Focus Check podcast ep73: LUMIX S1II Rivals ALEXA Mini LF in Dynamic Range! - TUNE IN now!
Focus Check podcast ep73:LUMIX S1II Rivals ALEXA Mini LF in Dynamic Range!
Education for Filmmakers
Language
The CineD Channels
Info
New to CineD?
You are logged in as
We will send you notifications in your browser, every time a new article is published in this category.
You can change which notifications you are subscribed to in your notification settings.
Venus Optics has just announced not one, but four new Laowa prime lenses to expand its lineup of manual “cine-grade” lenses: the existing 7.5mm T2.1 is joined by the new 6mm T2.1, 17mm T2.1, 17mm T1.9 and 50mm T2.9. Also new are two dedicated bundles with three lenses each.
So it’s nearly impossible to get a decent wide angle option for the micro four thirds system for filming, you say? Well, think again as the Laowa 6mm T2.1 prime lens has just received the cine treatment, as have the 10mm, 17mm and 50mm.
All four new Laowa cine primes are fully manual, cover m4/3 sensors (like the all-new Panasonic Lumix GH6 one for example), feature 0.8mod geared rings and impressively low minimum focus distances, which is always a good feature.
Let’s talk about all four new Cine Primes, starting with the Laowa 6mm T2.1 Zero-D MFT Cine. All four new lenses share some features that identify them as Cine Primes: The aperture ring and focus ring on each lens are in the same position, allowing filmmakers to quickly switch between lenses without having to readjust them. Both imperial and metric scales are printed on the lens body.
Features of the 6mm T2.1 include:
Since this is a Micro Four Thirds lens, this lens (and the others) is surprisingly small and light, although having pretty decent specs. I like the fact that the minimum focusing distance is only 9 cm, which can come in handy in many situations.
Next, we’ll skip the already available 7.5 mm T2.1 and explore the new 10 mm T2.1 Zero-D MFT cine lens. This lens is even smaller than the previously reviewed 6mm lens! Here is a brief overview of the technical specifications:
Like the 6mm, this one carries the Zero-D badge, which in Laowa’s terminology stands for zero distortion.
An apochromatic (APO) design was chosen for this lens, which reduces color fringing to a minimum. According to Laowa, this significantly improves the sharpness and clarity of the images.
This lens is the heavyweight among Laowa’s Cine Primes. But since it is a dedicated macro lens, this compromise seems very reasonable, and to be honest, 289 g is not exactly heavy – thanks to Micro Four Thirds.
All four new lenses are available now and pricing is as follows:
Along with the release of these four new prime lenses, Laowa is also offering two dedicated bundels which come with a hard case:
Link: Venus Optics
Do you already use/own Laowa lenses? What do think of these new arrivals? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Stay current with regular CineD updates about news, reviews, how-to’s and more.
You can unsubscribe at any time via an unsubscribe link included in every newsletter. For further details, see our Privacy Policy
Want regular CineD updates about news, reviews, how-to’s and more?Sign up to our newsletter and we will give you just that.
You can unsubscribe at any time via an unsubscribe link included in every newsletter. The data provided and the newsletter opening statistics will be stored on a personal data basis until you unsubscribe. For further details, see our Privacy Policy
Olaf von Voss is a freelance cameraman who is in business for well over a decade. He is living in Berlin, Germany but has traveled the world as well while shooting mostly documentaries.