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Archive 2017 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

SharpContrast
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p.10 #1 · p.10 #1 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

GMPhotography wrote:
Had a lot of dust on my sensor. Need to fix my fixes .

Hi GMPhotography,
I'm very close to buying this lens, could I ask what your current feelings are about the lens? Are still very happy with it? Any issues? Are you still wanting to use it regularly?

Nov 30, 2017 at 08:12 AM

GMPhotography
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p.10 #2 · p.10 #2 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

No issues i really like it and actually like it more than the CV 15. I actually sold my 12-24 because I liked this better than I added the Loxia 21.

Nov 30, 2017 at 08:28 AM

lightskyland
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p.10 #3 · p.10 #3 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

Anyone know if/when Adobe is going to add profile support for this lens?

Yeah, I know I need to switch to C1.

Nov 30, 2017 at 09:08 AM

nandadevieast
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p.10 #4 · p.10 #4 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

I am looking at a 15 and also looked at this lens. Guy is recommending it and so are others so it must be great. My only problem is it is heavier than even a 16-35/4, not sure about size. But then it is a F2 so...
For an astro guy its a no brainer.

Nov 30, 2017 at 10:28 AM

jwhatts
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p.10 #5 · p.10 #5 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

I can fully recommend this lens as well. In my mind the only real negative are the sunstars, coma at f/2, and maybe the size, but only if you're used to the Loxia line. You can get sunstars and they look ok, but not on the Loxia/CV level. Aside form that, the colors/sharpness/contrast/build are all spectacular.

Day/Night/Astro


	https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4485/24085742628_8c1b1954cd_b.jpg


	https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4519/26480510279_bcfab7cf2e_b.jpg


	https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4506/23992034738_6bcc35da37_b.jpg

Nov 30, 2017 at 12:17 PM

Hi-Matic
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p.10 #6 · p.10 #6 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

Love the bridge photos!

Dec 01, 2017 at 09:18 AM

tsdevine
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p.10 #7 · p.10 #7 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

Has anyone gotten bitten by copy variation, or has this lens proven to be somewhat consistent?

Thanks,
Tim

Dec 01, 2017 at 09:28 AM

Aztatlan
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p.10 #8 · p.10 #8 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

tsdevine wrote:
Has anyone gotten bitten by copy variation, or has this lens proven to be somewhat consistent?

Thanks,
Tim

Personally yes. The copy I bought was an absolute shocker and went back to the store.

Dec 01, 2017 at 08:38 PM

GMPhotography
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p.10 #9 · p.10 #9 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

jwhatts wrote:

I can fully recommend this lens as well. In my mind the only real negative are the sunstars, coma at f/2, and maybe the size, but only if you're used to the Loxia line. You can get sunstars and they look ok, but not on the Loxia/CV level. Aside form that, the colors/sharpness/contrast/build are all spectacular.

Day/Night/Astro


	https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4485/24085742628_8c1b1954cd_b.jpg


	https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4519/26480510279_bcfab7cf2e_b.jpg


	https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4506/23992034738_6bcc35da37_b.jpg

I agree if there is a little negative it’s the sun stars. I like them but they could be a little better. But if you really need them most of us have a Loxia 21 to handle that. I really like this lens a lot

Dec 01, 2017 at 08:42 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.10 #10 · p.10 #10 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

GMPhotography wrote:
I agree if there is a little negative it’s the sun stars. I like them but they could be a little better. But if you really need them most of us have a Loxia 21 to handle that. I really like this lens a lot

Sunstars are actually pretty nice from its 'straight' blades (14-point sunstar against Loxia's 10-point)
To me, an annoying negative is the lack of EXIF transmission especially since this lens was designed for the Sony E-mount.

Dec 03, 2017 at 06:07 PM

jwhatts
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p.10 #11 · p.10 #11 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

Fred Miranda wrote:
Sunstars are actually pretty nice from its 'straight' blades (14-point sunstar against Loxia's 10-point)
To me, an annoying negative is the lack of EXIF transmission especially since this lens was designed for the Sony E-mount.

I agree. If anything, it would be nice to have MF Assist so I wouldn't have to hit Focus Peaking so much. Definitely one reason why I'm looking to go to the Loxia line at some point, wallet willing.

Dec 04, 2017 at 09:46 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.10 #12 · p.10 #12 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

jwhatts wrote:
I agree. If anything, it would be nice to have MF Assist so I wouldn't have to hit Focus Peaking so much. Definitely one reason why I'm looking to go to the Loxia line at some point, wallet willing.

There is always the CV 15/4.5 III E-mount with full EXIF transmission and very close in IQ. (There is massive variation with this lens though)

Dec 05, 2017 at 11:11 PM

Pixel Perfect
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p.10 #13 · p.10 #13 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

This Laowa impresses me. I wonder how it compares to the Rokinon 14 f/2.8 FE for both astro and normal work, should smash it for normal landscape I suspect in the extremes of the frame, but will it be better for coma?

