Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Vieri Bottazzini on May 08, 2018, 03:37:10 am

Title: An ultra-wide for landscape: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D reviewed
Post by: Vieri Bottazzini on May 08, 2018, 03:37:10 am: For my Fine Art Landscape work, I find ultra-wide-angle lenses to be wonderful creative tools because of the different “view of the world” they provide: see in this Venus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D in-depth review my thoughts about this relatively new and promising addition to the ultra-wide pool, and about its place in a Fine Art Landscape photographer’s bag.

https://vieribottazzini.com/2018/05/venus-optics-laowa-12mm-f-2-8-zero-d-in-depth-review.html (https://vieribottazzini.com/2018/05/venus-optics-laowa-12mm-f-2-8-zero-d-in-depth-review.html)

Thank you for reading, best regards,

Vieri
Title: Re: An ultra-wide for landscape: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D reviewed
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on May 08, 2018, 04:43:59 am: Vieri, your link was defective. I have fixed it.

Jeremy
Title: Re: An ultra-wide for landscape: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D reviewed
Post by: Vieri Bottazzini on May 08, 2018, 05:06:33 am: Quote from: Jeremy Roussak on May 08, 2018, 04:43:59 am
Vieri, your link was defective. I have fixed it.

Jeremy

Whoops - sorry about that Jeremy, and thank you for fixing it, much appreciated! :)

Best regards,

Vieri
Title: Re: An ultra-wide for landscape: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D reviewed
Post by: chez on May 10, 2018, 10:50:30 am: I’d add looking at the soon to be released 10-18 zoom from Laowa.
Title: Re: An ultra-wide for landscape: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D reviewed
Post by: BobDavid on May 19, 2018, 01:59:23 pm: The Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 III (FE mount) never ceases to amaze me. Yes, it is a slow lens. But the optical performance is impressive: great micro contrast, virtually free of distortion, great color rendering, and extremely sharp at f/5.6 and scary sharp at f/8. The lens communicates with Sony A7x II/III and A9 (exif data as well as enabling all 5 IBIS axes). The Voigtlander is a great landscape lens. Despite the widest aperture being f/5.6, I'd opt for it over the Laowa without a second thought.
Title: Re: An ultra-wide for landscape: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D reviewed
Post by: Vieri Bottazzini on May 20, 2018, 03:08:54 am: Quote from: BobDavid on May 19, 2018, 01:59:23 pm
The Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 III (FE mount) never ceases to amaze me. Yes, it is a slow lens. But the optical performance is impressive: great micro contrast, virtually free of distortion, great color rendering, and extremely sharp at f/5.6 and scary sharp at f/8. The lens communicates with Sony A7x II/III and A9 (exif data as well as enabling all 5 IBIS axes). The Voigtlander is a great landscape lens. Despite the widest aperture being f/5.6, I'd opt for it over the Laowa without a second thought.

Hello Bob,

the Voigt is great, I had it together with its twin brothers in 10mm and 15mm flavour - the Voigt 15mm has been my most used lens for the last year and a half, even though now I replaced it with the Leica 16-35mm Super-Vario-Elmar-SL which is simply amazing. I don't use Sony cameras, and had the Voigt in Leica M mount so I am used not to have any electronic communication between camera and lens. I think the optical formula is exactly the same, and (with my copies at leas) the Laowa is optically better - no questions about it - plus is faster, if that is important to you, and - fundamental for landscape use - you can filter it easily while the Voigt is a pain and either forces you to use 150mm filters (which I'd do anything to stay clear from) or use the badly manufactured Bombo adapter.

As always, horses for courses, but to me there is no doubt - the Laowa wins over the Voigt hands over.

Best regards,

Vieri