{"id":49937,"date":"2024-03-20T07:31:38","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T06:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=49937"},"modified":"2024-08-04T10:14:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T09:14:57","slug":"review-laowa-cf-8-16mm-f-3-5-5-0-zoom-aps-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-laowa-cf-8-16mm-f-3-5-5-0-zoom-aps-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5.0 Zoom (APS-C)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Review
Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer on a Nikon Z fc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5.0 Zoom is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras with an impressive zoom range (equivalent to 12-24mm on fullframe sensors). It is a very compact lens and seems to fit nicely on smaller APS-C cameras. Its versatile focal length range makes it a good choice for landscape, architecture, and travel photography or whenever you want a dramatic perspective in your images. In times when it seems that all the major manufacturers (except Fujifilm) are neglecting the APS-C lens development and focusing on fullframe lenses, it is refreshing to see exciting lenses like this from third-party manufacturers. Let’s see how it behaves in real life!<\/p>\n

\"CameraI tested this lens on a Nikon Zfc
\n\"YoutubeYou can see this review as YouTube video here<\/a><\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Review
Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | 8mm | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Review
Nikon Z fc | CF Laowa 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer @8mm | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Review
Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | @8mm |f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Review
Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | 8mm |f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Review
Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | @8mm | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Review
Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | @8mm | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Review
Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | @8mm |f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n8-16mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n82.8\u00b0-120.9\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nF\/3.5-5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.2 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n86mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nSony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF-M<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n~ 463g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n~ \u00d888.4 x 88.53 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n16\/12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"Review
Nikon Z fc | CF Laowa 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
You can buy this lens from:<\/p>\n

manufacturer’s online store Venuslens.net<\/a> $549 \u00a0(Affiliate link) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Or from B&H<\/a>, amazon.com<\/a>, amazon.de<\/a>, etc<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

This lens was kindly lent by Laowa for test and review purposes. It will be returned to Laowa after the review.<\/p>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 Zoom is a fully manual lens, without any electrical contacts, so focusing and aperture setting must be done manually on the lens. Due to the lack of electrical contacts, it can not transfer any lens EXIF data to the camera either.\u00a0 It is completely made of metal and feels heavy for its size, which is relatively small. The metal mounting plate does not have any sealing gasket, so no weather sealing is incorporated.<\/p>\n

\"Review
Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The aperture ring has gentle clicks at f\/3.5 (5), f\/4, and after that for every full-stop. There is a declicking switch on the side of the lens barrel that lets you toggle between having gentle clicks when you change the aperture ring or turning smoothly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Review
Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | declicking switch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In front of the aperture ring you find the zoom ring, which turns smoothly but the resistance is quite high, and in front of that the focusing ring. The metallic focusing ring is wide and turns smoothly about 80\u00b0, it is very easy to manually focus this lens though. The lens comes with a metallic lens cap, which clicks into place securely. You also get a front filter adapter that also clicks into place and enables you to use filters in front of the lens. The lens has internal focusing mechanism, which means the lens does not extend or rotate when you focus. Zooming in or out does not extend the length of the barrel either.<\/p>\n

\"Review
Laowa CF 8-16mm f\/3.5-5 C-Dreamer on a Nikon Z fc with lens cap and hood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lens is very small, especially for having such a powerful zoom range.<\/p>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we look at three areas of the image, center, mid-frame, and corner, see highlighted areas in the image below! Moved the camera position to have more or less the same image for all three focal lengths (8, 12, and 16mm)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Infinity Sharpness Chart Reference | Laowa 8-16mm | Nikon Z fc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n