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Review: Laowa 17mm f1.8 Lens with Micro-Four-Thirds Mount

22 Oct

The post Review: Laowa 17mm f1.8 Lens with Micro-Four-Thirds Mount appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mark C Hughes.

The new Laowa 17mm f1.8 lens for MFT

There are a lot of gear reviews for new photography gear. Many focus on technical specifications and others focus on sharpness and precision of the optics. I had a chance to spend a few weeks with the Laowa 17mm f1.8 lens for Micro-Four-Thirds (MFT) mount. This is a bit of a different lens that requires a slightly different approach to a review. I am hoping this approach will help you decide if this is a lens for you.

The New Laowa 17mm f1.8 lens is a fully manual compact design with metal construction, a small metal hood and clear markings on the barrel

This lens fits 46mm threaded filters (common for MFT)

Technical Specifications

I will run through the technical specifications of the Laowa 17mm f1.8 lens as they have some interesting but limited impact on this review (aside from the price). As a 17mm lens on an MFT mount, this has a corresponding field of view that corresponds to a 34mm lens on a full-frame (FF) sensor (65 degrees). The lens has nine elements in seven groups with a seven-bladed iris. The filter diameter is 46 mm, and the weight is 172g. It is not weather-sealed, and the MSRP is $ 149USD.

Works great even in low light conditions

Practical details

Aside from the mathematics of technical specifications, I think a lens review should provide more practical details. Details that describe the intangibles about the lens. Things you only realize when you have the lens in your hand or on your camera.

Perfectly balanced with smaller MFT camera bodies like the Pen F

For starters, this is a completely manual lens with manual focus and manual aperture control.

It is a small but solid – really solid – lens with metal construction and even a small metal lens hood (not much shading from this guy). This lens does not feel plastic-y in any way shape or form. The movement of the aperture ring and focus control feels great, and the aperture ring has quiet click settings (it is not clickless but moves easy) and the markings on the focus ring are clear.

This lens feels like something from the best film era vintage lenses and is well-sized to match the size of smaller MFT camera bodies.

Works well with the Olympus EM5 MK II

Focal range

At 34mm FF equivalent, the Laowa 17mm f1.8 is a prime lens size that, along with a 50mm FF equivalent, should be in any photographer’s bag. Some famous photographers have operated with only lenses in this range. At a 34mm FF equivalent, it provides a relatively wide field of view and a more forgiving range for focus. Wider lenses tend to be more forgiving when trying to focus them. With the manual focus on this lens, not getting focus perfect can still result in usable images.

Because it has a wide field of view, you can get pretty close.

Once the focus is set, the lens performs well.

Sharpness

As for image quality, the lens does reasonably well. It is not the sharpest (even when you nail focus) and it is clear that when fully wide open, the lens is sharper in the center of the image but softer at the edges. Saying this doesn’t really describe the image results from this lens. The image is sharp where it needs to be and softer where is it okay to be softer. The look from the lens is great. In addition, the seven-bladed iris produces very nice starbursts when closed down for night shots of light sources.

Even with close-ups, there are little problems resolving the images and little vignetting.

The seven-bladed iris allows for very nice starbursts at night

Size

As for size and usability, this Laowa 17mm f1.8 lens fits smaller MFT bodies really well (like a Pen F) and looks a little dwarfed on a bigger body (like an EM1X). Not only does this lens fit well on smaller bodies, but it looks entirely old school like the cameras that are going for that stylistic approach.

I had many people asking me if I was shooting with a film camera when I had this lens on my Pen F. I seemed to reinforce this feeling when I tried to focus and take a photograph and took forever. This is not a run-and-gun lens.

The lens is small and can seem overly-small on larger MFT bodies

Old-school feel and slow approach to photography

I am old enough to have shot film with manual film cameras. I thought I had left that all behind to use all the technical horsepower in modern cameras to really nail technically-challenging circumstances trying to get the best images. As a consequence, I had forgotten about the slower process of taking photographs when all you had was a split prism and a needle for a light meter.

When you connect a manual lens on an MFT camera, you operate primarily with the histogram/light meter to get a good exposure. You have to think about ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and focus. It takes time.

Fun to experiment with when you have the time

Slow photography is like slow food

I remember years ago traveling in Italy and going to a slow food restaurant.

The whole concept with slow food is to make it more of an experience and to take time to savor the flavors and textures. I think shooting with a manual lens is similar. It means that you are shooting slower and have to think way more about your images – no run and gun.

Slow photography is forced on you when you shoot with this type of lens. With cell phones, you pull them out and shoot. You barely focus. There is no thought to the process, and maybe that means that people can focus on the subject matter of their images. However, at other times, it means that you really aren’t thinking much about the images you are taking.

Image: Despite being quite a wide lens, there is little obvious distortion with the Laowa 17mm f1.8...

Despite being quite a wide lens, there is little obvious distortion with the Laowa 17mm f1.8 lens.

Nailing focus

Trying to nail focus with a manual focus lens also means you have to slow down. Back in the old manual focus film camera days, you had split prisms and micro prisms in your viewfinder to help you get your focus right. These tools are not available on modern digital cameras.

However, with mirrorless bodies on MFT cameras, you have other tools at your disposal including magnification and focus peaking. I was able to custom set my camera’s buttons to allow me to set one button for magnification and another for focus peaking. It’s still not fast, but it worked fairly well.

Image: Even for moving subjects, such as from a balloon, once you have your exposure and focus set,...

Even for moving subjects, such as from a balloon, once you have your exposure and focus set, it performs like any other lens.

This magic of this type of lens is that you need to slow down and think about the image you are composing. You need to think about everything from ISO to aperture to shutter speed and finally focus. If any are off, you can instantly see that you have screwed up. If you think back to the film days, it wouldn’t be until you got your images developed that you would know you messed up. When I was using this lens, I knew immediately when I screwed up, even when I thought I had all the settings right.

Limited distortion even for buildings

That process of slowing down and understanding what you are doing was a great deal of fun. The lens was wide enough and fast enough (aperture wise, not in any other way) that I would feel comfortable taking only this lens out to take some shots.

Not for the faint of heart

Slow means you can’t shoot fast. This seems obvious, but when someone says to you, “take our picture, “…they pose and wait for you. This lens will not do that quickly, regardless of how good you are.

You can take portraits, but you need to plan the shots and be ready when the opportunity comes up. An old street photography trick used to be to set your exposure with an intermediate aperture, put your focus at 3 feet, and point and shoot. In practice, this is not quite so simple. Nailing the exposure is a little trickier because you need to be looking through the lens to get the exposure balanced.

This lens is great to travel with because of its width and small size

The Results

I really enjoyed the Laowa 17mm f1.8 prime lens. I have other similar prime lenses, but all are equipped with autofocus and electronic apertures. They also feel pretty plastic. They are more expensive, but sharper. This lens feels great, is super-solid, shoots well and needs lots of attention to your images. It forces you to shoot like a photographer. You feel like a photographer. It also makes you look like a photographer.

At $ 149 USD, the Laowa 17mm f1.8 lens is quite the value. My images turned out great and I fell in love with taking slower pictures again. I had a chance to slow down and smell the roses, or in this case, take more deliberate thoughtful images.

Would you use a lens like this? Share with us in the comments below.

The post Review: Laowa 17mm f1.8 Lens with Micro-Four-Thirds Mount appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mark C Hughes.

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Laowa opens pre-orders for new 17mm F1.8 MFT lens, set to ship later this month

21 Oct

Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 17mm F1.8 for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera systems is currently available to pre-order and will ship later this month.

The manual lens, which costs $ 149, is constructed of nine elements in seven groups, features a seven-blade aperture diaphragm, has a 15cm minimum focusing distance and a 46mm front filter thread. The 34mm full-frame-equivalent focal length offers a 65-degree angle of view and the lens weighs in at just 172g (6oz).

Venus Optics also notes the lens is ‘drone-friendly,’ due to the versatile MFT mount, lightweight design and its Frog Eye Coating (FEC), which allegedly repels water and dirt off the front lens element.

Below is a sample gallery of images Venus Optics has provided:

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You can pre-order the Laowa 17mm F1.8 MFT now on Laowa’s website for $ 149. The first units are expected to ship out in ‘late October,’ according to Laowa.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Laowa 100mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO sample gallery

17 Sep

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The Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO is unusual among macro optics for offering a maximum reproduction ratio of 2:1, enabling extreme closeup photography. Despite its impressive specifications, it’s priced at a wallet-friendly $ 449. Our UK-based contributor has been shooting with the 100mm F2.8 for a while, and we’ve uploaded a small sample gallery.

View our gallery of images on the Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Laowa delays the release of its 4mm F2.8 Fisheye lens for MFT camera systems

11 Sep

In a post on Sightron Japan’s website, it has announced that the Laowa 4mm F2.8 Fisheye lens for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera systems has been postponed.

In a very brief notice (translated) on its information page, Sightron says the lens, which was set to be released this coming Friday, has been delayed. The machine-translated version of the notice reads ‘since there is a possibility that a problem individual was mixed, we decided to postpone the release.’

Based on that translation, it seems as though a number of lenses had issues, but Laowa couldn’t pinpoint down exactly what lenses were affected and are therefore going back through and testing the units that have already been produced.

Sightron, says ‘details regarding the release date will be announced as soon as they are determined.’ It ends the post by thanking interested parties for their understanding and patronage. We’ve contacted Venus Optics for additional details and confirmation on what regions are affected by this delay. We will update this article accordingly when we hear back.

Update (September 11, 2019): This article originally mistated the relationship between Sightron Japan and the Laowa brand. It has been updated accordingly.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Venus Optics announces Laowa 4mm F2.8 lens with 210º FOV for MFT camera systems

11 Aug

Venus Optics has announced the pricing and availability of its Laowa 4mm F2.8 Circular Fisheye lens for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera systems.

When placed on a MFT camera, the 4mm F2.8 features an 8mm 35mm equivalent focal length and features a whopping 210º field of view. This means a full 360º image can be captured and stitched together with plenty of room to spare using just two photos. The lens also makes for an interesting pairing when used with MFT-compatable drones, such as DJI’s Inspire X5 drone, as demonstrated in the video below:

The Laowa 4mm F2.8 is constructed of seven elements in six groups and features a seven-blade aperture diaphragm. It has a minimum focusing distance of 8cm (3.15in) and measures in at 25.5 x 45.2mm (1 x 1.78in) and weighs just 135g (4.76oz).

Below are a few (non-high-res) sample images shared by Venus Optics:

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The lens is expected to retail for $ 199 from Venus Optics and authorized retailers with the first units expected to ship out in mid-August 2019. For more information and additional sample images, check out Venus Optics’ product page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Venus Optics announces pricing, availability of its Laowa 100mm F2.8 2:1 macro lens

10 May

Venus Optics has announced that the Laowa 100mm F2.8 macro lens it first showed at Photokina last year will cost $ 449 and will begin shipping at the end of this month. The 100mm Ultra-Macro APO lens can achieve 2:1 magnification and joins the company’s 60mm F2.8 with the same magnification ratio to create a unique line-up of macro optics.

The version designed for Canon EF mount has electronic contacts to drive aperture control and EXIF data

The lens will be available for Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony FE mounts, and will come with slight variations depending on the mount version. The Canon model is chipped and has an aperture motor to enable body-controlled aperture changes and for EXIF data to be stored in the image. The Canon version will also has a nine-bladed iris, while the Nikon model features a seven-blade aperture diaphragm. The Sony FE version of the lens will has a 13 blade aperture diaphragm.

Below are a few sample photos provided by Laowa:

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Laowa says it has worked hard to suppress chromatic aberrations, not only in focused areas but also areas not covered by the depth-of-field – which it points out is a problem for many other lenses.

A tripod collar is available for an additional $ 30. For more information see the Venus Optics website.

Press release:

Venus Optics announces availability and pricing for Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Ultra Macro APO

Featuring a 2 times life-size reproduction with no visible CA, the new Laowa Macro is a high quality and versatile macro and portrait lens.

China, 7 May 2019 – Venus Optics, the camera lenses manufacturer who had previously launched a number of unique Laowa camera lenses, is proud to announce the availability and pricing of the new Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO lens.

Followed by the success of the Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro, the 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro is the 2nd member of Laowa 2:1 macro line-up. This new 100mm lens can cover full frame sensor and focus from 2:1 magnification to infinity. 100mm is a more popular focal length for macro photographers. However, all of the current 100mm macro lenses in the market can only achieve 1:1 (life-size) or even smaller magnification. Shooting with smaller bugs is usually a challenge for macro photographers. The wider magnification range of the new Laowa Macro allows photographers to capture subjects at any size, making it one of the most versatile macro lens in the market. Despite having the wider range, Venus Optics manage to compress the size of the lens to the minimal and it is similar to other 1:1 macro lens in the market.

Laowa 100mm 2:1 Macro lens also features an apochromatic (APO) characteristic that chromatic aberration is invisible. Chromatic aberration (CA) is one of the most challenging topic for optics designer as it can usually ruin a perfect image. Some of the macro lenses in the market controls the chromatic aberration at the ‘in-focus’ area really well but the CA is uncontrollable in ‘out-of-focus’ rendition. The Laowa 100mm, however, delivers an exceptional performance on chromatic aberration suppression, both at the ‘in-focus’ area as well as ‘out-of-focus’ area. The subject in the image will not be polluted of any unwanted color fringing.

The Canon version of the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro lens is integrated with a CPU chip and aperture motor. Photographers can now control the aperture and exposure through the camera itself and record the EXIF data into the photos. A focus indicator will also be shown in the camera to assist focus. This new feature also benefits macro photographers when composing at smaller f-stop as the aperture will only close when shutter is released, making the viewfinder so much brighter.

Not only it is an exceptional macro lens, the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 is also a very decent portrait lens when focus to infinity. The 12 elements in 10 groups optics design delivers a crystal sharpness image in both macro and infinity distances. The bright f/2.8 and circular aperture renders softly diffused bokeh and isolates the subject from its background. The lens has an internal focusing structure that will not extend when focus is changed. A multi-layer coating has also been applied to reduce lens flare and ghosting for increased contrast. Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony FE mounts are currently available.

Pricing & Availability

The suggested retail selling price in US of the new Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Ultra Macro APO lens is USD 449/pc (ex-VAT). Pricing varies in different countries.

The lens is now available to order from Venus Optics authorized resellers and official website (http://www.venuslens.net/) . Shipping is expected to start from late May onwards.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Venus Optics announces Laowa 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 FE lens, RF & Z mount versions “coming soon”

26 Oct

Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 FE zoom lens, a new ultra-wide-angle manual lens for full-frame Sony cameras.

“In response to the demand from mirrorless camera shooters of having a compact wide angle zoom, Venus Optics [has] managed to compress the size of the 10-18mm FE Zoom to the smallest in its class,” reads the press release. The lens measures in at 3.5in/9cm long, 2.75in/70mm in diameter, and weighs only 17.5oz/496g.

It’s constructed of 14 elements in 10 groups, including two aspherical elements and one extra-low dispersion element. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 6in/15cm and a minimum aperture of F22 with a five-blade aperture diaphragm.

The rear of the lens has a 37mm filter thread for adding filters to, as well as a 100mm magnetic filter holder system for the front of the lens. A built-in switch de-clicks the aperture on-demand if you’re planning on using the lens for video shooting.

Venus Optics has shared a gallery of sample images captured with the lens on Flickr.

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The lens is currently available for pre-order for $ 849. The first 50 pre-orders through Laowa’s site will receive a free 100mm magnetic filter holder system.

Venus Optics says a Canon RF- and Nikon Z-mount version of the lens will be “coming soon.”

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Hands-on with the new Laowa lens collection

02 Oct

Hands-on with Venus Optics’ new Laowa lenses

As we reported last week, lens manufacturer Venus Optics launched a total of eight Laowa lenses at the Photokina trade show this year. Or more accurately, nearly launched eight as some of the cine lenses were plastic dummies behind glass – but we went to the stand to see those on display to get a taste of what they’re like.

Venus Optics has produced some really excellent lenses in the past, and seems to specialize in lenses that other manufacturers aren’t making – such as the unusual 24mm probe macro lens recently released. The company’s Zero-D range has also gained a very good reputation as a series of extreme wide angles that display hardly any curvilinear distortion – hence the Zero-D name.

Above you’ll see the 17mm F4 GFX Zero-D – an interesting lens and the first Laowa lens for Fujifilm’s GFX system. Its 17mm focal length delivers the angle of view we’d expect from a 13mm lens on a full frame system, and as such it’s the widest lens available in the G-Mount.

Laowa 17mm F4 GFX Zero-D

It is pretty big, but well-made and solid in the hand. Some of the 829g/1.8lb weight comes from the 21 elements inside the barrel, but the rest comes from the shell-case metal construction. Its size will make it look at home perhaps on the GFX 50S but it may look odd on the new 50R rangefinder style model.

Laowa 17mm F4 GFX Zero-D

The lens measures 77×124.5mm and takes an 86mm threaded filter. It can focus to 20cm, offering a maximum magnification of 0.28x. The iris uses seven blades while Fujifilm’s own GF 23mmF4 R LM WR uses nine. The smallest aperture is F22 and the angle of view is 115°. The aperture ring offers clicks only in full stops and only closes down to F22.

Laowa 12mm F1.8 MFT

This is a tiny lens considering the focal length and the maximum aperture, making it best suited to the smaller of the Micro Four Thirds cameras – on which it will behave as a 24mm would on a full frame system. The lens hood is detachable and 46mm filters can be used.

Laowa 12mm F1.8 MFT

The example on show was very much pre-production, but the focus movements felt very nice. This is another 5-bladed iris lens, for the sunstar fans, and it can focus down to just 14cm/5.5in. The lens weighs 165g/0.4lbs, and measures just 5cm/2in long.

Laowa OOOM 25-100mm T2.9 Cine Lightweight Zoom

This might be a lightweight cine zoom, but it is still a pretty big piece of kit. Venus Optics was showing the lens on the front of a Kinfinity 6K Terra, the company’s smallest camera – a combination designed to emphasize the compact nature of the package. The lens has three geared rings, for the iris, the zoom and the focus, all of which turn smoothly and with a pleasant resistance.

Laowa OOOM 25-100mm T2.9 Cine Lightweight Zoom

The lens has a constant maximum aperture of T2.9 across the zoom range, and Laowa maintains that focus is retained during zooming as well. The company says that while some other brands convert a stills lens for video this Laowa Ooom was designed for cinema from the off.

Laowa OOOM 25-100mm T2.9 Cine Lightweight Zoom

Focus, aperture and focal length markings are repeated on each side of the barrel, and are controlled with some rugged looking gears. The lens will be available in PL mounts, as well as Canon EF and Sony E. It has a covering circle sufficient for Super 35mm sensors.

Laowa 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 FE Zoom

This is an intriguing little lens that shows what can be achieved when one of your goals isn’t a wide aperture. The tiny dimensions defy the extreme wide angles and the fact that it is designed for full frame cameras – Sony FE. That it will most likely be used closed down means the 5-bladed iris probably won’t show in highlights, and Laowa claims it will make lovely sunstars when aimed at bright point sources.

Laowa 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 FE Zoom

The rear of the lens offers a 37mm filter thread for hiding an ND, or similar, away from the flare of the front of the barrel when filming. Laowa is also working on a front mounted system for 100mm filters that will work with some sort of clamp mechanism. It offers clicked and unclicked apertures via a switch on the side of the barrel.

Laowa 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 FE Zoom

Amazingly the tiny barrel contains 14 elements in 10 groups. The length of the lens is 90.09mm and it weighs just 496g. Laowa claims it is the widest zoom available for Sony FF users, and that it is ideal for travel, landscapes and architecture.

Laowa 17mm F1.8 MFT

This is a very neat little lens that comes with a plastic hood and is designed to be an everyday 35mm-type focal length for the small cameras of the Micro Four Thirds system. It is quite small for the size of the maximum aperture, and weighs only 160g/0.36lbs.

Laowa 17mm F1.8 MFT

It feels very well made, and the construction is the sort of solid you get from a most-metal lens. It features 9 elements in 7 groups, and the company boasts it only has a 5-bladed iris – which it says makes the lens excellent at producing clean sunstars.

Laowa 17mm F1.8 MFT

Shown on an Olympus Pen the lens looks very much at home and in proportion. Its solidity makes a nice balance with the small camera, and the smooth focusing ring makes it feel like a quality lens.

Laowa 4mm F2.8 Fisheye MFT

This is a seriously nice wide lens. I’m not usually a fan of circular fisheyes but this might change my mind. It is really well made and produces a 210° angle of view, in a delightfully small form, and is designed for the MTF system.

Laowa 4mm F2.8 Fisheye MFT

The front element is really bulbous and the reflections in it give some idea about what it can see. The focus ring is fitted with a small handle to make working with just a finger easier. The aperture range covers F2.8 to F16, and inside there are seven elements in six groups controlling the light path. It doesn’t take filters!

Laowa 4mm F2.8 Fisheye MFT

Mounting it on my Lumix G9 I could immediately see why Laowa was displaying it on a flat-fronted Olympus Pen, as my fingers and the grip of the camera were clearly visible at the edge of the frame – as well as my stomach at the bottom of the picture! It is a fun lens that is very well made, but it will be difficult to use.

Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

Why there aren’t more macro lenses that allow magnifications greater than 1:1 I don’t know, but Laowa is making the most of the gap in the market with its second model. The 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO is quite a beast compared to the other miniature lenses on the stand, but remains quite lightweight as a lot of the barrel is empty space. It will be available for Nikon, Sony, Pentax and Canon users, and focuses from 24.7cm to infinity.

Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

The front element drops about halfway down the barrel when focused at infinity, and extends right to the top for close working. The 67mm filter thread is actually on the barrel itself rather than attached to the front element housing, so it will remain still the whole time – just sometimes closer to the lens than at other times.

Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

The rear of the lens reveals something Laowa is excited about – contact pins that allow the lens to work with Canon cameras while retaining aperture controls. This also allows aperture coupling in Nikon F cameras which makes life a lot easier.

Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

Mr. Li Dayong, the General Manager and lens designer at Laowa, says the lens has APO corrections and is suggested for portraiture as well as macro. He also says that the variation in the number of aperture blades between the different mounts is accounted for in the design differences he had to make when creating the automatic iris mechanisms.

Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D MFT

Laowa has introduced two new 9mm F2.8 Zero-D lenses – one for Micro Four Thirds and the other for the DJI DL mount. It will be the widest option for DJI Inspire 2 drone owners with the Zenmuse x7 gimbal, and the imaging circle is enough to cover Super35 sensors.

Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D MFT

The lens weighs only 215g and is very small indeed. It has the standard Laowa finish and offers a detachable hood. This is the same lens that the company already produces in the Fuji X, Sony E and EOS-M mounts.

Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine

This 12mm cine lens is part of the Zero-D range and is designed for full frame cameras. It will come fitted with either a PL or Canon EF mount, and is a cine version of the existing lens aimed at stills photographers. Of course it has stepless apertures and uses 0.8 gears, as do all these cine lenses, and has had the rotation of its focus ring extended to 270° to make life easier for focus pulling during recording. It has a closest focus of 0.6ft/18cm and weighs 650g/1.4lbs.

Laowa 7.5mm T2.1 Cine

There wasn’t too much to see here as the lens is clearly some way from being finished. It looks nice though! The lens will be available for MFT and weighs 180g/0.4lb, it uses 13 elements in 9 groups and has a 46mm filter thread.

For more information on these lenses see the Venus Optics Laowa website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Venus Optics shows eight new Laowa models, including the widest Fujifilm GFX lens

27 Sep

A dramatic flurry of lenses has emerged from independent manufacturer Laowa at Photokina as the company shows a total of eight new models in a wide range of mounts. The company is showing a 17mm F4 for the Fujifilm GFX medium format system that will offer the angle of view we’d expect from a 13mm focal length on a 135 format camera. The lens will be the widest available lens for Fujifilm’s system and, as part of the Zero D series, it should have only the slightest amount of distortion.

Other lenses of note in the collection include a designed-for-cinema 25-100mm T2.9 zoom marking Laowa’s entry into the professional movie market. The lens is claimed to be parfocal, so focus doesn’t shift during zooming, and to display minimal breathing as focus is altered.

Drone and MFT users will both get versions of a 9mm F2.9 super wide, while macro lovers will be able to enjoy a 100mm macro that can reproduce a subject at double size on the sensor.

All the details are below and on the Venus Optics website. Pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed.

Press Release

Venus Optics unveil 8 new & unique Laowa lenses in Photokina, including the 25-100 T/2.9 Professional Cine Lens

Together with the 4 new lenses showed earlier in Beijing P&E, a total of 12 new Laowa lenses will make their Europe debut in Venus Optics’ booth in Photokina (Hall 2.1, D-040)

Venus Optics, the camera lenses manufacturer who had previously launched a number of unique Laowa camera lenses, is proud to unveil 8 new and unique lenses in Photokina.

Laowa OOOM 25-100mm t/2.9 Cine Lightweight Zoom
Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT
Laowa 12mm f/1.8 MFT
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D (DJI DL)
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D MFT
Laowa 7.5mm t/2.1 Cine
Laowa 9mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine
Laowa 12mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine
Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
Laowa 17mm f/4 GFX Zero-D
Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye MFT

Laowa OOOM 25-100 t/2.9 Cine Lightweight Zoom

Laowa OOOM Cine lightweight zoom is the first professional cinema style zoom lens offered by Venus Optics. The lens features a wide 25-100mm zoom range, making it a one-size-fits-all lens for different types of productions.

Unlike some cine lens in the market which were re-engineered from a photo zoom lens, Laowa OOOM Cine lens is designed for digital cinematography in the first place. It is truly parfocal, meaning the focus will never shift when you zoom in or zoom back out. It is designed to have nearly zero focus breathing throughout the whole zoom range. The aperture remains fixed at t/2.9 at all focal lengths.

It is built with the true cinema level mechanics. It comes with a stepless, t-stop independent aperture ring with an industry standard 0.8 mod /32 pitch gears. The 270° rotation flow provides room or precise focus pulls and the iris is clickless, enabling smooth iris pulls. The lens weighs only 2.16 pounds, which is fairly light for a cinema zoom that holds focus and aperture throughout the focal length range.

Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT

Laowa 17mm f/1.8 is a new compact, standard prime designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras and it gives a 35mm-equivalent field of view. The lens houses 9 elements in 7 groups and have a 5-blade aperture for the best sunstar rendering. The lens is extremely compact and lightweight, weighs only 160g (0.36lbs) and is 5cm (2”) long. A 46cm filter thread is included and the 15cm minimal focus distance make it a perfect lens for videography.

Laowa 12mm f/1.8 MFT

Laowa 12mm f/1.8 is a new compact, wide-angle prime for Micro Four Thirds cameras and it gives a 24mm-equivalent field of view. The ultra-fast f/1.8 aperture allows photographers to take astro photos with ease. The lens houses 13 elements in 10 groups and a 5-blade aperture. The lens can focus as close as 14cm (5.5”) and takes 46mm screw-in filters which gives extra convenience to videographers. It weighs only 165g (0.4 lbs) and its 5cm long (2”).

Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D (DJI DL)

Following the successful launch of the super compact and lightweight 7.5mm f/2 MFT lens for DJI Inspire drones (X5 gimbals) during 2017, Venus Optics is proud to introduce another ultra-wide option, Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D DL, to use on DJI Inspire 2 (X7 gimbals).

Featuring an effective 118° angle of view, the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D DJI DL is currently the widest available option for DJI Inspire 2 drones with Zenmuse X7 gimbals. The bigger image circle can cover the size of Super35 sensors and the native DL mount allows an easy lens switching. The lens weighs only 215g and it is super tiny and compact. It comes with a 49mm filter thread and features a close-to-zero optical distortion.

Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D MFT

Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D (Micro Four Thirds mount) is the 4th variant added to the existing Fuji X, Sony E and EOS-M mounts. The 9mm lens provides a 18mm equivalent angle of view on the Micro Four Thirds sensor. It also has a better vignetting control over the other variants of the same lens. The close-to-zero distortion will remain unchanged.

Laowa 7.5mm t/2.1 Cine / Laowa 9mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine

The new Laowa 7.5mm and 9mm Cine lenses are the cine-mod version of the existing photo version of Venus Optics best-selling models. Both lenses were re-housed with a step-less aperture rings and focus rings with standard 0.8 mod gears which give videographers extra convenience to use with follow-focus systems. Both of the lenses are the widest available in the market in its class and only weigh 180g (0.4lbs) & 250g (0.55lbs) respectively. Closest focusing distance is both 12cm (0.4 feet). The wide perspective and lightweight makes them the perfect companion for gimbal shooting. MFT mount is available for 7.5mm t/2.1 Cine and Sony E mount is available for 9mm t/2.9 Cine.

Laowa 12mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine (PL)

The new Laowa 12mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine in PL mount is the cine-mod version of the existing 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D lens. The lens was rehoused with a step-less, t-stop aperture rings and focus rings with standard 0.8 mod gears for iris and focus pulls. It successfully covers the 35mm Vista Vision sensor size and offers an ultra-wide 122° angle of view, making it one of the world’s widest and fastest available option for shooting with large sensors. Despite the ultra-wide field of view, it is perfectly rectilinear and features a close-to-zero distortion rate. The focus flow is extended to 270° for cinematographers to also take advantage of the 0.6 feet (18cm) closest focusing distance. The super lightweight (650g, 1.4lbs) is also an added benefit for cinematographers.

Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom

This lens is currently the widest zoom lens available for Sony full frame E-mount cameras. Designed primarily for travel photography, Venus optics have managed to compress the size to smallest in its class, less than 4 inch (<10cm) and only 1.1 pounds (<500g). The 102? (18mm) to 130? (10mm) angle of view provides flexibility for photographers to compose landscape or architecture photos with ease. The lens houses with 14 elements in 10 groups with 2 aspherical elements & 1 extra-low dispersion element to deliver exceptional performance. It can focus as close as 15cm for some mini-macro shooting. A rear filter slot is included to fit with 37mm filter. A dedicated filter holder is being developed to fit 100mm-wide filters. Click/clickless aperture can be toggled by the switch on the lens barrel. A 5-blade aperture design ensures a pleasing and clean sunstar rendering.

Multiple samples will be available for free rental during Photokina period.

Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

Followed by the success of the Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro, the 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro is the 2nd member of Laowa 2:1 macro line-up. This new 100mm lens can cover full frame sensor size and focus from 2:1 magnification to infinity. The wide magnification range allows macro photographers to capture subject at any sizes. This 100mm portrait lens also features an apochromatic (APO) characteristic that no chromatic aberration can be found. The 12 elements in 10 groups optics design delivers a crystal sharpness image in both macro and tele distances. Automatic aperture control feature is available for Canon EF version and Aperture coupling is available for Nikon F mount version.

Laowa 17mm f/4 GFX Zero-D

This is currently the widest available native lens option for Fujifilm G-mount cameras. The new Laowa 17mm f/4 GFX has a field of view equivalent to 13mm in 35mm format (113?). Featuring a close-to-zero distortion and 86mm filter thread, this lens is ideally suited for landscape, architecture & interior photography. The 21 elements in 14 groups design with 2pcs of aspherical & 3pcs of Extra-low dispersion elements successfully help to control the distortion & chromatic aberrations to the minimal.

Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye MFT

Featuring a 210? angle of view, this lens delivers unique circular fisheye field of view on Micro four thirds cameras. The ultra-wide angle view allows photographers to create 360? panorama with ease. Despite the unique & ultra-wide perspective, the lens only weighs 0.3 pounds (135g).

Free Rental Programme
Venus Optics have prepared some copies of the Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom and Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe lens (Canon) for free rental during Photokina period. For reservations, please contact Venus Optics via contact@venuslens.net.

Availability
All 12 new lenses will make its Europe debut in Venus Optics’ booth (Hall 2.1, D-040) in Photokina, Cologne during 26th-29th Sept. Pricing and ship date are to be confirmed.

About Us
Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited (Venus Optics) is a new Chinese camera lens manufacturer based in Hefei, Anhui. We currently manufacture and distribute camera lenses under the brand name of ‘Laowa’.

For more information about Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited and our products information, visit http://www.venuslens.net/

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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DPReview TV: the Laowa 24mm F14 Probe may look strange, but it sure is fun

05 Aug

This week we take a look at one of the more unusual optics we’ve seen for quite a while. The Laowa 24mm F14 Macro Probe lens may look like something out of a science fiction movie, but as Chris and Jordan discover, it opens the door to some really interesting photo opportunities.

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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