I got a second later production model yesterday.
According to first tests It shows a bit better performance at infinity in the f/2.8 to f/4.0 range as was promised.
Global release day being Feb. 20th has also been confirmed.
garyvot wrote:
Hi Bastian. Is there any way to confirm through your contacts that the manual focus RF-mount version of this lens will actually be chipped? I think we are all assuming that this is so, but it would be nice to have confirmation.
I passed on that question and will get back to you as soon as I have received an answer.
garyvot wrote:
Hi Bastian. Is there any way to confirm through your contacts that the manual focus RF-mount version of this lens will actually be chipped? I think we are all assuming that this is so, but it would be nice to have confirmation.
I received an answer: no electronics on the RF version due to legal reasons.
BastianK wrote:
I received an answer: no electronics on the RF version due to legal reasons.
Thank you. That is disappointing. Since Canon has now apparently granted an RF-mount license to Cosina, I was hoping other makers would shortly follow. I guess we'll be waiting a bit longer.
BastianK wrote:
I received an answer: no electronics on the RF version due to legal reasons.
No electronics on the RF version mean that it will not autofocus or provide fstop in the exif data - on Canon. A serious disadvantage.
So for canon users, the advantage of the Laowa 10/2.8 vs [Laowa 9/5.6 or 7Artisans 9/5.6 or Brightin Star 9/5.6 ] will be f2.8 (vs f5.6).
Against the disadvantages vs the alternatives of:
1) Brighten Star has a nd back option that is very advantageous. It works on RF without adapter. And it's about $450 and sharp. But it's really 9.5mm not 9mm. Likely the best choice if you can live with f5.6. And it's reasonably sharp. It also does not have chip for exif. So if you can live with f5.6 this is a good option. [ As per below Laowa 10 2.8 has a filter screw on front, so the nd back screwin may be even on this count - but 9.5mm vs 10, no exif, no auto focus, and higher price is correct. So this does not change the balance much for canon users - but a bit]
2) 7Artisans works on RF and is $500. Its seems to be the same design as Brighton Star and shares similar design. (Same factory, dfifferent branding ?) And it does not have the screw in back nd filter ability. Thus for landscape the Brighton Star is a better option.
3) Laowa 9 /5.6 is not offered on RF or EF. It is available on Leica M Mount and adaptable. But it may not have desirable colour cast. I have read somewhere that the reason Laowa did not make it available in RF or EF mount is that it does not do as well on Canon R cameras - but I don't know this to be true. But this suggests it's not a good option for canon users.
Summary? for canon - Brighton Star f5.6 vs Laowa 10 f2.8 - wider and lower price vs fstop - [fixed based on below - Laowa has screw in filter front]. For landscape (usually at f8 or f11 or f16) the Brightin Star 9/f5.6 is a better choice.
Just put in my preorder for Z. Hope it gets here before Feb 22. Heading the Tasmania for landscape and astro-landscape and would love to give this lens a try.
Klaus of Photozone/OpticalLimits has reviewed it (on Nikon Z no less). The lens was officially announced today and I guess it's no coincidence. https://opticallimits.com/nikon/laowa-af-10mm-f-28-zero-d-review/
TL;DR: good sharpness slightly stopped down; comparatively low native distortion; huge, huge vignetting; good build quality and AF. I'm stoked (again).
EDIT: Link URL has changed for some reason, so I've updated it.
Well, the floodgates have opened.
Laowa needs to make 13mm and 16mm lenses to have all the focal lengths in the ultrawide segment, from 9mm and up, covered with primes.
I've had the RF mount 5 blade aperture version here for a bit and have a review video [warning 30 mins ~50 sample images]
I'm testing for a proper written review as well, but it's a nice lens - vignetting is noticeable - much reduced by f/8, but still there. Slight barrel distortion, very low CA and softness towards the corners.
So is the Laowa's "Sony/Minolta A mount-like exterior" metal or plastic? Optical Limits says it metal. Dustin Abbott says "the materials still feel like metals rather than plastics". Bastian says it's polycarbonate outside.
OscarF wrote:
So is the Laowa's "Sony/Minolta A mount-like exterior" metal or plastic? Optical Limits says it metal. Dustin Abbott says "the materials still feel like metals rather than plastics". Bastian says it's polycarbonate outside.
Might be some magnesium alloy, technically that is metal even though it feels like polycarbonate.
In my opinion the lens is too light to be made from metal though.
It feels more like a Batis 18mm 2.8 and not like any lens actually made from metal I already had in my hands.
BastianK wrote:
Might be some magnesium alloy, technically that is metal even though it feels like polycarbonate.
In my opinion the lens is too light to be made from metal though.
It feels more like a Batis 18mm 2.8 and not like any lens actually made from metal I already had in my hands.
Wrong I'm afraid - I've got one here and thermally, it just felt metallic.
Since I've got to give it back, a scratch to check wasn't on... ;-)
So I just asked my contact at the company....
"They are made of aero aluminium alloy, so it may feel a little bit cooler"
I got the 9mm 5.6 for Emount, but when it comes on sale I think I’ll replace the 9mm with the 10mm. The new lens has some advantages, but the price is much more expensive for the 10mm in Australia.
