Venus Optics has released two new cinema lenses: Laowa 65mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine (S35) and Laowa 100mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine (FF).
Macro specialist Laowa introduces two high magnification lenses for cinema use with T-stop rather than F-stop and focus tracking mechanisms.
Laowa 65mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine (S35) is for Super35 (APS-C in photographic terms) cameras, while Laowa 100mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine (FF) is for full frame cameras. Both offer T-stop (light transmission) settings that videographers love, and external mechanisms for focusing and stepless iris control.
The Laowa 65mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine Lens (S35) will be available in Fujifilm X, Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon EF-M mounts and offers 2x macro zoom, twice the 1:1 zoom ratio offered by a regular macro lenses.
It also features an APO (apochromatic) optical design to counteract both lateral and longitudinal chromatic aberration. A 9-blade diaphragm is used to create beautiful bokeh. It uses 77mm diameter filters and comes in its own protective case with a set of gaskets for any required flange calibration.
Main Specifications of Laowa 65mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine (S35):
• Focal length 65 mm
• Viewing angle 24.4°
• T aperture range: T2.9-22
• S35 format compatibility
• Optical design: 14 elements in 10 groups
• 9 aperture blades
• Minimum focusing distance 17cm
• Minimum working distance 8 cm
• Maximum magnification: 2x
• Angle of rotation of the focus ring 249°
• Filter thread 77 mm
• Dimensions: 84.8 x 103 mm
• Weight: 550 g
• Mount: Canon EF-M / Fujifilm X/ Sony E/ Nikon Z.
According to Venus Optics, the Laowa 100mm T2.9 2x Macro APO Cine (FF) Cine Lens is the world’s first 2x macro video lens on a full-frame camera with a minimum focus distance of just 8cm. It has a 26.1° field of view and can create shallow depth of field.
The Laowa 100mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine (FF) lens will ship with Arri PL, Sony E, Canon EF, Canon RF and L-mount.
Like the 65mm lens, it was designed for cinema cameras with a stepless aperture ring and a focus ring for follow focus units.
Like the 65mm lens, the 100mm lens has a 77mm front filter thread and the same APO lens design. However, it has a 13-blade diaphragm inside — an unusually large number — to create smooth bokeh.
Main technical Laowa 100mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine (FF):
• Focal length: 100mm
• Viewing angle 26.1°°
• Aperture range: T2.9-22
• Format compatibility: Full frame
• Optical design: 12 elements in 10 groups
• 13 aperture blades
• Minimum focusing distance 24.7 cm
• Minimum working distance 7.1 cm
• Maximum magnification 2x
• Angle of rotation of the focus ring 220°
• Filter thread 77 mm
• Dimensions: 885.6 x 139 mm
• Weight: 957 g
• Mounts: Arri PL / Sony E / Canon EF / Canon RF / L mount.
Both cinema lenses are already on sale. The Laowa 65mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine is available for $599 in all mounts, and the Laowa 100mm T2.9 2X Macro APO Cine is available for $999 in all mounts. The package also includes a protective hard case for each of the cinema lenses.