Dec 06, 2017 at 07:01 AM

tsdevine
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p.10 #14 · p.10 #14 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

I have a pretty good copy of the CV 15 (and I use the Seven5 system like Fred....so it might be enticing to stick with that and have the petals removed.) But I'm going to take one of these Laowa's for a spin. I have a Zeiss ZE 15, and that lens comes along when I do serious work. I just don't think my CV 15 gets me close enough in quality, so I find it doesn't get used much. If the Laowa is slightly better than the CV (or at least my copy), I might be more tempted to leave the Zeiss at home for certain trips.

-Tim

Dec 06, 2017 at 07:54 AM

jwhatts
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p.10 #15 · p.10 #15 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

Fred Miranda wrote:
There is always the CV 15/4.5 III E-mount with full EXIF transmission and very close in IQ. (There is massive variation with this lens though)

If I ever need to use one I'll just borrow Son of Choppy from Bob. There were a few weeks when even he was considering the Laowa, before the CV 65 stole all his attention.

I also got the Laowa as my main astro lens, I plan on getting the Loxia 50 for pano stitching as well. I had been using the Sony FE 28 as my astro lens but I got sick of stitching frames together so I put it on B&S. Can't afford the Loxia 21 otherwise that would have been my real choice...

Pixel Perfect wrote:
This Laowa impresses me. I wonder how it compares to the Rokinon 14 f/2.8 FE for both astro and normal work, should smash it for normal landscape I suspect in the extremes of the frame, but will it be better for coma?

From what I can tell, the only real advantage of the Rok 14 would be the coma. The Laowa has some in the far corners wide open, cleans up a bit at f/2.8. However in my opinion it's a worthwhile tradeoff when considering the rest that this lens has to offer. Pretty much everything else is going to be vastly superior to the Rokinon - build quality, size, no distortion, has filter threads, sharpness, contrast, colors, focus distance, etc.

Dec 06, 2017 at 07:59 AM

josh-himes
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p.10 #16 · p.10 #16 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

I am very happy with this lens. Coma isn't a deal breaker by any means and vignetting is much better than any of the Voigtlanders, especially by the time you get up into shared apertures. It sharpens up nicely and coma is a non-issue by f/2.8. Interestingly, it's also a great lens in Infrared...maybe the best wide angle I've ever used.

Here are a few samples...first two are IR, last one is converted color. Normally, if you get the sun anywhere near the frame in IR photography, the shot is toast...the sun will completely blow out the shot. This lens is able to deal with the sun in the frame no problem. Must be the coatings.

Edit - Uploaded smaller images

Dec 06, 2017 at 08:44 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.10 #17 · p.10 #17 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

Some images from the Laowa 15mm f/2. This is now my main 15mm landscape lens, although I still carry the CV 15/4.5 III E-mount just for the sunstars.

Dec 09, 2017 at 10:43 AM

kevin_laowa
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p.10 #18 · p.10 #18 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

Do not miss the latest interview prepared by Bastain from phillipreeve.net on with Mr. Li, the man behind this Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D lens.

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/the-man-behind-the-lens-mr-li-laowa-15mm-2-0-zero-d-fe/

Dec 09, 2017 at 11:55 AM

tsdevine
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p.10 #19 · p.10 #19 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

So I did get the Laowa yesterday, did some quick and dirty testing this morning. I think it's a keeper, probably going to put my CV 15 on the chopping block. I don't do enough sunstar shooting to keep 3 15mm lenses. Given the sale price on a new Zeiss ZE 15mm, I'd have to probably set a crazy low price for it to move.

I did notice that the Laowa seems to have a flatter field than the other two lenses. When shooting 45 degree angle test shots, both the CV and the Zeiss gave sharp foreground corners by f/8 (CV 15) or f/11 (Zeiss 15). At f/11 the Laowa is almost there, but not quite.

-Tim

Dec 09, 2017 at 09:46 PM

Chris_88
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p.10 #20 · p.10 #20 · Laowa 15mm f/2 FE: Rolling Review and Comparisons

tsdevine wrote:
So I did get the Laowa yesterday, did some quick and dirty testing this morning. I think it's a keeper, probably going to put my CV 15 on the chopping block. I don't do enough sunstar shooting to keep 3 15mm lenses. Given the sale price on a new Zeiss ZE 15mm, I'd have to probably set a crazy low price for it to move.

I did notice that the Laowa seems to have a flatter field than the other two lenses. When shooting 45 degree angle test shots, both the CV and the Zeiss gave sharp foreground corners by f/8...Show more →

Congrats on your new toy, Tim. Is the vignetting as bad as the Zeiss' wide open?

Dec 09, 2017 at 11:12 PM

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