{"id":4192,"date":"2016-07-21T18:22:13","date_gmt":"2016-07-21T17:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=4192"},"modified":"2024-04-21T14:39:57","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T13:39:57","slug":"stf-duel-laowa-2105-vs-sony-2-8135","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/stf-duel-laowa-2105-vs-sony-2-8135\/","title":{"rendered":"The STF Duel: Laowa 2\/105 vs Sony 2.8\/135"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Aufmacher_800px\"<\/p>\n

There is only a hand full of lenses which incorporate an\u00a0apodization element\u00a0which improves bokeh at the cost of light transmission. Today I will compare two of them. The Sony STF 2.8\/135 was released 1999 by Minolta and is known for it’s uniquely smooth bokeh. The Laowa STF 2\/105 is a new lens released this year by Chinese newcomer Venus Optics. In this post\u00a0I will see where their strengths and weaknesses lie.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/h1>\n

The Laowa STF 2\/105 was loaned to my by the manufacturer Venus Optics free of charge for about three weeks.<\/p>\n

The Sony STF 2.8\/135 is borrowed from co-author Yannik, thanks for that!<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSony STF 2.8\/135<\/strong><\/td>\nLaowa STF \u00a02\/105<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/strong><\/td>\n730 g + Adapter<\/td>\n\u00a0745g (probably the weight of the EF version, my scale is broken)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dimensions<\/strong> (LxD)<\/td>\n99 mm x80mm<\/td>\n98 mm x 76 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/strong><\/td>\n9<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close focusing distance (maximal reproduction ratio)<\/strong><\/td>\n87 cm (0.25)<\/td>\n90 cm (0.15)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Groups<\/strong><\/td>\n8\/6<\/td>\n11\/8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/strong><\/td>\n$1398 new | ~$900 used<\/td>\n$699 new<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Method<\/h1>\n