Venus Optics is known for making some of the neatest lenses out there, and the new Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF Autofocus is no exception to that rule. With that wide focal length and wide aperture, it is quite a unique optical instrument. Can it provide the sort of performance and image quality pros need in practice, though? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.
Coming to you from Brandon Li, this awesome video review takes a look at the new Venus Optics Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF Autofocus lens. Made for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts, the 10mm f/2.8 has a full-featured design, including:
- First autofocus lens in the Laowa lineup
- 5-blade aperture for a 10-point sunstar effect
- 130° angle of view
- Low image distortion
- Lightweight design, weighing less than 1 lb (0.9 lb / 420 g), ideal for travel
- Two aspherical elements and three extra-low dispersion elements to sharpen image quality and reduce optical aberrations
- Autofocus capability
- Minimum focus distance of 4.7" / 12 cm
- Maximum Magnification: 0.24x
- Macro Reproduction Ratio: 1:4
- Filter Size: 77 mm (Front)
- Optical Design: 15 Elements in 9 Groups
- Dimensions (ø x L): 3.2 x 2.8" / 82 x 70.8 mm
Check out the video above for Li's full thoughts on the new lens.
Hate to break this news! For us who use A7SM3 and A7RV the Venus Optics Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF Autofocus lens will not fit in the cameras bracket by Smallrig, the round part is not big enough or the makers of the lens failed to make the small extension you see on all Sony lenses. It was something I failed to notice when seeing the lens in all the reviews but when I got it and tried to put it on by A7SM3 with the SmallRig Rotatable Horizontal-to-Vertical Mount Plate Kit. I am lucky to have a collection of old mounting L-Brackets that I can use or just put on my old A7SM2. The lens is great for sharpness at night with pin point stars and easy to manual focus on a Sony with the red assist. Well no big thing I want the lens to do panoramas and my pano rig has a small adapter you put on the bottom of the SmallRig foot or on the bottom of the camera. The Venus Optics Laowa 10mm is smaller and lighter that the FE 12-24mm f/2.8 but I just kept using my old go to E 10-18mm f/4 using in Full Frame at 12mm. It is all about the Milky Way ARC where you need a lens in portrait mode that will in one row reach above the Milky Way ARC and a 12mm or 14mm can but a 10mm also requires fewer shots like at 45 degree stepper a 200 degree only 3 or 4 captures with enough overlay. I have done it with my old Voigtlander 10mm f/5.6 on my old A7s. I keep my E 10-18mm f/4 OSS with a rear filter and front filters in my daily bag just in case it is so small!!! Lastly if you go to Horseshoe Canyon you can capture in one shot where others standing with a tripod doing multi row panos braving a wind a possible fall to the bottom.
Has anyone received one of these yet? I ordered directly from Laowa in February. At the time the website said it would ship in mid-March. It is now mid April and nothing. There is nothing on their website that lets you track the status of your order, and when I contact Laowa they just tell me that they are overwhelmed with orders, but can't give me an estimate on when my lens will ship. If anyone has already received theirs, let us know when you placed your order and with who.