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  4. What do you know about Venus Laowa lenses?

What do you know about Venus Laowa lenses?


4 years 11 months ago #644253 by Todd Floyd
I just came across this lens mentioned on a Facebook post.  Someone who spoke about the focus ring being a little stiff.  Out of curiosity I went over to Adorama to look at this lens:  https://www.adorama.com/ve1228nkaia.html  as I've never even heard of it before.  The reviews are pretty good for it.  Not a lot them, and then there is a bad review similar to what I just heard, at least about the focus being stiff:

"No stop-down feature. Pre-set diaphragm only. Stiff focus: Helical grease too viscous. Venus Optics, China, does not respond to inquiries. Nice presentation box. Focus and Depth of Field Scales are nice useable features. Good solid feel, except for being too hard to focus smoothly! Lens Shade is metal and stows nicely around lens body."

Putting aside the reviews, for a manual lens, when you compare it to for example Rokinon manual lenses, this lens is nearly 2X the cost.  

What's so special or not special about these lenses? 
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4 years 11 months ago #644257 by Stanly
They are OK lenses, for the price you can spend a little more and get something from Sigma or Tamron that has autofocus.  
Nikon Z6 | Nikon FM10 | Nikon D80 | Nikon 50mm f/1.8D | Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR | 35-105mm f/3.5 Macro | 80-200mm f/4.5 | SB600 | Pocket Wizard II
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4 years 11 months ago #644263 by garyrhook
The have a number of interesting lenses; I want the 15mm f/4 Macro myself.

All I know is that you can't find them used on eBay. Either they don't sell, or their buyers like them enough to keep them.
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4 years 11 months ago #644264 by Todd Floyd
Do you think that could be contributed to  this company being so young?  I've been reading more about this company.   They are kind of new right?  I was reading comments on another board saying the same thing about there not being much on the used market.  One person stated the company has been releasing very limited quantities into the market due to manufacture bottle necks.  
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4 years 11 months ago #644287 by garyrhook

Todd Floyd wrote: Do you think that could be contributed to  this company being so young?  I've been reading more about this company.   They are kind of new right?  I was reading comments on another board saying the same thing about there not being much on the used market.  One person stated the company has been releasing very limited quantities into the market due to manufacture bottle necks.  


I don't know much about it, just ran across the lens somewhere.

B&H carries them, and has reviews on their site, so that's helpful.
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4 years 11 months ago #644289 by mariablassingame
They have a variety of intriguing lenses; I desire the 15mm f/4 Macro myself. Macro lenses enable you to take a picture of a subject really close up. Calling a lens a macro lens does not have anything to do with whether it is wide-angle or telephoto. It just indicates you can obtain extremely near to little things and also picture them.
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4 years 11 months ago #644391 by Studio Queen
I prefer the auto focus lens myself.
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4 years 11 months ago #644427 by Jason Stevens
Jury is out to lunch with these lenses for me.  
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4 years 11 months ago #644449 by garyrhook

Jason Stevens wrote: Jury is out to lunch with these lenses for me.  


I just love mixed metaphors :lol:
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4 years 11 months ago #644550 by Barbara Fite
I don't understand using manual lenses when you have so many other options?  Is it a cost saving play for those of you using?
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4 years 11 months ago #644555 by garyrhook

Barbara Fite wrote: I don't understand using manual lenses when you have so many other options?  Is it a cost saving play for those of you using?


It's not about using manual lenses, it's about using lenses with certain character, or unique character, or a certain quality (e.g. every Zeiss lens). If you have to choose between a lens that does something you want, and manual focus, you choose the lens. And deal with MF.

It's really not that bad, in any event. Even when your eyesight is terrible. One can learn.
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4 years 11 months ago #644720 by donmammoser
Hi Frankly speaking, I haven't done any critical shooting  to look for super-detailed analysis of edge-to-edge sharpness but right now I'm just having fun using it. The close focus distance and wide angle combination are a unique combination.
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