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The issue with trendy optics is that when technical perfection is almost achieved, the photographs begin to look related. That’s not the case with the Laowa 6mm f2 Zero-D. The brand new Micro 4 Thirds lens has an uncommon design that mixes a five-blade aperture with a 121.9-degree area of view. That mixes unusually formed bokeh with exaggerated perspective distortion. However is the mixture a profitable one or only a quirky one?
I attempted the brand new Laowa 6mm f2 on the OM System OM-5. For those who like lenses with distinctive character, you’re going to wish to preserve studying.
The Large Image
The Laowa 6mm f2 Zero-D MFT is bursting with character. There’s the pentagon-shaped bokeh, for starters. Then, there’s the 121.9-degree view that’s ripe with all types of enjoyable perspective distortion. Lastly, there’s the brilliant f2 aperture and the sting softness that attracts the attention to the center of the body. That’s all constructed into a fairly priced, principally steel lens that’s simple to make use of.
After all, one photographer’s character is one other photographer’s record of complaints. If you’d like a lens that’s sharp from edge to edge whereas extensive open, this isn’t it. The lens additionally lacks weather-sealing and is handbook focus solely.
Micro 4 Thirds photographers who need a extensive view with numerous quirky character are going to like this lens. Pixel peepers, not a lot. I’m giving the Laowa 6mm f2 Zero-D MFT 4 out of 5 stars.
Execs
A lot of quirky character
121.9-degree area of view
Enjoyable pentagon-shaped bokeh
Compact and light-weight
Shut focusing capabilities
Steel construct
Easy controls
Accommodates filters
Suitable with auto-exposure modes
Cons
A lot of edge softness at f2
No weather-sealing
Gear Used
I paired the Laowa 6mm f2 Zero-D MFT with the OM System OM-5. Each are on mortgage from their respective firms.
Improvements
The Laowa 6mm f2 is a bit uncommon. Whereas everybody appears to be including blades for that completely spherical bokeh, this lens has simply 5 blades. That’s combined with a 6mm (12mm full body equal) ultra-wide view. And, even stranger, the ultra-wide can nonetheless focus intently to topics. Whereas all which may be fairly odd, it means the pictures coming from this lens carry a singular look to them.
Laowa 6mm Ergonomics
The Laowa 6mm f2 Zero-D is a tiny lens, measuring solely a contact over two inches lengthy. At lower than seven ounces, it isn’t going so as to add a lot weight to the entrance of the digicam physique.
That small dimension doesn’t go away a lot room for controls. Actually, there’s only one: the main target ring. The ring is labeled and accompanied by a depth-of-field scale.
Near the mount on the underside, there’s a Micro USB port.
About half of the entrance of the lens is plastic. However, that permits a 58mm filter to be added with out touching the curved glass. The lens ships with a petal-shaped hood, which is admittedly quick as a way to keep out of the best way of the lens’ extensive view.
Construct High quality
As a steel lens, the Laowa 6mm f2 feels nice within the fingers. It truly feels nicer than the OM-5 physique I examined the lens on. The main focus ring turns easily and doesn’t really feel too quick or gradual.
Sadly, the Laowa isn’t weather-sealed. The USB port additionally doesn’t include a canopy. So, I wouldn’t take it out within the rain with out safety.
Focusing
The Laowa 6mm f2 is handbook focus solely. However, focusing what quantities to a 12mm f4 on a full-frame digicam isn’t terribly tough. The wide-angle lens leaves extra in focus. And, the lens nonetheless labored with Olympus’ focus peaking.
The lens can be able to focusing from as shut as 3.5 inches away. That provides flexibility and the power to create enjoyable wide-angle distortion with close-up pictures.
Ease of Use
Handbook focus lenses aren’t as simple to make use of as their autofocus variants. However, so far as handbook focus lenses go, this 6mm is on the less complicated aspect of the spectrum. The fisheye focal size creates a wider depth of area. Focusing takes some endurance, however I used to be extra prone to get sharp pictures in comparison with the longer focal size handbook lenses I’ve used.
Whereas many handbook focus lenses lack an digital reference to the digicam physique, the Laowa 6mm isn’t fully handbook. Photographers can nonetheless use options like aperture precedence mode and auto ISO. The lens metadata can be nonetheless saved to the file.
The dearth of controls additionally helps right here. There’s solely the main target ring, nothing else to bump or get in the best way. The aperture is adjusted on the digicam physique as a substitute.
Actually, the one tough factor about this lens was trying to make use of it with gloves on. The lens has an ultra-wide area of view, and it’s shorter than my fingers are extensive. I needed to be aware of the place my fingers have been, as a way to not see the guidelines of my gloves within the edges of the pictures.
