujifilm X-T2 with Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

You may also like:

  • Review: Laowa 17mm f1.8 Lens with Micro-Four-Thirds Mount
  • Review of the Venus Laowa 15mm F/4 Wide Angle Lens for Landscape Photographers

 

The post Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO Lens Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Laowa 65mm f2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO Lens Review

Posted in Photography

 

Laowa and Yongnuo to Support Micro Four Thirds Standard

25 Feb

The post Laowa and Yongnuo to Support Micro Four Thirds Standard appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

laowa-yongnuo-micro-four-thirds-standard

The Micro Four Thirds standard will see official support from three additional companies.

Last Thursday, Panasonic and Olympus declared that several manufacturers would be joining them in the production of Micro Four Thirds equipment, including Yongnuo and Venus Optics.

You may be familiar with Yongnuo already; in addition to products such as their popular budget flashes (e.g., the YN560 IV) Yongnuo is working on a mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera, one that sports Android software and features a Canon EF compatible lens mount.

Venus Optics is another company that already produces Micro Four Thirds products, though under the brand name Laowa. You can grab several Laowa MFT lenses, including a budget 17mm f/1.8 prime.

But the announcement from Olympus and Panasonic suggests that we should see a number of additional Micro Four Thirds products coming from both Yongnuo and Venus Optics, potentially bolstering both the MFT lens and camera lineup.

The Micro Four Thirds standard was first unveiled in 2008 when Olympus and Panasonic jointly declared their interest in working “toward commercial production of significantly lighter and more compact interchangeable lens type digital camera systems.”

Since then, we’ve seen the steady production of Micro Four Thirds bodies and lenses from Olympus and Panasonic, including the well-regarded Olympus OM-D series, as well as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G line. Various other manufacturers have also engaged in MFT production, though in recent years the Micro Four Thirds system has been overshadowed by the rise of ultra-portable smartphone cameras, as well as compact APS-C and full-frame mirrorless bodies.

That said, smartphone manufacturers still have a lot of work to do if they’re ever going to match the quality of an MFT camera. And while mirrorless producers do offer MFT-sized cameras, their lenses struggle to compete with the small sizes and weights of MFT offerings. That’s where the Micro Four Thirds system shines; it includes high-quality camera-lens setups that are more compact than anything offered by the competition.

And given this announcement from Olympus and Panasonic, it’s clear that the Micro Four Thirds standard is alive and well, at least for now.

How do you feel about the expansion of the Micro Four Thirds lineup? Would you consider using a Yongnuo or Laowa camera/lens? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Laowa and Yongnuo to Support Micro Four Thirds Standard appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Laowa and Yongnuo to Support Micro Four Thirds Standard

Posted in Photography

 

Laowa launches new 65mm F2.8 2x Macro APO lens for Fuji X, Canon M and Sony E-mount

25 Jan

Venus Optics has unveiled its latest lens, the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Macro APO lens for Fuji X, Canon M and Sony E-mount camera systems. This marks the first macro lens Venus Optics has designed specifically for APS-C mirrorless cameras.

The lens offers a 2:1 magnification ratio and a 100mm full-frame equivalent focal length. It’s constructed of 14 elements in 10 groups, including three extra-low dispersion elements. Venus Optics says the lens was ‘carefully designed to remove both [lateral chromatic aberration and longitudinal chromatic aberration] to an invisible level.’

Below is a collection of sample images provided by Venus Optics:

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_5602204410″,”galleryId”:”5602204410″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

It has an aperture range between F2.8 and F22, and features a nine-blade aperture diaphragm. The minimum focusing distance is 17cm (6.7in) and the front filter thread is 52mm. The lens measures in at 100mm (3.94in) long, 57mm (2.24in) in diameter and weighs 335g (11.8oz).

Below is a video review of the lens from photographer Micael Widell:

The Laowa 65mm 2x APO Macro lens is available on Laowa’s website for $ 400. It’s available for Fuji X, Canon M and Sony E-mount camera systems.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Laowa launches new 65mm F2.8 2x Macro APO lens for Fuji X, Canon M and Sony E-mount

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Venus Optics releases Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D Cine lens for PL, EF and E mount cameras

14 Jan

Venus Optics has announced pricing and availability of its Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine lens.

The lens, which Venus Optics claims is ‘the world’s widest T2.9 cinema lens covering Vista Vision/Full frame sensors,’ is a re-engineered version of its 12mm F2.8 Zero-D photo lens. It’s constructed of 16 elements in 10 groups, features two aspherical elements and has a minimum focusing distance of just 18cm (7in) from the sensor.

As the ‘Zero-D’ nomenclature in its name suggests, the Laowa 12mm T2.9 lens features ‘close-to-zero’ distortion. It offers up a 47mm image circle, which is large enough to support both full-frame sensors and the larger Vista Vision sensors found on RED Monstro and Arri Alexa LF cameras. It also works as a 17mm equivalent lens on Super35 sensors.

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_4661977635″,”galleryId”:”4661977635″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

Both the aperture and focus rings use standard 0.8 mod gears for easy operability with follow focus systems. The focus ring has a 270-degree throw for smooth and precise adjustments. The lens, which is constructed of an aluminum alloy, measures in at 87mm (3.4in) long and weighs just 675g (1.5lbs).

