I would imagine that Nikon, Canon, Sony and the like, must be getting a bit hot under the collar at the quality of many of these independent lenses that are creeping into the market, often virtually unannounced! Great review as always, with many beautiful example images, especially the Church interiors, though I suppose that's no surprise, considering your calling!
Keith Spillett if these things get usable autofocus then they should really be afraid as more causal users stop using brand name glass on their cameras.
Ross Mitchell there is an interesting article about 'autofocus' feature: photographylife.com/zeiss-make-autofocus-dslr-lenses I think it makes a sense why some companies able to produce great optics but don't have autofocus feature :)
allanaes Fascinating. This is presumably why Canon and Nikon are unlikely to ever implement some sort of peaking focus aid, even if they do eventually succumb to the advantages of an EVF - mirror or no mirror! Actually, I have a Zacuto type viewfinder - made by a company called Sevenoak, and one TENTH the price - which I use mainly for video, but turns a DSLR into a mirrorless by using the rear screen in live view. It's DEAD easy to manually focus with one of those, which is what the thing's designed for at the end of the day!
Laowa Venus has a similar 12mm f/2.8 zero distortion. It is available for many mounts. For the e-mount it is available with an adapter which makes the lens even bigger. That is disappointing. However the 15mm f/2 is smaller cheaper, brighter with fixed e-mount. If it was announced earlier I would have bought it instead of the Sony Zeiss FE 16-35mm.
Thank you Christopher! Excellent review and convencing lens. I already have the Sony 16-35 F/4. As I only use the 16mm on that Sony, this Laowa seems better.
Yep it is .. we have th oss 4 16-35 but the 15 is just that little bit wider .. we run the 12mm for video and the 10-18 laowa for video at 4k60 on crop with the a74 giving us 15mm at apsc
Chris. How exactly did you make the test charts? Are they printed using normal printers in a4? Id like to make a standardised test system from my lenses to compare and know their optimum settings.
1:09 I think you would like to aggravate that bokeh furthermore by shooting 4k on crop mode and then cropping the shot to hd. But that's not a deal for wide angle.
Good to know. Have you tried it for astrophotography?
ปีที่แล้ว +1
@@boycefitzgerald only one time, i am not that into atro stuff, i was okay with the result, a friend of mine did not like the vignette and the coma ... overall i like the lens though
I got on the early pre-order list, and am a Laowa affiliate. How in the world did you manage an early copy for review...? I'd love to have that privilege for getting reviews up on my site quicker. Btw, like your reviews and videos. Love the production quality.
Im looking for a new astro lens to replace my Rokinon 14 f2.8. I narrowed it down to the Laowa or the Tokina Firin 20mm f2. I like the lesser distortion of this lens, but the Tokina has better coma control. What do you think
@@MarkusGebhard It’s a great lens for the price, picture quality is super sharp and you can use screw on filters with the lens. But to be honest I use my Sigma 24-70 so much more often because of the range is so much easier to use than the laowa 15mm. You can get real creative with the loawa though, it has a nice minimum focus distance
Hi Christopher. I just bought this lens today. A couple of questions. I have it on a Nikon Z9. 1) No P mode, only A, S and M. Would you know if that's right? 2) How do you know the subject is in focus? I turn the ring but my focus box never goes green. It stays red all the time. 3) The camera viewfinder doesn't display the aperture. It just shows 'F---'. Is that right?
Obviously no P mode since it's a manual lens. Turn on focus peaking to see the focus easier Again, fully manual lens with no contacts - so no F information.. How do you have a Z9 and ask these questions?🤣
I think you should buy for yourself an used original A7. It's pretty cheap now (around 500-800 usd depend on condition). You can cut down the cost of borrow/rent an A7R2 (borrow/rent it few times and I guess the cost will covered an used A7).
How I wish they would release this lens for the Canon system. I use a 6D and a Samyang 14mm f/2.8 for astro. Nothing wrong with the Samyang and it can't be beat for the 250 USD I paid for a used copy - but the f/2 aperture plus the ability to install regular filters via the 72mm filter thread are huge step ups for the 850 USD price of the Laowa that I would be willing to upgrade. Oh well...please release a Canon version! Too invested in the Canon ecosystem already. :)
Question!.. I just purchased the new A7III for used mainly with astrophotography/landscape and some portrait.. which one will you choose? The Laowa 15mm or the Rokinon 14mm f2.4? I don't mind using an adaptor like the Sigma MC-11.
The 14mm f/2.4 will be a little sharper. But the Laowa fits right on without and adaptor, and allows filters, for landscape work. I don't know which one I'd go for - for Sony, probably the Laowa
Can you suggest a fast (1.4-2) lens for Canon 70D? It should be between 18-35mm range. For under $150. Has to be a Prime, I don't care if its Vintage or anything. But it needs to be somewhat sharp wide open.
nice video! does this lens function with focus peaking? also, i'd love it if you shared the exposure details on the pictures, the one of the buildings at dusk (7:46) for example... neat pictures!
You can't put screw on filters on the 12 either. Deal breaker for me having to buy and carry a frame filter system. The Tamron 17-28 is coming, but I think I would rather the 15 and f2.0.
Honestly this lens, depending on what you need, is quite a bit better than the Sigma 14mm. If autofocus and other digital features aren't a big concern, by not excessively attempting to make the fastest, widest prime ever produced, Venus have succeeded in making a well-rounded, reasonably-priced superwide prime. It's insanely lighter and smaller than the Sigma, and it can fit filters! Clickless aperture ring! Now if only they made them in other mounts.
Enkoder Novi barrel distorsion or not, its at least 1.4. the fuji is 2.8 making it least interesting. And the thing is. The laowa is fullframe you can use a fullframe camera, you cant with fuji.
+J Koh: It seems that (as is common in lenses) the center area of the lens is sharp and the edges are not as sharp, and thus since the crop sensor does not show the extreme edges, it looks sharper in APS-C. (If it were pretty much the same quality from center to edge - which is rare for a lens - then it would most likely look better on a full-frame camera.)
Zero distortion? Ridiculous! Everything I've seen of this lens until now certainly suggests otherwise. Laowa should take a long, hard look at the IrIX 15mm ƒ/2.4 ( www.flickr.com/photos/mike-mkvip/albums/72157687170047476 ) which is also sharper (especially in the corners), has an electronic aperture and costs about $300 less. I can live with the half stop less light...
I returned it back for full refund because lens does NOT stop right infinity. They are only building lenses for beginners to use so QA is not there. If any manual lenses turned passed INFINITY, do not buy suggested be ATG.
![Laowa 15mm f/2 for Astrophotography and Timelapse [Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qvYqFpWyuXc/mqdefault.jpg)
Please do review more and more sony lenses. You are the only unbiased lens reviewer I trust. Many thanks for the videos.
Mr. Frost, you have the best photography gear reviews on TH-cam. Thank you.
Wow, a great and comprehensive review without it being 20 minutes! I'm seriously considering it now as I need a wide-angle. Thanks, and subbed! :)
Awesome review - you covered every question I could have had.
No nonsense testing is the way to go!
I would imagine that Nikon, Canon, Sony and the like, must be getting a bit hot under the collar at the quality of many of these independent lenses that are creeping into the market, often virtually unannounced! Great review as always, with many beautiful example images, especially the Church interiors, though I suppose that's no surprise, considering your calling!
Keith Spillett if these things get usable autofocus then they should really be afraid as more causal users stop using brand name glass on their cameras.
Ross Mitchell there is an interesting article about 'autofocus' feature:
photographylife.com/zeiss-make-autofocus-dslr-lenses
I think it makes a sense why some companies able to produce great optics but don't have autofocus feature :)
allanaes Fascinating. This is presumably why Canon and Nikon are unlikely to ever implement some sort of peaking focus aid, even if they do eventually succumb to the advantages of an EVF - mirror or no mirror!
Actually, I have a Zacuto type viewfinder - made by a company called Sevenoak, and one TENTH the price - which I use mainly for video, but turns a DSLR into a mirrorless by using the rear screen in live view. It's DEAD easy to manually focus with one of those, which is what the thing's designed for at the end of the day!
Laowa Venus has a similar 12mm f/2.8 zero distortion. It is available for many mounts. For the e-mount it is available with an adapter which makes the lens even bigger. That is disappointing.
