amci4 wrote:
You tried the new LAOWA 25mm 5x Macro yet? I’m curious about it, but not sure I’m curious enough to spend $400 for it.
I know the feeling as i do not have any dedicated macro lens in my kit. I use the tubes with nikon 50mm, reversed 50mm 1.8 , 85mm 1.8 , and 70-200 2.8 vr and can got some ok results. However that Laowa lens does look enticing. I am often on the fence with a purchase of the Laowa 25mm or at least a dedicated 100mm.
My copy is very good. I've seen reviews however that show somewhat weaker corner performance than I'm seeing, so I'm betting that QC is variable.
Overall I do see some purple fringing at f2.8-f4, it's got typically Chinese flare performance (not as bad as the sub-$100 re-housed CCTV lenses like most of the 25mm or 35mm cheapos, but not competitive with Fuji's stuff). Build quality is outstanding, I was shocked how good it is. Infinity focus was dead on. The focusing tab is nice, wish they'd sell them as an accessory (it's stick-on). MFD is decent but not exceptional. No filter ring, but a 77mm one is available as a ~20USD accessory. Minimum aperture is f16, which surprised me, I was expecting f22. Colours are nice, it does particularly well with the Velvia and Classic Chrome sims.
Honestly, I'd recommend it. I'd recommend it at twice the price if every copy out there was as good as mine is, I'm not seeing nearly as bad corners as the reviews show, although being a landscape guy I didn't really look at f2.8 corner performance as I just don't care about corners wide open, at f5.6-f8 the corners are more than acceptable.
This lens is the perfect companion to the XC 16-50 and XC50-230 for the shooter on a budget trying to cover all the bases, or a weight weenie type (backpacker) willing to go light over absolute maximal quality.
NickHoffman wrote:
I know the feeling as i do not have any dedicated macro lens in my kit. I use the tubes with nikon 50mm, reversed 50mm 1.8 , 85mm 1.8 , and 70-200 2.8 vr and can got some ok results. However that Laowa lens does look enticing. I am often on the fence with a purchase of the Laowa 25mm or at least a dedicated 100mm.
Check the Laowa 100mm, it's 2:1 macro and seems to be getting some rave reviews. It's an SLR mount lens so you're adapting though. They do a Fuji-native 65mm 2:1 as well.
I've got the 15mm Macro in F mount and it's remarkable. Not as useful on APS-C as it is for FF as a Macro (it does become a 22mm-e shift lens on APS-C though, so it has its uses there)
Laowa seems to be making a name for themselves with unusually close focusing lenses of interesting focal lengths.
mawz wrote:
My copy is very good. I've seen reviews however that show somewhat weaker corner performance than I'm seeing, so I'm betting that QC is variable.
Overall I do see some purple fringing at f2.8-f4, it's got typically Chinese flare performance (not as bad as the sub-$100 re-housed CCTV lenses like most of the 25mm or 35mm cheapos, but not competitive with Fuji's stuff). Build quality is outstanding, I was shocked how good it is. Infinity focus was dead on. The focusing tab is nice, wish they'd sell them as an accessory (it's stick-on). MFD is decent but not exceptional. No filter ring, but a 77mm one is available as a ~20USD accessory. Minimum aperture is f16, which surprised me, I was expecting f22. Colours are nice, it does particularly well with the Velvia and Classic Chrome sims.
Honestly, I'd recommend it. I'd recommend it at twice the price if every copy out there was as good as mine is, I'm not seeing nearly as bad corners as the reviews show, although being a landscape guy I didn't really look at f2.8 corner performance as I just don't care about corners wide open, at f5.6-f8 the corners are more than acceptable.
This lens is the perfect companion to the XC 16-50 and XC50-230 for the shooter on a budget trying to cover all the bases, or a weight weenie type (backpacker) willing to go light over absolute maximal quality....Show more →
Thanks for the review. I have an excellent copy of the 35/1.2 that I use a lot on my XE1. I have not had a chance to use it on my new XT2.
Tried some photo stacking in the backyard with the X-T3 and Samyang 12mm. This is 15x10 Second shots combined in Sequator and edited in Lightroom using random luck.
I enjoy this camera more every time I use it. But this lens? Really fun, tiny, makes the XP3 feel like the next best thing to a Leica M... just avoid vertical and horizontal lines unless you like balloons!
