The Micro Four Thirds format has found a comfortable home in a camera market filled to the brim with full-frame gear. Just look at the new releases from OM System and Panasonic.
The smaller sensor format has also opened the door for compact lenses with blazing fast apertures, and Venus Optics is fighting for the crown of "bokeh king."
To get that crown, Venus Optics is adding the new 25mm Laowa to its Argus line of super-fast glass. With an aperture of f/0.95, the new MFT lens offers some very impressive colors and bokeh while keeping focus breathing to a minimum and your wallet happy.
Credit: Venus Optics
We Heard You Like Bokeh
At the risk of crafting a terrible pun, the focus of the 25mm Laowa Argus is to separate the subject from the background with a buttery, dreamlike bokeh. Cinematographers and photographers looking to zero in on character can use the blazing fast aperture to have immense control over their image.
Key Features of Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 MFT APO:
- Ultra-fast f/0.95 aperture
- MFT sensor coverage
- APO design to reduce chromatic and spherical aberration
- Video-friendly design
- Internal focusing
- Low focus breathing
- Long focus throw
- Stunning bokeh rendering
- Full-metal lens build
Mechanically, the Laowa Argus 25mm consists of 14 elements in 8 groups with 1 aspherical lens, 1 ED glass, and 3 UHR glass. This combination provides a sharp image even at a maximum aperture f/0.95.
Toss in a long throw focal distance of 300°, and it's clear to see this lens grabs all the light and detail it can. Unfortunately, since it’s not a cinema lens, it doesn’t come with any lens gears. If you plan on using a follow focus, you may want to mod the lens with a Cine-Mod from Duclos Lenses.
Laowa 25mm w/ Focus RingCredit: Venus Optics
With an APO design, both chromatic aberration and focus breathing are kept to a minimum. The apochromatic correction keeps the light wavelengths within a range that compliments the subject, rather than taking attention away from them with fringing and artifacts.
Consequently, the lens is super fast. At f/0.95, its 9 blade design makes the image downright dreamy. But even at an f/2.8, the bokeh looks fantastic. With an all-metal set of focus and aperture rings, the Laowa Argus 25mm prime is robust and built to last.
Should You Buy It?
There are other MFT lenses on the market at f/0.95 or even faster. Just check out Voigtlander, 7artisans, and Mitakon Zhongyi.
However, for $399, Venus Optics is the cheapest. The company is confident that the Laowa Argus 25mm MFT delivers plenty of bang for the buck. The other lenses in the lineup also cover mirrorless full-frame and APS-C sensors.
Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 MFT APO
- Ultra-fast f/0.95 Aperture
- MFT Sensor Coverage
- APO Design to reduce chromatic and spherical aberration
- Video-friendly design
- Internal Focusing
- Low Focus Breathing
- Long focus Throw
- Stunning Bokeh Rendering
- Full-Metal Lens build
The Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 MFT lens is currently only available from Venus Optics. We'll update the links once it becomes available at other resellers.
While largerformat sensor cameras are grabbing all the attention, this 25mm gives the Micro Four Thirds platform plenty of love.
