LAOWA 7.5mm F2 long term review [2021 - samples - tips]

This is my long term review of the LAOWA 7.5mm F2 lens. This very compact ultra wide lens is always with me. In this video I tell you it's strengths and weaknesses. I show you lots of videos and photos that I took during 4 years of using the lens.
Flickr gallery with higher res images: www.flickr.com/gp/147283570@N...
LAOWA 7.5mm F2 lens:
- Venuslens: www.venuslens.net/product/lao...
- Amazon US: amzn.to/2Kdv3GB
- Amazon DE: amzn.to/32BOhfu
Panasonic Lumix G7
- Amazon US: amzn.to/2Q5eHDG
- Amazon DE: amzn.to/2rDKFgb
Panasonic Lumix G9
- Amazon US: amzn.to/2Q6FCyV
- Amazon DE: amzn.to/2O3vWCz
Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7
- Amazon US: amzn.to/37nHk5h
- Amazon DE: amzn.to/35pqLnt
Keylight: NEEWER NL 660
- Amazon US: amzn.to/31qMnkt
- Amazon DE: amzn.to/32mn966
RGB light: PIXEL G1S RGB video light
- Amazon US: amzn.to/34vwafO
- Amazon DE: amzn.to/3j4taLo
Links provided above are affiliate links. It costs nothing extra for you but you help support my channel so I can keep on doing videos. Thank you!
Music: Causmic "The high line" (TH-cam music library)
/ @causmic
#laowa #ultrawide #microfourthirds

[@TeaJayPhotography]

Laowa just announced the electronic aperture version I mentioned in this video. Although it has the same optics, the new version has only 5 aperture blades und produces 10-pointed sun stars.

[@marinrealestatephotography]

Thank you for the review, and in particular, thank you for sharing your settings in Resolve for distortion and vignette correction.

[@GA001]

This was a great video. One of the best I’ve seen.

[@delcurto_fa]

great review, specially by mentioning post-production stuff such as davinci tips. thanks!

[@axemanarbor]

All the info I been searching for . Subbed liked . Thankyou . Good job great channel . Really well presented

[@Carfree-Cities]

Thanks. I have the lightweight version, and the center is sharpest at f/2.8. Corners are best at f/5.6. Don't stop down beyond f/8 in normal use. Mine focuses just beyond infinity. The distortion is certainly there, but it has generally not bothered me. The extreme angle of view is fantastic. I can stand on a street corner and shoot down two streets at the same time. It's the only lens I use now, for both still and video. Bravo Laowa!

[@CanuckQuest]

Great video. Thanks

[@PrabuSiliwatching]

Your footages looks so beautiful!

[@TeaJayPhotography]

Thank you!

[@GoTravelPlanet]

great review, thank you. New sub here

[@authunhx3129]

I have this lens. Some good ideas in your video. Many thanks.

[@TeaJayPhotography]

Thank you and have fun with the lens!

[@Nnnuuk]

This is a great lens - it just needs a lot more practice to get good results. But it is worth the time and effort.

[@vas-yguitare7095]

Hi, hello from a french guy ! Yes, your videox are seen far from you ;-) This is a great review, will help me make my choice...

[@CanuckQuest]

Can't decide between regular 7.5 and cine. ALways wanted a cine lens. I suppose the appeal is right now I am not doing much in post...that could change. SO I know I coudl correct mos of it n post, but am lazy here lol. But part of me wonders if less barrel distortion might lend itself more to me leaning to the cine version?

[@TeaJayPhotography]

I think the lenses are optically identical. Only the housing is different.

[@stephanierutherford2683]

Hi Jay, I've just purchased this lens and looking into the step up ring you mentioned. Is there any particular reason why you chose that size?

[@TeaJayPhotography]

Hello, I already had 67mm filters for other lenses and bigger filters give less vignetting. I also did a video about this.

Hi. Could you make a video on how to check the lens when it arrives? I just received it and would like to know that it works correctly. Especially the focus to infinity. It is so expensive that it would be terrible if I have a faulty copy. Please.

[@TeaJayPhotography]

Sorry for the late reply. For checking infinity focus, you need an object that is far away with some details. Trees are the most challenging one. Set focus to infinity mark, beyond and slightly before the mark and see wwhat looks the sharpest. Faulty copys are actualley pretty rare. Often it's just sample variation and you have to find the perfect focus setting.

@@TeaJayPhotography Thank you. :)

[@A.AgassiArchitect]

i can't setting 7.5mm in gx85, whats wrong? camera firmware?

[@TeaJayPhotography]

No, you can only set 8mm as shortest focal lenght on the GX80.

[@actstuntcam]

Has anyone used the TT Artisan 7.5mm F2? How does it compare? It looks almost identical, but comes with lens filters and is about 1/3rd the price. I think the Laowa is too expensive for a manual focus lens.

[@TeaJayPhotography]

The TT Artisan is a fisheye, so completely different Tool. It's also made for APS-C so way bigger, more than twice as heavy.

[@actstuntcam]

@@TeaJayPhotography Cheers, yep it is twice as heavy. Still it is wayyyyy cheaper.

[@paulb.3227]

@@actstuntcam But it's a FISHEYE. You cannot compare these two!

[@mooremob100]

Do I have it right that if I have some spare cash and I buy the lens that the pictures straight out of the camera would be good enough to print? Your skills with the computer software are amazing. Now to go and sell a kidney.

[@TeaJayPhotography]

Thanks! Sure they are printable quite large. Even 4MP images have been printed large. It all depends on viewing distance.

[@alfredtolentino8614]

Is this a Full Frame lens?

[@TeaJayPhotography]

No, micro four thirds. 7.5mm rectilinear would be difficult if not impossible.

[@alfredtolentino8614]

@@TeaJayPhotography thank you 👍

[@EsaMononen]

great video. thank.