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_5227701635″,”galleryId”:”5227701635″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

The Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine lens is currently available to order in PL, EF and E mount on Venus Optics’ online shop for $ 1,500. In addition to a custom Pelican case, the lens comes with a 114mm step-up ring for attaching matte boxes and other accessories, as well as shims for flange calibration. Pricing will vary in different regions around the world, according to Venus Optics.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Venus Optics releases Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D Cine lens for PL, EF and E mount cameras

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Gear of the Year 2019 – Dale’s choice: Laowa 15mm Zero-D

20 Dec
Photo: Dan Bracaglia

I feel like I’m stretching the rules a wee bit for my 2019 gear of the year by choosing a lens that was technically launched a couple years ago. However, Venus Optics released the Laowa 15mm F2 Zero-D in Nikon Z-mount and Canon RF-mount this year, and since I’ve been using the Nikon version I’m going to call it a 2019 product.

Before you protest, let me review the rules for our gear of the year selections:

  1. The gear you enjoyed using most this year.
  2. If there’s any ambiguity, refer to rule #1.

OK, with that out of the way let’s do this.

If you’ve been visiting the site for a while you may have noticed that over the past few years I’ve become a keen aurora borealis photographer. No matter how many times I see the northern lights I never get tired of them. It’s addictive, and I mean that in a good way. In the process I’ve experimented with a lot of different gear in an effort to find my ideal kit, and I’m really loving this Laowa lens.

Processed to taste in Adobe Lightroom.
ISO 10,000 | 2 sec | F2

I should clarify what ‘ideal’ means in this context. What it doesn’t mean is absolute technical perfection. I know there are hardcore astrophotographers who care very much about technical perfection, and for good reason, but that’s not me. My goal isn’t to create technically perfect images. It’s to create art, to tell a story, to share a unique experience with others.

Yes, I want good technical quality, but I also care about factors like weight, cost and my enjoyment when using the equipment. Why? Because like everyone else I have a budget. Also, when I photograph aurora I often carry three cameras (‘carry’ being the operative word), but that means I have to carry three lenses, three tripods, yada yada yada… It starts to add up pretty quickly, so keeping things on the small side is really helpful. My back appreciates it more every year.

Processed to taste in Adobe Lightroom.
ISO 5,000 | 6 sec | F2

One of the advantage of mirrorless cameras with short flange distances is the ability to create smaller lenses at wide focal lengths, and the Laowa leverages this fact. My other favorite lens for this type of work, the Sigma 14mm F1.8, is both larger and heavier.

In terms of absolute image quality, I think the Sigma 14mm F1.8 – which I picked as my gear of the year a couple years ago – is a bit better. It’s also slightly brighter. The downside? It’s pretty freakin’ big. Three of them in my pack would be noticeably heavier and more crowded than three Laowas; enough so that it matters to me.

The Laowa 15mm F2 (left) is significantly less bulky than the Sigma 14mm F1.8 (right).

Another thing I love about this lens is its build quality. I would describe it as feeling dense; despite its all metal construction and small size it’s still a bit heavier than it looks. It reminds me a lot of my old manual focus Nikkors, including the very nicely damped focus ring.

Speaking of which, it’s entirely manual focus, but I’m shooting the night sky and it’s not like the stars are running an AF test on a bike. (I’m not suggesting Richard Butler isn’t a star in his own right, but you know what I mean.)

Is it perfect? No. There’s definitely vignetting wide open, and even for a couple stops beyond, but the lens profile in Lightroom does an admirable job of correcting it. If I really needed perfection corner-to-corner that would bother me, but I don’t.

Processed to taste in Adobe Lightroom.
ISO 5,000 | 2 sec | F2

Similarly, there are some minor ‘angel wings’ on stars in the corners due to coma, but all things considered it’s not bad. Fortunately, most people aren’t focused on the stars in my photos, but rather the lights.

I’ll admit there’s one thing that drives me bat**** crazy. The metal lens hood doesn’t lock into position securely enough, and the slightest bump knocks it out of alignment, which is easy to miss in the dark. This results in some occlusion of the image in a couple corners. I did it by accident a couple times at first, but I’ve trained myself to be ever vigilant.

Processed to taste in Adobe Lightroom.
ISO 5,000 | 4 sec | F2

Some will argue that the wide angle Rokinons are better and even more affordable. Maybe they are, but in my experience it depends a lot on the particular copy you get. For what it’s worth I own two of them, and neither is as good in the corners as the two Laowas I’ve used.

Is it the best wide angle lens I’ve ever used? No. Do I love using it? Yes. It’s not the right lens for everyone, but it’s certainly a great lens for me, and that’s why it’s my gear of the year.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Gear of the Year 2019 – Dale’s choice: Laowa 15mm Zero-D

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Laowa 15mm F2 Zero-D sample gallery: aurora borealis and architecture

15 Dec

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_0172075546″,”galleryId”:”0172075546″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

The Laowa 15mm F2 Zero-D from Venus Optics is a fast, wide prime lens for full frame mirrorless cameras, available in RF-mount, E-mount, and Z-mount. Like Lawoa’s other ‘Zero-D’ lenses it’s designed to have extremely limited distortion despite the short focal length.

We’ve included a number of images representing two common use cases for this type of lens: astrophotography and architectural photography. Overall, it provides excellent results and delivers on its promise of minimal distortion. Not surprisingly, there’s some vignetting wide open, but it clears up pretty quickly when stopped down and – if desired – is corrected quite well using the lens profile in Adobe Camera Raw.

To illustrate the point, here’s an uncorrected sequence of dark sky photos shot at F2, F2.8, F4 and F5.6. The original Raw files for these images can be downloaded from the sample gallery if you want to make your own comparisons. Click through to the gallery to see all the images.

F2.0

F2.8

F4

F5.6

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Laowa 15mm F2 Zero-D sample gallery: aurora borealis and architecture

Posted in Uncategorized

 
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »