The Laowa 10mm f/4 Cookie lens is likely one of the new choices from Venus Optics. With an outstanding 109.3-degree box of view, it is these days the widest rectilinear APS-C lens available on the market, so how does it carry out?
We not too long ago had the chance to consult with St Kilda, an archipelago 40 miles north of Harris, Scotland. Because of the elements prerequisites, the journeys are canceled somewhat incessantly, however on this present day the whole lot was once having a look fantastic. I opted to take two lenses for the Fujifilm XT-4, the Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR and the brand new Laowa 10mm f/4 Cookie. In all probability no longer a smart selection, as I did not know after we would get this chance once more, however I did suppose this may be a just right time-limited alternative to check out out the lens. Did I feel sorry about it?
Construct and Dealing with
The very first thing I’ve to mention is this lens is small, and I imply small. Hooked up to the Fuji, it tasks out to 25mm, and 30mm with the land cap hooked up. That is essentially the most compact lens I’ve ever shot with, and it feels roughly bizarre, however bizarre in an effective way. As it is a absolutely handbook lens, the whole lot you want is at the lens: aperture, intensity of box scale, and naturally the focusing ring, simply millimeters clear of the aperture ring. The filter out thread has a diameter of 37mm, so you’ll be able to see that dimension is the massive draw of this lens; my automobile and space keys blended absorb more room in my pocket than this lens.
A complete steel chassis makes the lens appear forged, and even if it’s not weather-sealed, it nonetheless feels as despite the fact that it would maintain other prerequisites rather neatly. Attaching the lens to the digital camera is the standard simple procedure, it is detaching it that may be rather unnerving because of its dimension, as you need to grip just about the mount. I by no means as soon as used the focusing ring, only a mere 20mm away, even if I do suppose I may just, because the lens is forged. 
Efficiency
Middle sharpness is superb, with minimum dropoff from the middle to the sides over the apertures. I discovered it highest at between f/8 to f/11, then while you hit f/14, diffraction starts to turn rather. There may be distortion and softness on the edges, however that is to be anticipated for a 10mm lens, exaggerated, in fact, the nearer you’re in your matter, however this can be utilized creatively.
The picture of the Bronica has been deliberately shot at f/4, minimal focusing distance, and into the solar to determine how the lens handled this, and as you’ll be able to see, it treated it neatly. As soon as the solar rose a bit extra, there was once somewhat a bit of of lens flare recorded, and once more, that is to be anticipated.
The distortion is minimum for a lens of this focal distance and the picture under, except the monochrome profile, is uncorrected, which leads me to suppose that this may be a sensible choice for each inner and external architectural images so long as you have been an affordable distance out of your closest matter within the scene.
Vignetting
That is my major gripe in regards to the lens, as I need to be in regulate of the vignetting in a picture and come to a decision whether or not I upload a refined one or no longer upload one in any respect. The vignetting is somewhat pronounced throughout the apertures, even if it dissipates to a suitable degree round f/9. Correcting this in publish is essential, so most likely Laowa will liberate a profile for Lightroom. You’ll be able to see by means of the photographs under the volume of vignetting that happens.
The picture above presentations the volume of vignetting in just right gentle, with the primary symbol being the uncooked report and the second one handiest auto-corrected in Lightroom. The pictures under display the volume of vignetting in flat gentle, once more with handiest minimum edits in Lightroom.
Correcting the vignetting wasn’t an exhausting job: a easy inverted radial filter out in Lightroom and a few slider tweaks and itwas fastened, however as mentioned, I need to be in regulate of the vignetting.
What I Favored
- I do just like the compact nature of the lens, however most likely only a rather higher barrel can be higher. It is a double-edged sword, as the dimensions of the lens is somewhat fascinating.
- The sharpness is superb for a lens of this dimension and worth.
- The vast box of view.
- The distortion regulate.
What I Did not Like
- Heavy vignetting at wider apertures.
- The dimensions of the lens is so neat and compact that your hand will get in the best way, so you need to leisure your hand beneath the digital camera to make certain that no palms are captured within the shot because of the sphere of view.
- No EXIF knowledge, as there aren’t any digital connection issues.
Conclusion
I did experience the usage of the lens, the sphere of view, and the forged building. For me, this is a ingenious and a laugh lens, sharp with minimum distortion and but heavy vignetting, and as a result of this, I feel you would need to make a selection your photographs sparsely if you were not going to make use of the vignetting creatively. The dimensions of the lens is neat and relaxing to paintings with, but generally is a little bit of a hindrance if in case you have giant arms like myself. I principally shoot landscapes, so the digital camera can be fixed on a tripod with my arms out of the best way as soon as centered.
Since photographing different topics and spending extra time the usage of the lens, I am nonetheless at odds with my ideas as I needed to suppose creatively regarding the vignetting. Did I feel sorry about taking it to St Kilda? No, and I did really feel that the restricted time with the positioning compelled me to center of attention extra on each and every facet of what the lens may just do fairly than the vignetting. It could develop on me the extra I exploit it, particularly being so moveable and simple to take alongside. You’ll be able to purchase yours right here.