Venus Optics’s new Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift lens provides a second choice to the corporate’s shift lens line and supplies zero distortion at a wider most aperture in alternate for a barely much less vast angle of view.
The brand new shift lens is obtainable for Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Nikon F, Pentax Okay, Fujifilm G, Leica L, and Sony E mounts for $1,099. That’s not low-cost, however it’s nonetheless extra inexpensive than some first-party choices from each Nikon and Canon. The lens might not be as vast as its 15mm Zero-D sibling, but it surely has a barely sooner most aperture in alternate.
A completely guide lens, the aperture and focus rings are joined by the shifting functionality that helps take away any “keystoning” that reveals up throughout compositions, particularly these shot at an angle. “Keystoning” is a sort of distortion that happens when the topic is leaning away from the viewer — take into consideration how a picture appears to be like when a projector is displaying footage towards a wall that’s at an odd angle.
Construct High quality and Design
The 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift lens has a completely steel physique (as much as and together with the lens hood), an 82mm filter thread, weighs about 1.6 kilos (747 grams), and is barely bulkier than I anticipated, which does give the lens a really sturdy and sturdy really feel to it. On the base of the lens sits the shift/rotation mechanism that unlocks by urgent the discharge lever on the aspect of lens that permits for a full 360-degree rotation of the lens barrel, guided by the markings alongside the static a part of the lens mount subsequent to this lever. Seated straight above that is the shift indicator with markings that go from 1mm to 11mm on both aspect of the barrel.
Seated just under the “shift” management ring, you’ll discover a “shift lock” that forestalls any unintended actions from bumps, focus changes, and even simply gravity. The shift ring is giant and comparatively stiff for exact management of the shift changes with a smaller “clicking” aperture ring that goes from f/4 to f/22 seated straight above it on the barrel.
The aperture ring sits a tad near the shift ring for my liking, as a number of instances I by accident bumped the aperture from f/5.6 to f/8 when making shift changes. Given the lens is absolutely guide and has no digital contacts for the cameras to inform you what aperture the lens is at, it may be fairly straightforward to by accident change the setting of your pictures, so be cautious when organising and all the time double-check the aperture is the place you need it.
Moreover, the markings for the aperture (and focus) are solely on one aspect of the lens barrel, which means checking these settings could be difficult if the lens occurs to be rotated and shifted away out of your viewpoint.
On the very finish of the lens barrel sits the main focus ring that has a equally textured grip to the shifting management ring that permits straightforward focus pulling by hand or a spotlight puller.
On the very finish of the lens is the all-metal, detachable lens hood that has a locking friction knob on one part that ensures it stays in place it doesn’t matter what angle the lens rotates at. This additionally means if in case you have the lens shifted a sure means that’s not “regular,” you’ll be able to rotate the lens hood a full 360-degrees to keep away from the hood’s petals from dipping into the body whereas nonetheless blocking any mild that might trigger undesirable flaring within the shot.
Inside, the lens options 16 components in 11 teams with two aspherical components and three ED components that the corporate claims will successfully remove chromatic aberration and supplies a constant picture sharpness from heart to edge. The lens can also be cable of shut focusing at 9.84 inches (25cm).
Like the previous few Laowa lenses I’ve reviewed, the 20mm f/4 Shift lens additionally has an inner focus design to assist cut back any mud or moisture from coming into the lens. That is essential because the 20mm Shift lens shouldn’t be weather-sealed, so customers ought to be cautious of this when planning on taking this lens out in something aside from excellent climate circumstances.
Additionally it is price noting that in contrast to the dearer Nikon and Canon counterparts, there are not any “tilt” choices current on the Laowa shift lenses which many architectural photographers might demand. Whereas I don’t personally discover this to be a dealbreaker because of the value of the Laowa, I absolutely perceive that the dearth of tilt will make this a non-starter for a lot of.
