Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/4 1:1 macro lens announced

D1N0 · 06-23-2015, 12:11 PM

At less than half a cm from the front element how are you going to light your subject...

rawr · 06-23-2015, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by D1N0

how are you going to light your subject...

Venus have a solution for that:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/125-flashes-lighting-studio/295459-venus-...-kx-800-a.html

D1N0 · 06-23-2015, 12:21 PM - **1 Like**

assuming it will stay put when it sees this approaching:

Not a Number · 06-23-2015, 01:02 PM

I'd run from a Nikon too.

The demo video looks interesting - DOF looks impressive in some shots - to be expected with a wide-angle lens. Rather exciting that some company is developing new macro solutions.

Their website is down at the moment.

lytrytyr · 06-23-2015, 01:36 PM

The posted MTF curves look OK for APS-C (15mm radius),
but fall apart at the edge of the full frame.
So the "6mm shift" just seems like a gimmick.

Anyway, for Pentax APS-C users, maybe it's just mind control,
but I don't really see this big, awkward lens as a viable option to the DA 15,
which already focuses down to a couple of inches from the front element:

Zafar Iqbal · 06-23-2015, 02:50 PM

Oh my, I've been wishing for a wide angle macro. Sweetness!

panoguy · 06-23-2015, 03:10 PM

Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal

Oh my, I've been wishing for a wide angle macro. Sweetness!

There's always someone who'll use it...

mee · 06-23-2015, 04:38 PM

This would be neat for really long ant trails, mossy flora, and anything else that is tiny and in a line. haha

The less than 1/4" distance to 1:1 tells me all of those critters I attempt to photography with my 105mm macro lens will probably not agree to stick around for their closeup with this lens either...

fuent104 · 06-23-2015, 06:53 PM

this strikestrikes amazing and grounds breaking. The lack of barrel distortion seem on the video is extremely impressive.

Not a Number · 06-23-2015, 10:33 PM

A couple reviews. The shift function is no gimmick from the examples

Review of Venus Optics LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Wide Angle Macro Lens
Venus Optics LW 15mm F4.0 Macro 1:1 Review – Wedding Photography Melbourne

ogl · 06-23-2015, 11:10 PM

14 blades aperture is rather special...like made lenses in old film times.

---------- Post added 06-23-2015 at 11:13 PM ----------

Originally posted by Not a Number

A couple reviews. The shift function is no gimmick from the examples

Review of Venus Optics LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Wide Angle Macro Lens
Venus Optics LW 15mm F4.0 Macro 1:1 Review – Wedding Photography Melbourne

it's SHARP - seems to me

lytrytyr · 06-24-2015, 12:12 AM

Originally posted by Not a Number

The shift function is no gimmick from the examples

Review of Venus Optics LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Wide Angle Macro Lens

"Image quality . . . deteriorates at the corners on a full frame sensor."

---------- Post added 06-24-15 at 02:16 AM ----------

Originally posted by fuent104

The lack of barrel distortion seem on the video is extremely impressive.

Look at Image 8 on the Singapore review.
There's some very complex mustache distortion.

Giklab · 06-24-2015, 02:05 AM

Would you look at that bokeh...

fuent104 · 06-24-2015, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

"Image quality . . . deteriorates at the corners on a full frame sensor."

---------- Post added 06-24-15 at 02:16 AM ----------

Look at Image 8 on the Singapore review.
There's some very complex mustache distortion.

Wow, some distortion on a unique lens with a low price?

All that means to me is that the lens isn't perfect. It looks like there are a lot of things out can do well, though.

macTak · 06-24-2015, 05:08 AM

A very intersting lens idea. I wonder how the DA15 or another UWA would perform with extension tubes in comparison to this lens.

06-23-2015, 12:21 PM - 1 Like	#18
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	assuming it will stay put when it sees this approaching: Last edited by D1N0; 06-23-2015 at 01:39 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Venus 60mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro Lens 2:1 for Pentax US$379 posted or make offer	i_trax	Pentax Price Watch	22	02-22-2015 08:08 PM
New Sigma lenses (85mm f/1.4,24mm f/1.4,24-70mm f/2, 135mm f/1.8) are coming?	starjedi	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	17	02-10-2015 07:48 PM
Macro First Review of the Venus 60mm f/2.8, 2:1 Macro Lens	geomez	Photographic Technique	10	02-03-2015 11:57 AM
Venus Optics 60mm F2.8 2:1 Macro Lens	PF Staff	Homepage & Official Pentax News	1	01-09-2015 04:27 AM

06-23-2015, 12:11 PM	#16
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	At less than half a cm from the front element how are you going to light your subject...

06-23-2015, 12:17 PM	#17
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by D1N0 how are you going to light your subject... Venus have a solution for that: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/125-flashes-lighting-studio/295459-venus-...-kx-800-a.html

06-23-2015, 01:02 PM	#19
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	I'd run from a Nikon too. The demo video looks interesting - DOF looks impressive in some shots - to be expected with a wide-angle lens. Rather exciting that some company is developing new macro solutions. Their website is down at the moment.

06-23-2015, 01:36 PM	#20
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	The posted MTF curves look OK for APS-C (15mm radius), but fall apart at the edge of the full frame. So the "6mm shift" just seems like a gimmick. Anyway, for Pentax APS-C users, maybe it's just mind control, but I don't really see this big, awkward lens as a viable option to the DA 15, which already focuses down to a couple of inches from the front element:

06-23-2015, 02:50 PM	#21
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	Oh my, I've been wishing for a wide angle macro. Sweetness!

06-23-2015, 03:10 PM	#22
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal Oh my, I've been wishing for a wide angle macro. Sweetness! There's always someone who'll use it...

06-23-2015, 04:38 PM	#23
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	This would be neat for really long ant trails, mossy flora, and anything else that is tiny and in a line. haha The less than 1/4" distance to 1:1 tells me all of those critters I attempt to photography with my 105mm macro lens will probably not agree to stick around for their closeup with this lens either...

06-23-2015, 06:53 PM	#24
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	this strikestrikes amazing and grounds breaking. The lack of barrel distortion seem on the video is extremely impressive.

06-23-2015, 10:33 PM	#25
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	A couple reviews. The shift function is no gimmick from the examples Review of Venus Optics LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Wide Angle Macro Lens Venus Optics LW 15mm F4.0 Macro 1:1 Review – Wedding Photography Melbourne

06-23-2015, 11:10 PM	#26
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	14 blades aperture is rather special...like made lenses in old film times. ---------- Post added 06-23-2015 at 11:13 PM ---------- Originally posted by Not a Number A couple reviews. The shift function is no gimmick from the examples Review of Venus Optics LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Wide Angle Macro Lens Venus Optics LW 15mm F4.0 Macro 1:1 Review – Wedding Photography Melbourne it's SHARP - seems to me

06-24-2015, 12:12 AM	#27
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Not a Number The shift function is no gimmick from the examples Review of Venus Optics LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Wide Angle Macro Lens "Image quality . . . deteriorates at the corners on a full frame sensor." ---------- Post added 06-24-15 at 02:16 AM ---------- Originally posted by fuent104 The lack of barrel distortion seem on the video is extremely impressive. Look at Image 8 on the Singapore review. There's some very complex mustache distortion.

06-24-2015, 02:05 AM	#28
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Would you look at that bokeh...

06-24-2015, 03:42 AM	#29
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	Originally posted by lytrytyr "Image quality . . . deteriorates at the corners on a full frame sensor." ---------- Post added 06-24-15 at 02:16 AM ---------- Look at Image 8 on the Singapore review. There's some very complex mustache distortion. Wow, some distortion on a unique lens with a low price? All that means to me is that the lens isn't perfect. It looks like there are a lot of things out can do well, though.

06-24-2015, 05:08 AM	#30
macTak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 759	A very intersting lens idea. I wonder how the DA15 or another UWA would perform with extension tubes in comparison to this lens.