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Category: Lenses

  • Laowa 8‑15 mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye

    Laowa 8‑15 mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye

    Venus Optics’ newest glass— the Laowa 8‑15 mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye—packs a trick no other lens offers: at 8 mm it renders a perfect 180‑degree circular fisheye, complete with the classic black border, and by simply twisting the zoom ring to 15 mm it morphs into a diagonal (full‑sensor) fisheye. No more swapping lenses or cropping half the frame when you want both flavors of distortion on the same shoot.

    Image sourse: Laowa

    Quick spec rundown:

    • Focal length & type: 8–15 mm manual‑focus zoom
    • Maximum aperture: constant f/2.8 (cine version is T2.9)
    • Coverage & field of view: full‑frame/large‑format; 180 ° circular view at 8 mm, edge‑to‑edge rectangle at 15 mm
    • Optical formula: 13 elements in 9 groups, 9‑blade rounded diaphragm
    • Minimum focus distance: 16 cm / 6.3 in, yielding 0.23× magnification
    • Dimensions & weight: about 94.5 mm long and 650 g
    • Mount options: Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and L‑Mount
    • Filters: none—the bulbous front element rules out standard threads
    Image sourse: Laowa

    Two fisheyes, one zoom
    Spin the zoom ring and you literally change the geometry of the frame, going from a bubble‑view (great for VR plates, tiny‑planet clips, or skater POVs) to a full‑sensor, horizon‑bending 15 mm fisheye for architecture, astrophotography, or creative portraits.

    Fast glass in its class
    With an f/2.8 aperture, the Laowa is a full stop brighter than Canon’s venerable EF 8‑15 mm f/4 L and noticeably faster than Nikon’s AF‑S 8‑15 mm f/3.5‑4.5. That extra light can keep ISO down and shutter speeds up for night skies, indoor events, and dimly lit venues.

    Extreme close‑ups
    A 16 cm close‑focus distance lets you jam the lens a few inches from your subject while still capturing the entire environment around it—fantastic for surreal macro‑meets‑landscape perspectives.

    Rock‑solid build
    Early reviewers note the all‑metal barrel, butter‑smooth rings, and tight tolerances that Laowa fans have come to expect. Just remember the trade‑offs: manual focus only, no built‑in filter threads, and a front element that begs for a protective cap whenever it’s off the camera.

    Image sourse: Laowa

    Laowa undercuts Canon’s and Nikon’s auto‑focus fisheye zooms by roughly 45 percent while delivering an extra stop of light and native mirrorless mounts. If you can live without autofocus (common for fisheye work anyway), you get a brighter lens, a lighter price tag, and the convenience of switching between circular and diagonal views with a twist.

    The Laowa 8‑15 mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye hands creatives two ultra‑wide looks in one lens, bright optics for low‑light play, and a price that invites experimentation. Whether you shoot star trails, skateboard videos, VR content, or just love bending reality for fun, this glass opens up fresh possibilities without bending your budget.

    Pricing and availability

    • Photography version: shipping now for $699 USD in all four mirrorless mounts.
    • Cine version: a geared‑ring 8‑15 mm T2.9 FF Zoom Fisheye Cine model lists at $1,399 USD and is slated to ship later this year.

    More infromation: Laowa website

  • Introducing Sigma’s T1.3 Aperture Aizu Prime Cinema Lenses

    Introducing Sigma’s T1.3 Aperture Aizu Prime Cinema Lenses

    Sigma has officially introduced the Aizu Prime Line, a family of 12 full‑frame/large‑format cinema primes featuring a constant T1.3 aperture across every focal length—a first for any cine lens lineup.

    Covering a 46.3 mm image circle, the range will eventually span 18 mm to 125 mm, but Sigma is rolling the glass out in two waves. The initial eight lenses (25 mm – 75 mm) are slated to ship first, with the ultra‑wide and telephoto options following later this year. All lenses come in PL and Sony E mounts and keep weights in the 1.6 – 1.7 kg bracket—light enough for gimbal or handheld work despite their speed.

    Optically, the Aizu Primes are new designs rather than rehoused photo lenses. Sigma says they combine “modern sharpness” with an “organic, naturally soft look,” while controlling distortion and focus breathing to suit demanding cinema workflows. The company also hints that lessons learned here may influence future ultra‑fast still‑photo glass.

    Price & Availability
    Each Aizu Prime is expected to retail at $8,299 USD, with shipments beginning in August 2025 for the first eight focal lengths; the remaining four should follow before year’s end.

    With a unified T1.3 aperture, matched mechanics, and full‑frame coverage, Sigma’s Aizu Prime Line positions itself as a versatile, cost‑competitive alternative to established high‑speed cinema sets—one that’s likely to attract indie productions and studio shooters alike.

  • Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 Arrives: Classic Fast Portrait Prime with Adjustable Bokeh for Sony E‑Mount

    Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 Arrives: Classic Fast Portrait Prime with Adjustable Bokeh for Sony E‑Mount

    Cosina Voigtländer has just lifted the curtain on the Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8, a manual‑focus medium‑telephoto that blends vintage optical design with a brand‑new spherical‑aberration control ring. It’s the first Voigtländer lens that lets photographers dial a scene from dreamy glow to razor‑sharp contrast simply by twisting a front‑barrel ring—no filters, no firmware hacks, just pure glass magic. PetaPixelImaging Resource

    Key specs at a glance

    • Full‑frame coverage, Sony E‑mount (electronic contacts transmit EXIF and distance data) OpticalLimits
    • Unique “under ↔ over” spherical‑aberration ring for on‑lens bokeh tuning PetaPixelPhoto Rumors
    • Classic 6‑element / 3‑group Heliar formula with 9‑blade diaphragm for smooth round highlights PetaPixelOpticalLimits
    • Fast f/1.8 aperture, 0.7 m minimum focus, 1:7.4 max magnification—ideal for portraits and tight product shots OpticalLimits
    • All‑metal housing, 62 mm front filter thread, and weighs 515 g; barrel‑style hood included OpticalLimits

    Why it matters

    Portrait shooters chasing that elusive “character” now get a native‑mount option that behaves a bit like Nikon’s legendary 135 mm f/2 DC—only smaller, faster and mirrorless‑ready. Twist toward “under” and edges bloom for a soft‑focus, vintage feel; roll to “over” and micro‑contrast snaps into clinical sharpness, with every tweak nudging effective T‑stop and focus plane for creative control on the fly. PetaPixelImaging Resource

    Price & availability

    The Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 ships in June 2025. Cosina lists a suggested price of ¥165,000 in Japan (≈ US $1,100), while UK preorder listings hover around £750 before VAT; official U.S. MSRP is expected to land just under the thousand‑dollar mark once retailers open their carts. Photo RumorsPetaPixel

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