However the 15mm f/2 is smaller cheaper, brighter with fixed e-mount. If it was announced earlier I would have bought it instead of the Sony Zeiss FE 16-35mm.
Can this lens get everything in focus beyond 1-2 meters in F2.0 ?
Google hyperfocal distance.
Always the sneaky evangelizing with the books in the background. 😝 Thank you for the great lens reviews, and God bless
Thank you Christopher! Excellent review and convencing lens. I already have the Sony 16-35 F/4. As I only use the 16mm on that Sony, this Laowa seems better.
Yep it is .. we have th oss 4 16-35 but the 15 is just that little bit wider .. we run the 12mm for video and the 10-18 laowa for video at 4k60 on crop with the a74 giving us 15mm at apsc
Chris. How exactly did you make the test charts? Are they printed using normal printers in a4? Id like to make a standardised test system from my lenses to compare and know their optimum settings.
I can't wait for the announcement of the Laowa FE 10-18mm e-mount lens.
Thank you Christopher. I can always trust your reviews and this one is no different. Keep it up!
Great review! Eight minutes to say all the important things people need to know. Perfect :)
Would love a review of the Voigtlander Ultra-Wide set - 10mm/12mm/15mm
1:09 I think you would like to aggravate that bokeh furthermore by shooting 4k on crop mode and then cropping the shot to hd. But that's not a deal for wide angle.
Could you measure T-Stops values for the wide angle lenses (IRIX 15mm, Sigma 14mm 1.8, Samyang 2.4 and 2.8 AF and the old 2.8, and this Lowa 15mm 2.0)
Chris; any opinion of the Laowa vs the Voigtlander 15mm III 4.5? apart from the aperture..
I really appreciated the 'Shwmae Pawb' at the beginning! Shwmae, fy ffrind!
Does this lens works with Sony A7 iv using flash? I mean with a transmitter on the hot shoe of the camera.
Which UW lens for landscapes would you recommend more? Nikon 14-30 f4 or Laowa 15mm f2? Just in terms of sharpness
Probably the Nikon. The Laowa will be much better for astrophotography
i used that lense and one problem is the the blue corners ... vignetting is not a problem ... but dealing with blue vignetting is a bit more work
Good to know. Have you tried it for astrophotography?
@@boycefitzgerald only one time, i am not that into atro stuff, i was okay with the result, a friend of mine did not like the vignette and the coma ... overall i like the lens though
I got on the early pre-order list, and am a Laowa affiliate. How in the world did you manage an early copy for review...? I'd love to have that privilege for getting reviews up on my site quicker. Btw, like your reviews and videos. Love the production quality.
I'm assuming because Chris has a strong following! His reviews are the best!
Im looking for a new astro lens to replace my Rokinon 14 f2.8. I narrowed it down to the Laowa or the Tokina Firin 20mm f2. I like the lesser distortion of this lens, but the Tokina has better coma control. What do you think
very nice as usual Chris! what about the sigma 100 400 C Review? are you working on that? thanks!
Awesome lens had mine since day 1 f2 fornlowlight video and 0 distortion
Impressive lens! Thanks for reviewing this lens :)
I finally ordered this lens after about a year of drooling over it.
What's the verdict? Are you satisfied with the lens' performance?
@@MarkusGebhard It’s a great lens for the price, picture quality is super sharp and you can use screw on filters with the lens. But to be honest I use my Sigma 24-70 so much more often because of the range is so much easier to use than the laowa 15mm. You can get real creative with the loawa though, it has a nice minimum focus distance
Comparing to Samyang how bad or good this will be? Considering Samyang 14mm due to price difference. Any ssuggestion?
Great review!
Can you please tell me, regarding the manual focus, does Focus Peaking work? ...I also have the A7R2. Thank you!
It should do
Perfect voice
Nice video. What angle has he used. I want to acquire one and I do not decide between sony 16-35 f4 or irix 15. I recommend another one. Thank you
It's fixed at 15mm
Very good review man. Thank you!
Very nice review. Thanks!
Hi Christopher. I just bought this lens today. A couple of questions. I have it on a Nikon Z9. 1) No P mode, only A, S and M. Would you know if that's right? 2) How do you know the subject is in focus? I turn the ring but my focus box never goes green. It stays red all the time. 3) The camera viewfinder doesn't display the aperture. It just shows 'F---'. Is that right?
