Category Archives: Laowa

REVIEW/COMPARISON: Laowa FF II TS 55mm & 100mm f/2.8 Macro 1X

Introduction

Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro on Nikon Z7II
Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro on Nikon Z7II

UPDATE 20.12.2024:
Reworked the close-up sharpness section and added both 1:1 and 1:2 magnification test shots for both lenses.

The Laowa FF II TS 55mm and 100mm f/2.8 Macro 1X lenses are true macro lenses, offering 1:1 magnification along with tilt-shift functionality that enhances control over the focal plane.

While major camera and lens manufacturers like Canon, Sony, Nikon, Leica, Panasonic, Hasselblad, Sigma, and Tamron have largely overlooked this niche in mirrorless cameras, Laowa has stepped up to fill the gap. Their lenses, available in almost all major mounts, feature tilt and shift capabilities that open up new creative possibilities for photographers.

The tilt function allows precise control over the focal plane, enabling photographers to either extend or limit the in-focus area. This makes these lenses perfect for capturing intricate product details or adding selective focus for artistic compositions. With such versatility, Laowa’s lenses offer greater creative control over depth of field, making them a valuable tool for specialised photography needs

Since these two lenses are almost identical in shape, build, and handling, and were released simultaneously, I decided to combine my review of both. This way, I can avoid repeating the same points and provide a direct comparison, so you can see them side by side.

camera-icon2I tested these lenses on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in higher resolution here

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 100mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/11
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 100mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/11
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/5.6 (Shift panorama)
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/5.6 (Shift panorama)
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 | Tilted
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 | Tilted
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 No Tilt
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 100mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 | Tilted
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 100mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 | Tilted

Continue reading REVIEW/COMPARISON: Laowa FF II TS 55mm & 100mm f/2.8 Macro 1X

Review: Laowa 15mm 5.0 Cookie – Tiny and Useful

Introduction

laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Laowa 15mm 5.0 Cookie on Sony A7rII

In the SLR era some people came up with the term “pancake lens” for very thin 40 to 50mm lenses. Because of the short back focus distance of mirrorless cameras it is very hard to make actually useful lenses for them that are as thin as a pancake though, hence Laowa came up with the term “cookie lens”. This does not only sound more realistic but also pretty cute and the latest addition to this cookie line-up is this Laowa 15mm 5.0. Usually new features are reserved for expensive top-of-the-line products, but this lens already marks a very important point in Laowa’s history. Let’s have a closer look!

camera-icon2The lens was tested on a 42 Mp Sony A7 RII (Sample images with Sony A7 III, Leical M10, and Nikon Zf)

You can see this review as a YouTube video here

Sample Images

nikon nikkor af-d 28mm 1.4 noct wide angle historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Leica M10 | Laowa 15mm 5.0 M | f/11
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF 15mm f/5 | f/9
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF 15mm f/5 | f/9
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/5.0
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/5.0
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/5.0
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/11
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Laowa 15mm 5.0 Cookie – Tiny and Useful

Review: Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus – The world’s fastest 28mm lens

Introduction

laowa 28mm T1.0 cine argus review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus

In 2022 Laowa released the world’s fastest 28mm lens for fullframe cameras, the Laowa 28mm 1.2 Argus. If you thought they rested on their laurels you are mistaken: in 2024 they released an even faster lens, this Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus Cine. Usually I don’t review Cine lenses, but how could I possibly pass on the world’s fastest 28mm fullframe lens? Let’s have a closer look!

Sample Images

laowa 28mm T1.0 cine argus review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus | T1.0
laowa 28mm T1.0 cine argus review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus | T1.0
laowa 28mm T1.0 cine argus review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus | T1.0
laowa 28mm T1.0 cine argus review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus | T1.0
laowa 28mm T1.0 cine argus review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus | T1.0
laowa 28mm T1.0 cine argus review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus | T8.0

Continue reading Review: Laowa 28mm T1.0 Argus – The world’s fastest 28mm lens

Analogue Adventures – Part 32: Fuji 100

fuji fujifilm 100 superior review minolta cle leica analogue analog istanbul türkiye turkey
Fuji 100

In 2024 no one really knows anymore what is going on at Fujifilm when it comes to actual analogue film. Apparently the Fujifilm 200 that is being sold in the US is just relabeled Kodak Gold 200 – something absolutely unthinkable of just a few years ago. This Fuji 100 I received from a reader (Thanks a lot!) has been bought directly from Japan though, so it looks like the real deal, let’s have a look at the results together.
Processing (C.41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

fuji fujifilm 100 superior review minolta cle leica analogue analog istanbul türkiye turkey
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/2.8
fuji fujifilm 100 superior review minolta cle leica analogue analog istanbul türkiye turkey
Minolta CLE | Laowa 15mm 5.0 M | f/8.0
fuji fujifilm 100 superior review minolta cle leica analogue analog istanbul türkiye turkey
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/5.6
fuji fujifilm 100 superior review minolta cle leica analogue analog istanbul türkiye turkey
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/2.8
fuji fujifilm 100 superior review minolta cle leica analogue analog istanbul türkiye turkey
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/11

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 32: Fuji 100

Different Filter Stacks and what they mean for us: Sony E | Nikon Z | Leica M | Kolari UT

Introduction

filter stack comparison sony e nikon z fe leica m kolari UT

When Sony released the first affordable fullframe camera with the A7 in 2013 almost none of the enthusiast photographers were aware of issues related to filter stack differences. Filter stack describes what is in front of the sensor and different manufacturers decided to go for different thicknesses here that can influence how our lenses perform. If you stay within just one system this is usually not something to care about, but when adapting lenses it is very helpful to be aware of this topic.

In this article I try to tell you about these differences and for what lenses they matter, so you can find out if it is something that might affect you.

Continue reading Different Filter Stacks and what they mean for us: Sony E | Nikon Z | Leica M | Kolari UT