p.3 #1 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
I ordered the the Nisi 150mm and a Haida 150mm CPL so I took the filter advantage out of the equation. So I really need a compelling reason. I'm feeling cheap . Lol
p.3 #2 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
I'll post what I find. It's been a crazy rainy summer here and the nights are finally getting dark. Looks like we might get some clearing tomorrow and I'm hoping to get out a check it out.
Schlotkins wrote:
Really interested in your test on the rokinon! Thanks,
Chris
p.3 #5 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
Flare Performance:
Here is a flare resistance test between three 15mm lenses. All tested at f/11.
TOP: CV 15/4.5 III
MIDDLE: Laowa 15/2
BOTTOM: FE 12-24/4 @ 15mm
All three lenses show ghosting flare with minimum veiling flare (haze).
However, the CV 15/4.5 III performs best with minimal ghost spots. The second place goes to the Laowa and the zoom comes in third.
Watch the top of the house and right column for ghosting flare. You can also see the sunstar shape among these lenses.
p.3 #6 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
For the scene above, the FE 12-24/4 G shows more ghosting towards the top of the house. The other two lenses do not show any ghosting on that area. Here is a 1:1 crop showing the Sony zoom flare on that area:
p.3 #7 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
Sunstar comparison at f/11 where both Laowa 15 and Sony zoom start to show some good definition. The CV 15 wins big here and has great sunstar rendering starting at f/5.6.
To my eyes, the Laowa has better definition when compared to the zoom. Both have 14-point stars while the CV 15 has 10-point.
TOP: FE 12-24/4 @ 15mm
MIDDLE: Laowa 15/2
BOTTOM: CV 15/4.5 III
p.3 #8 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
akclimber wrote:
Thanks for the coma test, Fred. Sad it wasn't more of a pleasant surprise wide open. Think I'll stick with the lenses I have now for astro (Batis 18 for Sony and Sigma 20 f/1.4 for Nikon - also just recently got a screaming deal on a Rokinon 20 1/1.8 in E mount I still need to test).
Cheers!
The Batis seems to have low coma wide open. Too bad it's focus by wire though. I prefer lenses with mechanical focus for astro as you can just set the distance and shoot away! If infinity is at hard stop, even better.
p.3 #9 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
Fred Miranda wrote:
The Batis seems to have low coma wide open. Too bad it's focus by wire though. I prefer lenses with mechanical focus for astro as you can just set the distance and shoot away! If infinity is at hard stop, even better.
I agree Fred, I much prefer mechanical focus as well and have thought about ditching the Batis for that very reason.
From his copy, coma at f/2 does not look much different than the Laowa 15/2's but I think the Laowa improves more at f/2.8.
It looks like the review I posted the link above had me fooled.
I remember thinking that the Loxia 21/2.8 did better now...and it has a perfect hard stop for astro. Perhaps the Laowa 15/2 @f/2.8 and the Loxia 21/2.8 @f/2.8 are a good astro combo.
p.3 #16 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
Schlotkins wrote:
I wonder if Guy's was a bit decentered? There was only coma on one side no? I guess I'll have to get one and try it.
There is really not much point in some of these lenses to shoot at 2.8. The loxia 21mm is smaller.
Chris
BTW, for about $600 you can have a a6000 and a Rokinon 12mm f2. My better half shoots with that and it is absolutely no joke wide open.
No sure Chris. Only Guy can confirm that. I remember him saying his copy was centered though.
Try posting your results with the Firin at f/2 and f/2.8 and I will compare with the Loxia.
p.3 #17 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
Fred Miranda wrote:
No sure Chris. Only Guy can confirm that. I remember him saying his copy was centered though.
Try posting your results with the Firin at f/2 and f/2.8 and I will compare with the Loxia.
I'm not heading out to see the stars again until August 12th. I'm going to rent a Batis 18, Tokina 20, loxia 21, and batis 25 from lensrentals and have some fun. I have a good rok 14 2.8 and 24 1.4 to test against. I will probably test against my 24-70 II @ 24 too. I have a nikon 14-24 but I am going to sell that as I am try to go almost adapter free.
Chris
(Yes I know those focal lengths are not nearly the same.... just make a reference for people.)
p.3 #19 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
I'm not heading out to see the stars again until August 12th. I'm going to rent a Batis 18, Tokina 20, loxia 21, and batis 25 from lensrentals and have some fun. I have a good rok 14 2.8 and 24 1.4 to test against. I will probably test against my 24-70 II @ 24 too. I have a nikon 14-24 but I am going to sell that as I am try to go almost adapter free.
That's quite the spread of lenses to test, godspeed. Particularly interested in seeing how well the Tokina does. If money wasn't an issue, I'd love to test some of the newer players in the astro realm, specifically:
Unfortunately astro plays second fiddle to most types of shooting, so I've seen inconclusive or nonexistent information regarding sharpness, vignetting, coma control, and chromatic aberration control for these lenses.
p.3 #20 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons
jwhatts wrote:
That's quite the spread of lenses to test, godspeed. Particularly interested in seeing how well the Tokina does. If money wasn't an issue, I'd love to test some of the newer players in the astro realm, specifically:
Unfortunately astro plays second fiddle to most types of shooting, so I've seen inconclusive or nonexistent information regarding sharpness, vignetting, coma control, and chromatic aberration control for these lenses.
Yea I'm going to be ambitious . We'll see how far I get.
Chris
EDIT:
lenstips.com has the sigma reviewed with coma even at 2.5.
I guess I could add the Samyang 14mm 2.4 and Sigma 14mm 1.8. It's not too hard to do these really. Setup the tripod, switch lenses, shoot some frame. Hardest part will be to keep track of all of them . Oh and the rental fee. Maybe Roger will help me out if I write a blog column for him
Here's my check list:
- Vignetting
- Sharpness wide open or close
- Coma
- Relative brightness
