Experiences with the LAOWA 12mm f/2.8 ZERO-D prototype by Dierk Topp

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Note: The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 lens is now on Kickstarter: kickstarter.com/projects/laowa/ultra-wide-angle-lens-with-zero-distortion-laowa-1

Experiences with the LAOWA 12mm f/2.8 ZERO-D prototype (by Dierk Topp)

I am a wide angle junky, bought my first 17mm fish eye Takumar in 1970 :-)

Last year I got the Laowa 15mm f/4 Wide-Angled 1:1 Macro Lens  and posted my impressions at Steve Huff:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2015/11/06/laowa-15mm-f4-wide-angled-11-macro-lens-on-the-sony-a7rii-by-dierk-topp/
and in June 2016 I posted my first images made with the new Voigtlander Heliar-Hyper Wide 10mm f/5.6 Aspherical here at SAR:
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/first-images-with-the-new-voigtlander-heliar-hyper-wide-10mm-f5-6-aspherical/

A few weeks ago Venus Optics contacted me and asked, if I would be interested in comparing their new LAOWA 12mm f/2.8 ZERO-D to the new 10mm f/5.6 Voigtlander. Of course I was interested! Last Saturday the packet from Hong Kong arrived, customs and everything payed by Venus Optics.

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This week SAR readers photos selection

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OlgaWhiteWig133
Ptortora on SonyAlphaForum
Olga In Colored Wigs: 85mm 1.4 Test

1) Submit your picture with a message and picture here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors or on the SonyAlphaForum image section.
2) Like and comment the pictures from other readers here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors/photos_stream?tab=photos and on SonyAlphaForum.
3) A selection of most liked pictures by the community and by me SAR admin will be posted weekly on SAR.

Note: When sending a pic feel free to also add a link to your site to promote yourself!

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Mobile01 tests the new Planar 50mm f/1.4 FE lens and says it’s very close to the OTUS!

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mobile01-012e502fbcbb940cf0774993d902f6a5

The highly reputable Taiwanese website Mobile01 (translation here) posted the full Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 FE lens review. Here are a couple of notes in their final verdict statement:

– The lens performed beyond their expectations and is close to the best in class the Zeiss 55mm Otus.
– The lens has almost zero distortion, little purple fringing, as well as little coma.
– The only shortcoming is the not so fast autofocus
– The lens is bulky and heavy but the performance is worthy of its price
– They doubt with such high performance that Sony will ever make a 50mm GM lens. Mor maybe the GM version will be f/1.2?

Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. Focuscamera. Calumet.de. Amazon Germany. Cyberport.de. PhotoPorst. Jessops. WexUK.

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Small good news: Sony recovering a bit faster than expected from the Kumamoto damage

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Bildschirmfoto-2016-07-29-um-17.04.14

Sony revised the forecast for 2016 in their latest financial report (download the PDF file here). There is a small good news in the Imaging Product segment:

Sales are expected to be higher than the May forecast due to a shorter-than-expected delay in the supply of components used for Still and Video Cameras resulting from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates. Operating income is expected to be higher than the May forecast mainly due to the above-mentioned increase in sales and an expected improvement in product mix resulting from a shift to high value-added models in Still and Video Cameras, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates.

Still for 2016 Sony expoects a 22,5% sales decrease mainly caused by the Kumamoto production stop. It’s yet unclear what effects this will have on the rumored Sony A9, A99I camera launch…

Bildschirmfoto 2016-07-29 um 17.03.52

Bildschirmfoto 2016-07-29 um 17.03.20

 

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Sony Tidbits…

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How to Use Enlarger Lenses on your Mirrorless Camera

Amazing shots! Subzero Playground — Baikal 2015 (SonyAlphaForum).
Samyang 50mm f/1.4 AF lens review by Lenswork.tistory.com
Every Photographer Should Aspire to Own One Billingham Shoulder Bag! (Explora).
How to use Kipon Tilt & Shift Lens Adapters for Creative Results (Adorama Learning Center).
Canon + MC11 Zoo Trip (Drasko Stojadinovic)
To write a guest post on SAR follow the instructions on that page.

Edward: “I just finished writing an article about using compact lenses on the Sony A7 and thought that some of your readers might find it interesting.
http://infraedd.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/full-frame-keeping-compactness.html
Although there is a bit in there about IR performance it’s mostly just about the lenses.“

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The new Planar Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 FE is in Stock now! 70-200mm GM shipping in a few days.

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PlanarinStock

The new Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens is in Stock at BHphoto. The 70-200mm GM will start shipping too within the next 4-5 days. Check the in Stock status of all new Sony stuff here:

USA:
Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens at BHphoto, Amazon, Focuscamera.
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Focuscamera.
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Focuscamera.
Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Focuscamera.
Sony FA-WRC1M Wireless Radio Commander at BHphoto, Focuscamera.
Sony FA-WRR1 Wireless Radio Receiver at BHphoto, Focuscamera.
Sony VMC-MM1 Multi Terminal Cable at BHphoto, Focuscamera.
Europe:
Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens at Calumet.de. Amazon Germany. Cyberport.de. PhotoPorst. Jessops. WexUK.
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens at Calumet.de. Amazon Germany. Cyberport.de. PhotoPorst. Jessops. WexUK.
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter at PhotoPorst. Jessops.
Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter at PhotoPorst. Jessops.

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