New Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro Gets Fantastic Reviews: “Fujifilm Has a Reason to Get Nervous Now”

The New Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro get Fantastic Results - Image courtesy Jonas Rask
The New Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro get Fantastic Results – Image courtesy Jonas Rask

Very recently, Venus Optics launched the Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro.

You can get it at the Venus Optics store (pick this option for fastest shipping) and also at BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama.

Now we have a couple of reviews out there, and they are extremely positive.

Let’s start with opticalllimits (former photozone). Their conclusion from their full review here:

The Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is a stunning performer with just a few minor weaknesses.

Its biggest value proposition is the excellent resolution. At f/2.8, the center is tack sharp with a hint of softness at the image corners. However, at f/5.6, the quality is as good as it gets! Lateral CAs, as well as distortions, are non-existent. There’s a tad of vignetting at fully open aperture but it’s by no means disturbing and it can be reduced by stopping down.

The quality of the bokeh is good. The foreground blur is very smooth whereas the background blur could be better. Out of focus highlights are nicely rendered at f/2.8 but you can spot that the lens doesn’t feature curved aperture blades at smaller aperture settings.

A big plus in our book is the lack of axial CAs which is already a massive achievement alone but even more so at this price point.

Not all Laowa lenses are excellent but some are and the Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is certainly among them.

Canon, Fujifilm & the likes have reasons to get a little nervous by now.

As of today, Laowa is still a niche player today but once they’ll be able to source the necessary parts for implementing AF and electronic coupling, they’ll be heading straight for the mainstream.

Also Jonas Rask reviewed the Laowa 65mm f/2.8 here. Among tons of great samples, he writes:

I really shouldn’t be surprised by Laowa offering high quality at a very affordable price. The last couple of lenses that I’ve used from them have all been stellar performers, and the Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is probably the best of them so far. It’s incredibly versatile. Incredibly sharp. Renders beautiful out of focus areas and focus falloff while keeping it all in a very well-built compact package. This is indeed another hit lens from Laowa if you ask me. And I’m not even into macro!

Fantastic reviews also from Christopher Forst and Micael Widell. You can see their videos below.

Video Reviews

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Fujifilm X100V vs XF23mmF2 and XF23mmF1.4 :: X100V, A Missed Opportunity :: Why X100V is better than iPhone :: More First Looks

BHphoto video – Introducing the X100V

As you probably know by now (if not, do your homework and check back the X100V live blogging ;) ), the Fujifilm X100V has a new XF23mm f/2 lens, that definitely delivers a significant improvement over the previous lens, which was designed for the 12 megapixel original X100.

Finally Fujifilm updated it. And they did a pretty damn good job.

But how does it compare to the other Fujinon 23mm lenses in Fuji’s offering, the Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 and the Fujinon XF23mm f/2?

Well, today we try to investigate this any many more question in a dedicated Fujifilm X100V roundup:

  • ivanjoshualoh – 23mm vs 23mm vs 23mm Shootout
  • techradar – Why the Fujifilm X100V is a better street photography camera than my iPhone 11 Pro
  • digitalcameraworld – Hands on: Fujifilm X100V review
  • dpreview – Why the Fujifilm X100V feels like a missed opportunity

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Fujifilm X100V
USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Focuscamera
EU: AmazonDE / CalumetDE / WexUK / ParkcamerasUK / JessopsUK / AmazonUK / PCHstore

X100V Video Reviews

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Fujifilm X-T3 Autofocus Test: Old Firmware vs New Firmware

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Fujifilm X-T3 firmware

Fujifilm recently released Fujifilm X-T3 firmware 3.20, which promises a noticeable improvement in face and eye autofocus.

If you are looking for feedback, take a loot at the 281 comments in our Fujifilm X-T3 firmware 3.20 article.

Now we have a first autofocus comparison between the Fujifilm X-T3 old vs new firmware.

The video is French by les-guides-fujifilm.com. Left side camera old firmware, right camera new firmware.

The video below starts at min. 8.06, which is where you can see both cameras tested side by side.

If somebody speaks French (sadly it’s not one of the 4 languages I speak), it would be great if you could quickly summarize in the comments what he thinks about the new firmware.

UPDATE: here is the translation from one of our readers (thanks)

  • face detection is generally better as it works with smaller (further away) faces, and is more reliable
  • multiple faces are also better handled than before
  • in difficult circumstance (such as somebody wearing glasses, face seen from the side, …) there seems to be no improvement.
  • with 56 XF strange results: new firmware seems to degrade the autofocus performance
  • with 16-80 XF there’s a general improvement
  • tracking remains a bit laggy, no real improvement vs previous version

Don’t forget to:

→ Top X-T Community: Fujifilm X-T facebook group
→ Top X-T Page: Fujifilm X-T Page

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DPRTV Compares Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 vs Fujinon XC 35mm f/2

Along with the Fujifilm X-T200, Fujifilm just announced the affordable Fujinon XC35mm f/2.

We did compare both lenses already by the specs sheets, and we saw that they are basically the same, except for the fact that the Fujinon XC 35mm f/2 has no aperture ring, no weather sealing and is made mainly out of plastic.

The good news: it should optically perform like the best selling lens in 2019, the Fujinon XF 35mm f/2.

Really?

Well, DPReview TV tested them both, and here is what they say:

  • XC35mm is lighter and more affordable
  • autofocus motor is the same. Both lenses focus fast
  • sharpness is identical in center and in corners. Very good performing lenses
  • bokeh identical
  • fringing identical
  • flare and stunstars are identical
  • skin tones identical
  • XC lens is a bit lighter, but not a difference that is worth to go for XC lens
  • XF lens has a classier look, weather sealing, metal, and aperture ring
  • XC lens comes without lens hood
  • XC lens costs half the money
  • with the extra $200 for the XF 35mmF2 you get quite a lot

Fuji’s best seller now got even more affordable, but personally I’d spend those extra 200 bucks all day long, for having a more solid, weather resistant lens with aperture ring.

But I get the point of it: now and entry level kit with a fixed prime lens got even more affordable.

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