Laowa 6mm Picture High quality
The Zero-D within the title implies optics that battle the distortion typical of an ultra-wide lens. And, the Laowa 6mm f2 Zero-D does a powerful job at protecting traces principally straight. While you maintain the lens exactly parallel and near the topic, the traces stay virtually straight. However, it’s nonetheless a 6mm lens; in real-world taking pictures, most pictures gained’t be exactly parallel. This lens will nonetheless get buildings that seem to bend as if in a youngsters’s storybook. There’s loads of perspective distortion, tender edges, and vignetting. However that, combined with 5 aperture blades, provides photographs a singular look that’s laborious to realize with simply any lens.
Bokeh
Shut crop
Broad-angle lenses aren’t recognized for bokeh, and that is the equal of a 12mm f4. However, whereas bokeh could be laborious to realize, when this lens does create it, it’s quirky and enjoyable. The Laowa 6mm f2 makes use of simply 5 aperture blades. That offers the bokeh the form of a pentagon. I do know having sufficient lens blades for round bokeh is all the craze. However, because you don’t see pentagon bokeh fairly often, while you do see it, it’s actually eye-catching. Sometimes, a few of these pentagons have a soapy texture to them. Like round bokeh tends to cat-eye on the edges, the pentagon bokeh seems a bit elongated on the sides of the picture. So, should you’re searching for bokeh outdoors the field, the Laowa 6mm f2 definitely delivers distinctive blurred backgrounds.
Shade Rendition
The colours didn’t skew too far by hook or by crook on the Laowa 6mm. Tones felt pretty correct for the E-M5. There have been a couple of related tones in a colour chart that didn’t have a lot separation. However, in real-world use, there’s not a lot to complain about right here. You’ll be able to sometimes discover some coloured fringing, significantly on the sides.
Lens Character
The Laowa 6mm f2 is so filled with character, it’d burst on the seams. Let’s begin with the ultra-wide view. For those who maintain the lens good and get near the topic, you’ll be able to truly get almost-straight traces right here. There’s some slight fisheye bend, nevertheless it’s fairly spectacular.
The 121.9 angle of view, nonetheless, means perspective distortion occurs fairly rapidly. Sure, should you maintain the lens good, the traces can be principally straight. However, real-world scenes like taking pictures structure, should you’re wanting up even simply barely, there’s going to be numerous curving traces from perspective distortion. Buildings and light-weight posts on the sides are going to bend. That’s a part of this lens’ character.
The actual character right here is how extensive this lens is. It captures a 121.9-degree view. That’s extensive sufficient that buildings throughout the road could be in the identical body as those that you simply’re standing proper subsequent to. It creates a giant, wide-open feeling. And, whereas barrel distortion is minimal, the angle distortion and tender edges nonetheless give photographs an virtually fisheye really feel.
Level this lens on the solar, and you may get some pretty lens flare.
The attitude distortion is mixed with a little bit of vignetting and edge softness, which some photographers might discover much less fascinating. However, combine all that collectively, add a sprinkle of pentagon bokeh, and you’ve got a scrumptious character sandwich.
Sharpness
Sharpness falls off fairly rapidly when taking pictures extensive open. The tender edges give the lens extra of a fisheye really feel. Strains have been virtually straight when measured with a ruler, however the softness made them seem to bend a bit greater than they really did. Step the lens down, say to f8, and the sides can be a lot clearer.
There are two methods to have a look at the sharpness of this lens: filled with character, or technically tender. Photographers who need edge-to-edge sharpness taking pictures at f2, like for astrophotography, would possibly skip this lens. However photographers who need quirky character will like this lens.
Additional Picture Samples
From day one, The Phoblographer has been enormous on transparency with our viewers. Nothing from this evaluation is sponsored. Additional, numerous people will submit critiques and present numerous enhancing within the photographs. The issue then turns into that anybody and everybody can do the identical factor. They’re not displaying what the lens can do. So we have now a bit in our Additional Picture Samples space to indicate edited and unedited photographs. From this, you can also make a choice for your self.
Unedited
Edited
Who Ought to Purchase It?
If you’d like quirky character and an ultra-wide view, then the Laowa 6mm f2 Zero-D MFT is a superb selection. Uncommon pentagon-shaped bokeh, the wide-open really feel of a 121.9-degree view, and close-up focusing capabilities mix to create photographs which can be tough to create with different lenses. The Laowa 6mm f2 is something however boring. Add the steel construct and $499 worth level, and there’s rather a lot to like about this lens.
However, in order for you edge-to-edge sharpness, like for astrophotography or pixel-peeping, then preserve wanting. Sharpness falls off quick with this lens and, in some pictures, that simply builds character. However, in others, photographers might discover the softer edges distracting.
Tech Specs
Laowa lists the next specs for the 6mm f2 Zero-D MFT lens:
Focal Size: 6mm
Angle of View: 121.9°
Aperture Vary: f2-16
Format Compatibility: M43 Format
Lens Construction: 13 components in 3 teams
Aperture Blades: 5
Min. Focusing Distance: 9cm
Max. Magnification: 0.18X
Filter Thread: Ø58mm
Dimensions: About Ø 61 x 52mm
Weight: About 188g
Mounts: MFT
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