p.13 #1 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
MikeEvangelist wrote:
Doesn't look particularly sharp (at least to me). I guess if you like sunstars, it might be the ticket.
To be fair, long exposures aren't ideal for testing sharpness. Clearly it's got a lot of vignetting, but that's to be expected with this extreme of a design. If it's good at f/8 (think, not quite as good as the 16-35/4 but decently close) I think they will sell a lot.
p.13 #2 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
rvh23 wrote:
Fred, I'm very much looking forward to your review in a few days. It would be very helpful to me (and I suspect many others) if you can do a comparison with the Laowa 15/2. If at F8 it is not at least as good as that lens, it will be of little interest to me
I don't have high hopes it will performs similarly to the Laowa 15, FE 12-24 @15mm or the CV 15/4.5 III lenses. If it gets very close, I would be very surprised. However, I'm expecting it will do well against the CV 10mm and CV 12mm lenses.
p.13 #7 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
It weighs 497g with the included "UV" rear filter attached. Very nicely built with a metal cap.
It has aperture clicks every stop or can be de-clicked as well. Smooth zoom and MF rings.
it only came with the 37mm UV filter from T&Y FOTO (XS-Pro1 Digital MC)
p.13 #11 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
As suspected, without the included UV filter (rear) infinity focus is not possible.
That tells me that I need to find a ND filter that matches the same 'included' UV glass thickness in order to avoid induced field curvature. I've asked Laowa for suggestions.
p.13 #12 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
They should also offer IR filters.
Fred Miranda wrote:
As suspected, without the included UV filter (rear) infinity focus is not possible.
That tells me that I need to find a ND filter that matches the same 'included' UV glass thickness in order to avoid induced field curvature. I've asked Laowa for suggestions.
p.13 #13 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
(I will start a Rolling review thread)
Initial impressions:
Low axial CA but noticeable Lateral CA at all focal lengths. Goes away in post with a click of a button though
Stronger resolution at the wider range and f/8 seems to be the optimal aperture for great resolution across the field. (all FLs)
The 5-straight-blade aperture yields nice and well defined 10-point sunstars only a stop down from wide open!
There is some ghosting flare which I think is expected for such ultra wide zoom lens.
The rear UV filter must be attached at all times to achieve infinity focus
Strong and attractive metal build but no exif transmission
I will compare it to the CV 12, CV 15 and my Loxia 21. I believe it could do well against to the CV 10 and CV 12 lenses. Not sure about the CV 15.
p.13 #14 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
Fred Miranda wrote:
(I will start a Rolling review thread)
Initial impressions:
Low axial CA but noticeable Lateral CA at all focal lengths. Goes away in post with a click of a button though
Stronger resolution at the wider range and f/8 seems to be the optimal aperture for great resolution across the field. (all FLs)
The 5-straight-blade aperture yields nice and well defined 10-point sunstars only a stop down from wide open!
There is some ghosting flare which I think is expected for such ultra wide zoom lens.
The rear UV filter must be attached at all times to achieve infinity focus
Strong and attractive metal build but no exif transmission
I will compare it to the CV 12, CV 15 and my Loxia 21. I believe it could do well against to the CV 10 and CV 12 lenses. Not sure about the CV 15....Show more →
Awesome! The big question is can it do better than the unsatisfactory mid to outer field of cv10 and the marginally satisfactory mid to outer field of cv12? If yes I’m in, if no I’d rather have a smaller cv if it’s no worse, and do without zooming. Not expecting it to match primes at 18 or 15, though if it did that’d be icing...
The other thing it’d be great to know is if distortion can be corrected straightforwardly with the LR slider. Obviously it can’t be auto with no EXIF, but if it’s simple to do, but if it’s moustache shaped and can’t easily be done (we would need to make custom profiles for each FL and take notes when shooting) that would count against it for architecture...
p.13 #16 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
Thanks Fred. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the mid-range focal lengths. If it can't get close to Laowa's 15/2 (or your CV15) it will lose its appeal, as it would be an additional lens to carry, rather than a replacement.
Btw after a fair bit of field use of the 15/2 now, I do regularly encounter CA in the far corners with that lens too, but as you say it goes away with the click of a button.
