I really like my Laowa 15, but I would prefer true native (with EXIF) lenses from here on out. Build on the 15 is good, except for the plasticy declick switch. I don't think I'd trade f/2 for f/2.8 and macro, and I don't think there is really much room to improve on the image quality of the CV.
-Tim
vdo1 wrote:
Our favourite rumours site reports new Laowa lenses for 2020, including 50/2.8 and 65/2.8 2:1 macro ones in the "CA-dreamer" series (same as the 100mm which has very low CA).
This will be interesting to watch. What would you pick in 50mm, f/2 and no close focus (Voigtlander), or f/2.8 and 2:1 macro abilities (Laowa)? The size of the 50mm looks reasonable......
50mm and 65mm are aps-c lenses say Venus optics.... So not in the same boat. 😉
vdo1 wrote:
Our favourite rumours site reports new Laowa lenses for 2020, including 50/2.8 and 65/2.8 2:1 macro ones in the "CA-dreamer" series (same as the 100mm which has very low CA).
This will be interesting to watch. What would you pick in 50mm, f/2 and no close focus (Voigtlander), or f/2.8 and 2:1 macro abilities (Laowa)? The size of the 50mm looks reasonable......
alphanumeric wrote:
Has the excitement for this lens dwindled or is there nothing left to analyze?
It surely is an excellent lens but at least for me it doesn't solve any real issues, just makes images a bit more technically perfect so it won't turn mediocre shots into not mediocre shots.
This is what I had in mind when I took the snaps of the London Eye earlier. This is as best as I could do after an hour of Affinity Photo YouTube tutorials and a couple of hours of elbow grease. Lighting is all wrong, but hey, it's supposedly art, and therefore imperfect
It surely is an excellent lens but at least for me it doesn't solve any real issues, just makes images a bit more technically perfect so it won't turn mediocre shots into not mediocre shots.
If I remember correctly you felt the 50 1.2 can generate more interesting images?
This is what I had in mind when I took the snaps of the London Eye earlier. This is as best as I could do after an hour of Affinity Photo YouTube tutorials and a couple of hours of elbow grease. Lighting is all wrong, but hey, it's supposedly art, and therefore imperfect
https://i.imgur.com/cKlaAG0.jpg
I really like the image you created here. Very attractive composition and subject.
I am still experimenting a bit with extension tubes and close-up lenses.
With a Marumi +5 the max. magnification increases to ~0.45x and sharpness remains quite high.
Subpixel layout of my computer monitor, at F2.8:
And here is another comparison, at F5.6
Please ignore the different colors between the samples, forgot to lock the white balance.
Some threads attract naysayers in droves and minds are already made up, often with no or little use. It's a far more general purpose, allrounder lens than other more specialised E Voigtlanders (them being fast, character and/or macro), so a dedicated thread will not attract the same kinds of users. Most will therefore post in the FE thread.
Don't mistake this for a lack of excitement or interest, however. The excitement here happens out in the field and on image fire-up on the calibrated monitor.
It's probably fair to add that it best rewards those who enjoy a light post touch on an elevated realism in the images they like to shoot - it's certainly a documentary shooter's dream, so if you appreciate reality the way you find it and want an elegant portrayal of it, it may be one for you. Ironically enough, it's a surprisingly subtle lens, and what it does will not be apparent to all.
Don't expect to see much action in the few mainstream sites that even recognise the modern Voigtlander range exists. It will remain a well-kept secret, a true aficionado lens for the modern age!
keepcoding wrote:
I am still experimenting a bit with extension tubes and close-up lenses.
With a Marumi +5 the max. magnification increases to ~0.45x and sharpness remains quite high.
