MINI TESTS
LAOWA 17MM F/4 ZERO-D SHIFT £1009/$999 venuslens.net
Laowa is to launch a 17mm tilt-shift lens to match its new 35mm, but if you want to save cash then the 17mm f/4 Zero-D Shift is a solid option. It is smaller and lighter than the 35mm, just a stop slower and only has a shift option to correct verticals. That’s where this lens is a real beauty: the superwide perspective is ideal for interiors and architecture. It can be used to cram loads into the frame and also to stop verticals from leaning. If you shoot stills, video or architecture, it’s a must buy. Of course, as a 17mm lens, it’s also very good for general landscapes. It’s not too big or heavy to carry around all day and it has very smooth all- manual focusing and iris control. Like its 35mm big brother, it has a tripod foot as standard and a removable lens hood, which is crucial on wide optics. A locking knob releases the shift mechanism, but it’s adjusted using a large and solid ring on the lens – a bit like a zoom control. This is far easier to get hold of and better to use, even with cold hands in gloves. Despite its superwide view, it takes 86mm screw-in filters, but you need to buy super-slim ones to avoid vignetting. If you want to use a matte box or drop-in photo filters, you need to check that they don’t obscure part of the image frame. Image quality is fantastic, even in pixel-peeping stills on a large screen. Flare is well controlled, colours are natural and the image has plenty of contrast – but not too much. This is a great-performing lens that offers something for full-frame mirrorless cameras that manufacturers like Sony, Canon, Nikon and the rest simply don’t – and without resorting to old DSLR tech and adapters.
PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 8/10 A very capable and affordable perspective correction lens, ideal for architecture and interiors as well as general landscapes Pros: Good image quality, simple shift mechanism Cons: Doesn’t shift as much as the 35mm version HANDS ON The controls on the 17mm are easy to access even with cold hands wrapped in gloves
Because the lens tilts more on its axis than the camera, it’s best to mount the lens itself to a tripod. It comes accompanied by a foot with an Arca-Swiss mount, but we fitted a different plate. This foot is reversible, so the centre of gravity can be brought back or forward. It can also be removed using two mounting screws. But, when used on a mirrorless like the Sony A7S III, accessing the locks and buttons will be a squeeze with large hands. The aperture and focus are manual. The focus is precise and smooth but the throw isn’t huge. Peaking helps nail it, especially up close. The lens focuses as close as 228mm/8.98in, useful for product shots. The optical quality is excellent, but with no auto lens correction you may want to tweak it manually to get the best out of it. The Laowa 35mm is not an everyday lens. It’s for when you are locked down to a tripod for architecture and interior images or want to create some funky, creative shots. For a reasonable price, you get a solid, unique lens that will mark you out as a real pro operator. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 A lens that lets you control converging verticals or create unique, small-world style images or shallow depth-of-field Pros: Only tilt-shift in many mounts Cons: Heavy, fiddly buttons
BLUR THE LINE The 35mm
SPECIFICATIONS
Mount: Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Fujifilm GFX, Hasselblad XCD Mount rotation: 360° Image coverage: Full-frame Aperture: f/4-22 Aperture blades: 14 Shift: +/-11mm Construction: 12 elements in 12 groups Image stabilisation: No Autofocus: No Minimum focusing distance: 250mm/9.84in
Tilt-Shift gives you perfectly straight lines and a unique effect (above)
Filter size: 86mm Dimensions (wxl): 93x111mm/3.66x4.37in Weight: 770g/1.7lb
SET YOU STRAIGHT Correct your perspective with the 17mm Shift (below)
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