Picture High quality and Efficiency
Like most inexpensive lenses, there’s some vignetting and softness current when taking pictures at wider apertures like f/4, however these points go away when you step up a notch or two. When you get to f/8, the pictures are just about sharp and constant throughout the board from edge to edge. Primarily based on most architectural, actual property, and panorama pictures, a minimum of f/8 is about the place this lens will probably be used anyway.
I all the time assume there’s going to be a good bit of distortion in a wide-angle lens, even when the model is billed as “zero distortion” however Venus Optics actually does stay as much as the moniker. Similar to the advertising supplies state, there actually could be very little distortion alongside the sides.
It feels to me that the lens hood is de facto meant for photographers utilizing the lens as a “regular” lens, and never utilizing the shift in any respect. As you’ll be able to see from my preliminary check photos under, when taking pictures shifted frames with the lens hood nonetheless mounted on the lens, it’s going to trigger blockage on the far edges of the body, particularly when you could have prolonged the shift all the best way to 11 on both aspect. You possibly can rotate the hood to keep away from this — as talked about above — however it’s usually simpler to simply take away it solely.
You possibly can see the lens hood on the very backside and high of my body on this setup. Lesson realized.
With a shift lens, the best scenario is to place the lens in a purely degree sitting, it will assist keep away from undesirable keystoning when making changes to the shift of the lens. The framing might not be precisely the way you need to compose the shot, however the shifting will assist you obtain the view you need with none bizarre distortions.
Upon getting the digicam and lens leveled, you’ll be able to shift the lens to get the composition you need for the shot, with traces that ought to be practically completely straight, offering a way more pleasing and “pure” view.
Above I stiched seven frames collectively versus the picture under, which is a single heart leveled shot of the identical mild tunnel. Relying on the person want and artistic path, the shift lens permits for lots extra versatility in a large shot, with none leaning and distorted edges, making for a way more natural-looking picture that requires far much less enhancing/post-production fixing.
Why is that this keystoning elimination an enormous deal? Effectively, if in case you have ever photographed a bigger constructing from the road degree, it all the time seems like the topics are leaning away from the viewer. The shifting of the lens helps seize the total situation whereas retaining the constructions wanting extra pure and symmetrical. This is applicable to make use of in each panorama and portrait orientations (vertical panos).
Under are a number of extra pattern pictures I captured with the lens.
Unbelievable Shifting Functionality on a Funds
The Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift lens appears to be focused at a quite particular viewers of actual property and cityscape photographers and presents some fairly spectacular specs to enchantment to that market. Whereas there are cheaper 20mm lenses obtainable which can be arguably sharper, they lack Laowa’s shifting capabilities that present for a a lot wider discipline of view with a way more natural-looking perspective, even when making panoramas and composite photos.
The optical efficiency is fairly stable with minimal distortion, chromatic aberration, and flaring, and the sharpness solely begins to noticeably drop when you begin to go wider than f/8. That mentioned, seeing as how the lens is supposed for the extra “every little thing seen in focus” market, most on this lens wouldn’t shoot sooner than f/8 anyway.
Are There Alternate options?
There are a number of options in the marketplace, together with the $2,150 Canon TS-E 17mm f/4.0L that hasn’t all the time acquired the best reward for its efficiency (not to mention value), the $3,400 Nikon 19mm f/4.0 ED lens which presents 1mm of additional width however at thrice the price of the Laowa. Lastly, we’ve got the 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D with “Magic Shift Converter” obtainable from Laowa for $1,150, the $1,199 Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift can also be an possibility, and the $499 Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D must also be thought of.
Whereas that final lens shouldn’t be a shifting one, it provides customers a a lot wider discipline of view that may enable for a neater panoramic or inside photograph that may simply require some further time in submit spent fixing the traces. It might be some further work, however the lens is lower than half the fee and presents greater than double the sector of view.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Sure. For anybody that already shoots, or plans to shoot actual property, structure, and interiors, the Laowa 20mm Shift lens is greater than definitely worth the $1,099 value.
