Laowa Argus 33mm f/0.95 CF APO: VenusOptics / B&H Photo
The Laowa Argus 33mm f/0.95 CF APO is a super-fast lens that is great for low-light photography and has a lot of character. Optical limits just posted its full review which you can read here or you can see some excerpts below:
…The optical performance is on a high level, even at maximum aperture. The broader center is sharp straight from f/0.95 and the borders can keep up nicely. Only the corners are a bit soft. The background contrast is slightly reduced at this setting but this can be boosted via an imaging tool. Stopping down to f/1.4 results in quite a lift in quality even in the corners, and the peak performance around f/2.8 is very impressive indeed. Image distortions are very low and nothing to worry about. As you might expect the vignetting is very high at large-aperture settings. Lateral and axial CAs are well controlled, although they aren’t entirely as absent as the “APO” designation may suggest. RSAs are also something to be aware of. The technical quality of the bokeh is a bit of a mixed bag… Flare can also be a weak spot so better mount the lens hood when shooting.
The mechanical quality of the Argus lens is, again, impressive. The all-metal construction feels very reassuring and the dampened control rings are a joy to use. The internal focus mechanism is appreciated and we are also a fan of the new hood design. It’s not all glory, though, because there’s no electronic coupling thus also no AF and no weather sealing.
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