105mm F2 Laowa F2, T3.2 STF LENS

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Manual Focus
Filter Size is 67mm
F2 (T3.2, due to apodization element) to F22
11 elements in 8 groups
Aperture Blades - 8 F‐stop, 14 T‐stop
Min. Focus Distance 0.9M
745g
76mm x 98.9mm
$699
Cheaper on our deals - http://www.personal-view.com/deals/lenses/laowa

UK OPTICS (LAOWA UK) is pleased to present the Laowa 105mm F2 STF Lens. STF stands for Smooth Trans Focus, in reference to its special optical system, which is intended to deliver smooth transitions between crisp in‐focus areas and creamy defocused background or foreground areas. This unique manual focus only lens has an integrated apodisation filter that provides superior bokeh rendering and crystal sharp images.

Full frame compatible lens featuring 11 elements in 8 groups with a 14 blade aperture* and a minimum focus distance of just 0.9M. All metal alloy construction housing multi‐coated glass elements throughout. At a focal length of 105mm and with the inherent softly diffused bokeh, this lens is perfect for portraiture.

The Laowa 105mm F2 STF lens is one of only a few lenses currently offering an apodisation effect. Available later in March with an MSRP of £649.99, in the following mounts: Nikon, Canon, Sony A, Sony E and Pentax.

Glenn7

Good lens. Just not very cheap.

nomad

I think it's the same concept as the Minolta 135mm STF, still sold by Sony unaltered.

Best site about it: http://www.the135stf.net

That one is a lens with an apodization element, a circular graded ND filter (which explains the strange transmission stop values).

That Laowa is quite a bit cheaper, and 105mm seems more attractive for what you normally want to do with very smooth bokeh. But you can find the Minolta/Sony on the second hand market nearly unused with some patience.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@nomad

Thanks for info, very interesting.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-105mm-f2-smooth-trans-focus-stf-lens/

Psyco

There is also the Fuji 56mm F1.2 APD lens with the same technology (for Fuji X mount).

Vitaliy_Kiselev

US price will be $699, I updated first post.

nomad

Seems very attractive, the Sony is much more expensive and a bit too long, even on FF.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/laowa-stf-105mm-f-2--t3-2--lens-hands-on-preview-29079

RKM

Pretty amazing. Look at her hairs in the wind. I wonder how my Nikon 85 1.4 AIS would perform in this situation.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

On deals - http://www.personal-view.com/deals/lenses/laowa

Vitaliy_Kiselev

The Laowa 105 STF delivers a bokeh as smooth and pleasing as the Sony STF together with very good sharpness right from open aperture but with 105 mm focal length it is more flexible than the longer Sony STF. It is also quite sensitive when shooting against the light. With a transmission of T3.2 it provides about one stop more light than the Sony STF helping to keep ISO lower when shooting with short exposure.

http://3d-kraft.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189:laowa-

balazer

Vitaliy, on your deals page you say Sony FE mount. There is no such thing. You mean Sony E-mount.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

It is not my invention, copied from Laowe. Sony uses FE for calling their lenses that are designed for FF.

balazer

Sony's own full-frame E-mount lenses are called FE, yes. But there is no FE mount. It's E-mount.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Again, not my call.

eatstoomuchjam

While you're technically correct that there is no "FE mount," referring to it as that is nice since it instantly answers the first question that I have whenever somebody mentions a new E mount lens. No need to be pedantic about naming.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Sharpness is very impressive throughout. Central sharpness starts off at an excellent level at f/2, approaching outstanding between f/2.8 and f/5.6, is excellent at f/8 and f/11, still very good at f/16 and only drops to fair at f/22.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/laowa-105mm-f-2-t3-2-smooth-trans-focus-lens-review-29301

Vitaliy_Kiselev

The technical quality of the Laowa lens is truly impressive even when ignoring the STF feature. It is extremely sharp in and near the image center and the borders are also very good. The extreme corners are just Ok at f/2 but very decent beyond. If you compare the MTFs with the other reviews that we have done on the EOS 5Ds R so far, you will appreciate how good these results really are!

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/978-laowa105f2stf

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://dustinabbott.net/2016/06/laowa-stf-105mm-f2-t3-2-review/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

https://www.flickr.com/photos/autorenphotographie/sets/72157667292189894/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Outstanding lens. It's an incredibly sharp optic, with a design that smooths out of focus backgrounds—a big plus for portraiture.

http://www.pcmag.com/review/345778/venus-optics-laowa-105mm-f-2-t-3-2-smooth-trans-focus

DrDave

Looks like my JC Penney eBay lens.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@DrDave

What do you mean exactly?

DrDave

The image, looks like my vintage JC Penney lens....reasonably sharp, decent color, OK Bokeh, prone to flare. I would take a photo but I don't have this bird....

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