p.9 #1 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
MedicineMan404 wrote:
Fred I'm heading to a dark(er) sky next week and fully intend to use the 12-24 on the Milky Way if I get a break in cloud and fog. I'm taking the Laowa 15/2 as well but since I'll have the Ioptron tracker I can easily make up for the extra stops.
This is my only Milky Way with the FE12-24 but at F4 you are spot on in that it is nearly coma-less. I'm also looking forward to way way lower ISOs in a true dark sky than used in this shot.
Sony ILCE-9
FE 12-24mm F4 G
ƒ/4.0 12.0 mm 15 12800
p.9 #4 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
I would love to see just a few sample shots of this lens. Just sold Loxia 21 for the 2nd time to fund other hobbies. However, if this is anywhere close to the performance of the L21...
p.9 #5 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
I would not expect it to even approach the Loxia 21. If it can be in 16-35/4 territory, I'd be very pleased. This is an extreme design.
gordec wrote:
I would love to see just a few sample shots of this lens. Just sold Loxia 21 for the 2nd time to fund other hobbies. However, if this is anywhere close to the performance of the L21...
p.9 #8 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
I think to have a manual, small wide angle zoom is so attractive. When I had 16-35 f4 and 16-35 GM, most of the time they were used in manual mode. This lens just needs to be Zony 16-35 good at f5.6 - f13 for me to buy it. The L21 does have that field curvature, so it's not perfect.
p.9 #11 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
Regarding filters; the Nikon 15/3.5 used the same filters as the 16/2.8 fisheye, and with both of them I often inserted gel filters cut to size between the rear of the lens and the filter. I could never notice any degredation due to this, but it was after all on film... I still have a lot of gels and would probably give that a try if other filters were required.
That said, I have Laowa's 7.5/2 for m43, and it came with 3 filters, all super thin rims and excellent. Clear, ND1000 and CPL. So they certainly do know how to make filters, and I would probably get some of theirs as required.
p.9 #12 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
I have no doubt that this will be very good. Sony’s 10-18 F4 for crop bodies, which is very sharp and somewhat works on full frame bodies as well...they are making a slightly bigger and slower lens than that, sans the AF, so it should be very good.
p.9 #15 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
Just noticed the aperture (I assume, 5 sided) shaped low contrast spot that surrounds the star. They will have to either fix this (better coatings?) or verify that in perhaps more typical settings (outside sun and night scenes with streetlights) that this is not present.
p.9 #16 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
Good looking pointy stars, I have no idea what causes the elongated one but I hope its not going to stay like this.
My main takeaway is that they are contacting you and being open about the development, asking for feedback. Good sign.
I was ready to pull the trigger on their 15mm f2 but after this zoom announcement I am waiting. Hope it will be an awesome companion to my new 24-105 and if it proves as competent as my 16-35 it might even replace it (my fave lens so this is a tall order).
And Fred, since you seem to have an open line of communication, could you please let them know about our wishes for a good f2 35mm?
p.9 #17 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
Thanks
Please also ask them if possible about a ballpark availability date/month...
Fred Miranda wrote:
Laowa is really trying to fix the sunstar for their new ultra wide zoom.
They shared their latest attempt with me. What do you guys think?
p.9 #19 · Official: Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom at 496 grams
rhawidantas wrote:
Good looking pointy stars, I have no idea what causes the elongated one but I hope its not going to stay like this.
My main takeaway is that they are contacting you and being open about the development, asking for feedback. Good sign.
I was ready to pull the trigger on their 15mm f2 but after this zoom announcement I am waiting. Hope it will be an awesome companion to my new 24-105 and if it proves as competent as my 16-35 it might even replace it (my fave lens so this is a tall order).
And Fred, since you seem to have an open line of communication, could you please let them know about our wishes for a good f2 35mm? ...Show more →
Yes, they are working on the aperture blade shape because many of us are requesting this feature for a while. I think it would make it even better for landscape photography. Availability is still set for September but there could be delays. I will keep us guys posted.
I asked for more samples but they told me they are still working on the aperture mechanism and it should yield even better sunstar rendering when it goes to final production.
Here is what my source wrote:
"P.S. This is NOT the best one. Trying to fix the orientation of the rays and also the length of the rays but at least we are getting there!"
With a tracker the 12-24/4 is remarkable since the small aperture won't matter as much. Yes, it's coma free wide open!
