This affordable DIY rig is perfect for sweeping food or product videography and while nothing can quite replicate the probe lens, this is a good alternative and arguably more widely usable.
I wholeheartedly believe that the Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe lens is one of the most innovative lenses ever made. Its results are instantly recognizable — a difficult achievement in itself — and it is surprisingly versatile within its own remit. I have longed for one since its initial release, but for me, there was a problem of financial justification. While my commercial work would see use for it on occasion, it certainly falls under the category of "nice to have" rather than "need to have". I could justify the purchase at $500, for example, but the base model is $1,599 and the Cine-Mod version is $1,799 — that's a far more serious financial outlay.
So, to my disappointment, I still haven't bought one. There really isn't any cheaper alternative — or any alternative full-stop — but for the same style of sweeping shot across table landscapes, you can create DIY rigs. In this video, Jay P Morgan of The Slanted Lens goes through his own, self-built rig for that purpose. While he uses a motorized slider for the movement, it isn't necessary for the effect — you can replicate smooth movement in a number of ways.
A interesting modification to the slider. Alternatively, you could probably get a similar effect using a gimbal, though I admit the slider would produce more precise movement for multiple takes.