I don’t know about you, but I’m baffled by the astounding number of new lenses that came out in the past few weeks as more and more new announcements continue to roll out. Earlier, Venus Optics unveiled two new lenses – the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE and the Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT. As the company claims, the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D is the world’s fastest 15mm rectilinear lens for full-frame cameras, whereas the Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT is the world’s widest f/2 Lens for MFT cameras. Just as it’s sibling the 12mm f/2.8 lens announced earlier this summer, the brand new 15mm f/2 E-Mount lens features the same close-to-zero optical distortion despite its wide field of view. The Laowa 7.5mm f/2, on the other hand, is going to be the perfect fit for all MTF camera users who need an extremely wide lens for a variety of shooting scenarios, including filming in low light.
Designed specifically for Sony Full-Frame mirrorless cameras in mind, the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE lens has a compact and lightweight form factor. Weighing less than 1.1 pounds (500g) and 82mm in length, the unit is also compact and portable enough for multiple camera setups ranging from small hand-held rigs to a variety of gimbal and drone applications. Beyond that, the 15mm f/2 FE ZERO-D lens comes equipped with a 72mm filter thread, which is another big selling point for those who don’t want to spend extra cash on expensive filter holders or any other additional gear.
Laowa 15mm f/2 FE ZERO-D Highlights
- Full-Frame Coverage
- Mount: Sony FE
- Focal length: 15mm
- Maximum aperture: f/2
- Angle of view: 110°
- Minimum Focus Distance: 5.91” (15cm)
- Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 0.25x
- Manual Focus
- Filter thread: 49mm
- Dimensions (DxL): Φ66×82mm
- Weight: 1.10 lb (500 g)
- Mounts: Sony FE
- Availability: Early 2017
MFT shooters, on the other hand, will be pleasantly surprised by the extreme 110 angle of view, ultra-fast f/2 aperture and even lighter and more compact form factor of the Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT lens. It’s not only one of the fastest tailor-made MFT lenses available yet, but also promises impressive performance even in the most challenging situations. Shooting landscapes, astro time-lapses or wide shots in tight spaces have always been a serious challenge for MTF users as the Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT lens should expand possibilities in that regard significantly.
Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MTF Highlights
- Micro Four Thirds format
- MFT Mount
- Focal length: 7.5mm
- Maximum aperture: f/2
- Angle of view: 110°
- Minimum Focus Distance: 4.72” (12cm)
- Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 0.11x
- Manual Focus
- Filter thread: 49mm
- Dimensions (DxL): Φ50x55mm
- Weight: 0.37 pounds (170g)
- Availability: Early 2017
Both, the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D and 7.5mm f/2 MFT will hit the shelves in early 2017 with pricing yet to be announced. Engineering prototypes along with other Venus Optics lenses will be showcased at the upcoming Photokina 2016 that will take place from 20th to the 25th September 2016 at the Cologne International Expocentre in Cologne, Germany.
[source: Venus Optics]
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