Obviously no P mode since it's a manual lens.
Turn on focus peaking to see the focus easier
Again, fully manual lens with no contacts - so no F information..
How do you have a Z9 and ask these questions?🤣
@@nAcolz Thanks
How does it handle shooting at infinity at f/8? Is everything in focus at all ranges of the image? Thanks
As I said in the review, the slightly curved plane of focus is only at wide apertures
I think you should buy for yourself an used original A7. It's pretty cheap now (around 500-800 usd depend on condition). You can cut down the cost of borrow/rent an A7R2 (borrow/rent it few times and I guess the cost will covered an used A7).
Archmage1809 i think for testing the a7r is good. Around 1000 used.
Nice vid, as always! Can you do the Yongnuo 100mm f2 for Canon?
How I wish they would release this lens for the Canon system. I use a 6D and a Samyang 14mm f/2.8 for astro. Nothing wrong with the Samyang and it can't be beat for the 250 USD I paid for a used copy - but the f/2 aperture plus the ability to install regular filters via the 72mm filter thread are huge step ups for the 850 USD price of the Laowa that I would be willing to upgrade. Oh well...please release a Canon version! Too invested in the Canon ecosystem already. :)
That would be great, but they would have to redesign the optics in order to accommodate the extra flange distance of the Canon reflex system
Yeah, that's right Chris. Does not stop me from praying though. Hahaha.
Great videos bro! :)
Question!.. I just purchased the new A7III for used mainly with astrophotography/landscape and some portrait.. which one will you choose? The Laowa 15mm or the Rokinon 14mm f2.4? I don't mind using an adaptor like the Sigma MC-11.
The 14mm f/2.4 will be a little sharper. But the Laowa fits right on without and adaptor, and allows filters, for landscape work. I don't know which one I'd go for - for Sony, probably the Laowa
This one is available for nikon z mount also, is not it?
When are you going to review the new Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Art lens? :^(
Great review as usual.
The dream wide-angle lens! ..I guess hence the name, lol.
But if you think those corners are only "good", try the Rokinon 14 on a Full Frame.
Can you suggest a fast (1.4-2) lens for Canon 70D? It should be between 18-35mm range. For under $150.
Has to be a Prime,
I don't care if its Vintage or anything. But it needs to be somewhat sharp wide open.
Zaber Ansary Canon 40mm f2.8 STM (Pancake) lens.
Zaber Ansary Or the 24mm. A bit more expensive than the 40mm though.
A year late but the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 sounds perfect for you. Isn't a prime, but might as well be one.
Does is it work with the magic shift converter? Would be great for architecture photographers :D
The MSC will only work with a DSLR lens, not a mirrorless lens
Hej Chris, can you do a review fo the Zeiss Batis 18mm for FE ?
Maybe one day
nice video! does this lens function with focus peaking? also, i'd love it if you shared the exposure details on the pictures, the one of the buildings at dusk (7:46) for example... neat pictures!
Is there any way to add the lens (lightroom) so it'll show up in exif data?
GreenPeasProductions your post is quite old, but I just wanted to mention, that you can Download the lens Profile on laowa Support page.
Could you dwell a little on comparing it to the Laowa 12 mm ?
I test the 12mm lens a bit in my review of the Laowa Magic Shift Convertor. The 12mm is even sharper than this - it's crazy sharp
Dear Sir,, Can I assume that focus peaking from sony a7 in manual mode working with this lense?.Thanks for your help
which one would you recommend between the Laowa 15mm and the 12mm? Watched the other review but havent made my mind yet
If you're using Sony then personally I'd just go for the 15mm - you'll need an adaptor with the 12mm which is fiddly
@@christopherfrost Thanks a lot for your answer!
You can't put screw on filters on the 12 either. Deal breaker for me having to buy and carry a frame filter system. The Tamron 17-28 is coming, but I think I would rather the 15 and f2.0.
Another helpful, informative video, Chris. Thank you very much indeed :-) Subbed/liked.
Amazing review as always! Can we expect a review of the sigma 14mm 1.8? Cheers!
Hi,
Can you do a comparaison to the 15mmf2.4 Irix?
Thanks
I don't do special comparison videos on request - I don't have time! Just check out my review of the Irix lens.
