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Lens review

Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D

9 January 2019
Arkadiusz Olech

7. Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

Good coma correction is only visible when it comes to the APS-C/DX sensor format and the frame area it encompasses. In the corners of full frame coma is visible without any problems and it decreases just slightly on stopping down by 1 EV.

Center, f/2.8 Corner APS-C, f/2.8 Corner FF, f/2.8
Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh
Center, f/4.0 Corner APS-C, f/4.0 Corner FF, f/4.0
Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh


When it comes to astigmatism, understood as an average difference between horizontal and vertical MTF50 function values, we don’t have the slightest reservations. The value, measured by us, amounted to 2.2% which means that aberration shouldn’t bother you at all.


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The parameters of the Laowa 2.8/12 make it very difficult to reach big out-of-focus areas in photographs; evidently the appearance of bokeh is not a decisive feature for potential buyers. Still photos below prove there are no reasons for complaining. Of course the circles would be nice if there were 9-10, not seven aperture blades but, fortunately, the layout of light inside them is quite even and the rim is not especially accented. We also haven’t spotted any distinct onion-ring bokeh, a feature often seen when inner construction of a lens has aspherical elements. Deformations of circles in frame corners are unavoidable with this angle of view so they can’t be treated as a flaw.

Center, f/2.8 Corner APS-C, f/2.8 Corner FF, f/2.8
Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh
Center, f/4.0 Corner APS-C, f/4.0 Corner FF, f/4.0
Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh
Center, f/5.6 Corner APS-C, f/5.6 Corner FF, f/5.6
Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D  - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh