The pricing, availability and full specifications of the new Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT lens have just been announced.

Retailing for just $149 / £189, the Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT is the most affordable lens that manufacturer Venus Optics has ever released.

The 17mm lens provides the equivalent of a 34mm angle of view on a full-frame sensor. The lens houses nine elements in seven groups, and has a seven-blade diaphragm to give a pleasing sunstar rendering. The lens is compact and weighs just 6oz (172g). It has a minimum focus distance of 15cm and comes with a 46mm filter thread.

Venus Optics Press Release

Venus Optics announce pricing and availability of Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT lens – a compact, approachable and fast lens for exquisite performance

Anhui China, Oct 16, 2019 – Venus Optics, the camera lenses manufacturer specializes in making unique camera lenses, unveil the pricing and availability of the Laowa 17mm f/1.8 for Micro Four Thirds (M43) cameras. It is the 4th wide angle lens that Venus Optics designs for MFT mirrorless cameras, following the success of 7.5mm f/2, 9mm f/2.8 and 4mm f/2.8 fisheye lenses. At the price of USD 149, this lens has been the most affordable lens Venus Optics has ever released.

Lightweight & Compactness

Weighted 6oz (172g) only, this remarkably light, compact and agile lens serves as an exceptional complement to MFT cameras. It is a great tool for still-life shots, street and travel photography that should be in every photographers’ kit bag.

Ultra-fast f/1.8 maximum aperture

An ultra-fast f/1.8 maximum aperture not only creates smooth bokeh with its rounded 7- blade diaphragm, but also offers great low-light performance. Despite the f/1.8 fast aperture, sharp and high-contrast images of distant subjects can be still captured at any apertures. It is an Ideal lens for portraits, landscapes, travel and all-purpose imaging.

Focus as close as 5.9” (15cm) from sensor

This lens has a 5.9” (15cm) minimum focusing distance that greatly benefits working with smaller subjects in detail. Photographers can make use of the “Mini-macro” feature to capture close-up shots with shallower depth of field, creating smooth out-of-focus rendering and good subject separation from the background.

Excellent performance in Videography

Attributed to the compact and light body, the 17mm f/1.8 lens is a portable and on-the- go option of videographers, both handheld and on gimbals. The high-performance optical design incorporates one ED (extra-low dispersion) glass element that delivers high- definition images with minimum ghosting and flare, broadening your shooting potential in challenging situations.

Footage on Z Cam by James Tonkin:

Footage on Panasonic GH5 by Steve Chan:

Drone-friendly

On top of using with traditional M43 cameras, this lens is also drone-friendly. It is compatible with DJI X5 camera, making it an alternative lens for aerial photography and videography. The front element has adopted premium FEC (Frog Eye Coating) to repel water droplets and pollutants from sticking onto the lens, enhancing the lens’ durability in frequent outdoor shooting.

i) Daytime Drone footage with DJI X5 on DJI Inspire 2 by Macgver Liu:

ii) Nighttime Drone footage with DJI X5 on SJI Inspire 2 by Macgver Liu:

6) Outstanding sharpness and high contrast

Optimized for M43 system, the resulting images deliver stunning details and contrast across the entire frame, even at a wide-open aperture. The vibrant color rendering results in high saturation, leaving the photograph impressively pleasing straight out from the camera.

Pricing & Availability

The lens is currently available to pre-order in authorized resellers and in Venus Optics official website: https://www.venuslens.net/prod...

The ex-VAT retail price in US is USD 149/pc. Pricing may vary in different countries. First shipment is expected to start in late October 2019.

Specifications

LAOWA 17mm f/1.8 MFT

Format Compatibility M4/3

Focal Length 17mm

Angle of view 65°

Aperture f/1.8 - 22

Lens Structure 9 elements in 7 group

Aperture Blades 7

Min. Focusing Distance 15cm

Max. Magnification 1:5(0.2X)

Filter Thread 46mm

Dimensions Φ55mm×51mm

Weight 172g

About Us

Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited (Venus Optics) is a new Chinese camera lens manufacturer based in Hefei, Anhui. We currently manufacture and distribute camera lenses under the brand name of ‘Laowa’.

For more information about Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited and our products information, visit http://www.venuslens.net/

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