So this works on A7 without any adapter?:)
Christopher Guevacci yes it would.
Hi can i use this lense in my Samsung nx1000.thanks
Jalil Khance no
Excellent review thank you Chris! Think I’ll be ordering this instead of the Sigma 14mm 1.8 and save a few £££.
Honestly this lens, depending on what you need, is quite a bit better than the Sigma 14mm. If autofocus and other digital features aren't a big concern, by not excessively attempting to make the fastest, widest prime ever produced, Venus have succeeded in making a well-rounded, reasonably-priced superwide prime. It's insanely lighter and smaller than the Sigma, and it can fit filters! Clickless aperture ring! Now if only they made them in other mounts.
It will work only on 'Sony mirrorless cameras'?
yes, or a Hasselblad Lusso '^^
Too bad. Won't get rid of the NX1 and or NX500 just to try this lens ;)
so this lens is perfect for a6000 series
There is this general haze and/or lack of contrast throughout the image in the charts testing. The image lacks a punch.
nice reviews as always... but certainly not a Zero distortion... ... suggest to test a budget 12mm 2.8 lens.. (meike 12mm f/2.8) nice lens
Hello, can you made review Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT with adapter on Sony A6300?!
Aaron Woodwell with adapter micro 4/3 lens to Sony E. Посмотрите этот товар на eBay www.ebay.com/itm/131522879924
you will have a lot of vigneting if it has no optics in the adapter ;)
I understand, but I want to see as will look
Fuji has real zero D lens for their X mount
it's XF 14mm F2.8
it has 0.4% barrel
Enkoder Novi but thats like a 21 f4 on fullframe, and therefore far less exciting than this lens, or the sigma 21 1.4
I agree but still if you have a6300/6500 there is nothing special about it.
btw. that sigma 20mm has 2.4% barrel distortion
Enkoder Novi barrel distorsion or not, its at least 1.4. the fuji is 2.8 making it least interesting. And the thing is. The laowa is fullframe you can use a fullframe camera, you cant with fuji.
Yeah :)
I think on APS-C the Laowa 9mm zero-d is the lens to have for full frame looking width.
Can you please compare this lens with laowa 12mm f2.8?
Thank you :)
I won't compare them because you can take a look at my review of the 12mm and take a look for yourself :-)
Hey! Nice review as always!
It would be a hug pleasure if you would put raw Samples to download.
Greetings from Germany!
would this be a good lens for real estate photo & video?
On a full-frame camera, yes
Dang! So expensive for a manual! Why so much?!
Please review samyang AF 14mm f2.8 FE :))
2 same video?
You have too test 16-35 F2.8 GM vs this lens.. you have to..
No I don't ;-)
😭😭😭😭
Where can I find a canon 5d mark 2 for $500 😩
vietnam
Tuấn Vũ Nguyễn really!?
maybe in ebay, amazon, it is really difficult to find one here in the comment section in youtube :D
yes 500-600$
Tuấn Vũ Nguyễn any link available?
Please review sony 16-35 F2.8 GM,thanks
You're very cool. :)
I can't believe this lens is sharper in APSC than FF.
+J Koh: It seems that (as is common in lenses) the center area of the lens is sharp and the edges are not as sharp, and thus since the crop sensor does not show the extreme edges, it looks sharper in APS-C. (If it were pretty much the same quality from center to edge - which is rare for a lens - then it would most likely look better on a full-frame camera.)
Yes you are right.
849$
I have no money
1st
Zero distortion? Ridiculous! Everything I've seen of this lens until now certainly suggests otherwise.
Laowa should take a long, hard look at the IrIX 15mm ƒ/2.4 ( www.flickr.com/photos/mike-mkvip/albums/72157687170047476 ) which is also sharper (especially in the corners), has an electronic aperture and costs about $300 less. I can live with the half stop less light...
I definitely prefer my Irix 15, even with adapter. Actually it costs half the money and now it has ACR profile.
I returned it back for full refund because lens does NOT stop right infinity.
They are only building lenses for beginners to use so QA is not there.
If any manual lenses turned passed INFINITY, do not buy suggested be ATG.
Very few lenses stop right at infinity - most of them go a little past infinity to help them cope with certain atmospheric conditions