Mattias Burling Posted July 5, 2022 Share #1 Posted July 5, 2022 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Just received this lens the other day (a loaner for review). Solid build like the other Laowa lenses Ive tried. I was very happy with their 9mm and this is similar in IQ but of course a little tighter and more versatile. Close focus is 15cm like the 9mm. There only negative so far is the new lens cap, its a twist metal and comes of way to easy. My first impression is, "Pretty cool". Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited July 5, 2022 by Mattias Burling 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/334218-laowa-12-24mm-f56-for-leica-m/?do=findComment&comment=4465605'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 5, 2022 Posted July 5, 2022 Hi Mattias Burling, Take a look here Laowa 12-24mm f5.6 for Leica-M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wizard Posted July 5, 2022 Share #2 Posted July 5, 2022 You should correct the title. It says '12 - 14mm', whereas the lens seems to be a 12 - 24mm. Cheers, Andy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted July 5, 2022 Share #3 Posted July 5, 2022 In M Mount? A zoom? Rangefinder coupled? Do you need to focus? 😁 Can you post some images, that would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBSweden Posted July 6, 2022 Share #4 Posted July 6, 2022 Yes, M-mount, rangefinder coupled and it zooms At close (sub 30cm) focus it was easy to miss even with the 9mm. But at longer distances, no, zone will be fine It would be against the forum rules to post images unfortunately. I have posted to Instagram. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelatino Posted July 6, 2022 Share #5 Posted July 6, 2022 14 minutes ago, MBSweden said: Yes, M-mount, rangefinder coupled and it zooms It would be against the forum rules to post images unfortunately. I have posted to Instagram. If the M-mount body is a leica you are allowed to post images. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted July 6, 2022 Share #6 Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) I bet the QC will be a huge hit and miss, just like all Laowa stuff. But nevertheless, great effort and thank you @Mattias Burling for sharing the intel. I have been keeping my eye on this lens' launch. Please do share the info on distortion. Edited July 6, 2022 by Al Brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted July 7, 2022 Share #7 Posted July 7, 2022 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) More news on the 12-24 zoom lens: OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED TODAY, 7/7/2022 - Internal zoom - 77mm filter mount adapter included!!! Awesome news. Not much stacking it seems but even one 77mm filter is great. The filter adapter doubles as a second, wider sun hood. - 15cm/5.9" close focus - 15 elements in 11 groups (2xASPH, 3xED) - 121.9 degrees maximum angle of view at 12mm and 84 degrees at 24mm - 497g/1.09 lb - very well controlled distortion (not a Zero-D unfortunately) - 10-point sunstars (5 blades in the aperture) Also the price has been announced - competitive $699 for Leica M mount. Other mirrorless options (Z, FE, RF): $649 Edited July 7, 2022 by Al Brown 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 7, 2022 Share #8 Posted July 7, 2022 On 7/6/2022 at 6:55 AM, MBSweden said: It would be against the forum rules to post images unfortunately. Why so? Don't you own an M body? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
overexposed Posted July 8, 2022 Share #9 Posted July 8, 2022 Well i guess the biggest PRO you get, is the same with most Laowa lenses, the price. not terrible, but also not great......in the corners, but considering the price its an alternative for sure Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Blanko Posted July 8, 2022 Share #10 Posted July 8, 2022 Interesting focal length range. But seems to be quite chunky for the M system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattias Burling Posted July 8, 2022 Author Share #11 Posted July 8, 2022 13 hours ago, lct said: Why so? Don't you own an M body? I have an M-mounted camera but not made by Leica. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattias Burling Posted July 8, 2022 Author Share #12 Posted July 8, 2022 3 hours ago, overexposed said: Well i guess the biggest PRO you get, is the same with most Laowa lenses, the price. not terrible, but also not great......in the corners, but considering the price its an alternative for sure The corners are actually quite sharp, at least sharper than I would have thought. Only caveat is that Ive mostly shot landscapes so stuff is usually at a distance and not the best way to judge small details. But my earlier experience with Laowa is that they are easily on par with Voigtländer and definitely playing in the league of Zeiss and some Leicas. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted July 8, 2022 Share #13 Posted July 8, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Mattias Burling said: But my earlier experience with Laowa is that they are easily on par with Voigtländer and definitely playing in the league of Zeiss and some Leicas. Begging to differ with you. Laowa is just a Chinese company with Chinese style QC and optics definitely one notch below the level of Voigtlander, Zeiss or Leica - in terms of sharpness and optical flaws. I own all of the mentioned brands (Voigtlander, Zeiss, Leica, Laowa), some for Leica M, some MFT, some full frame and one Laowa for Fujifilm GFX and can definitely stand by my claim. But they do try harder each year. Expecting awesomeness soon. Their biggest undoing as mentioned before is the flawed quality control for lens tilt and decentering in brand new lenses straight from assembly. It is my first hand personal experience, plus It is all over the internet. Still excited for each new item though as they are truly an innovator (10-18 full frame mirrorless zoom, zero-D UWA optical calculations, UWA for medium format etc.) Edited July 8, 2022 by Al Brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattias Burling Posted July 8, 2022 Author Share #14 Posted July 8, 2022 55 minutes ago, Al Brown said: Begging to differ with you. Laowa is just a Chinese company with Chinese style QC and optics definitely one notch below the level of Voigtlander, Zeiss or Leica - in terms of sharpness and optical flaws. I own all of the mentioned brands (Voigtlander, Zeiss, Leica, Laowa), some for Leica M, some MFT, some full frame and one Laowa for Fujifilm GFX and can definitely stand by my claim. But they do try harder each year. Expecting awesomeness soon. Their biggest undoing as mentioned before is the flawed quality control for lens tilt and decentering in brand new lenses straight from assembly. It is my first hand personal experience, plus It is all over the internet. Still excited for each new item though as they are truly an innovator (10-18 full frame mirrorless zoom, zero-D UWA optical calculations, UWA for medium format etc.) YMMV, in my experience the Laowa lenses Ive used have been sharper than the quite soft lenses Voigtlander produce. (I also own/have owned all of the brands.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 8, 2022 Share #15 Posted July 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Mattias Burling said: I have an M-mounted camera but not made by Leica. May i ask if it is a full frame camera? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted July 8, 2022 Share #16 Posted July 8, 2022 (edited) Here is a quick comparison between two equal focal lengths - 15mm almost entire right corner of a Laowa and a Voigtlander. None of my lenses are decentered or tilted. The Laowa is even stopped down more than the Voigt. Please do not think I am saying that Laowa is bad. It just cannot compete equally re: image quality with Cosina (Zeiss & Voigtlander)... YET!!! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited July 8, 2022 by Al Brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/334218-laowa-12-24mm-f56-for-leica-m/?do=findComment&comment=4467350'>More sharing options...
lct Posted July 8, 2022 Share #17 Posted July 8, 2022 16 minutes ago, Mattias Burling said: YMMV, in my experience the Laowa lenses Ive used have been sharper than the quite soft lenses Voigtlander produce. (I also own/have owned all of the brands.) Would you mind to quote the Voigtlander lenses you find quite soft this way? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarsHP Posted July 8, 2022 Share #18 Posted July 8, 2022 (edited) Regarding Laowa versus Voigtländer, Bastian Kratzke at PhillipReeve.net has tested several lenses of both brands. In his review of the Laowa 9mm f/5.6 RL FF he said that it was not only wider than the 10mm Voigtländer, but also sharper, including in the corners. I have the 9mm myself and it's pretty darn impressive from wide open. There is a little mid-frame drop when scrutinizing at 100%, but stopped down one stop, it's gone. Kratzke wrote that sharpness in the extreme corners is diffraction limited wide open... What I am saying is that Laowa may be Chinese, but in terms of optical performance it's in a different league than most other Chinese lens manufacturers. They make lenses with parameters no other lens manufacturer has made before, which also is a statement by itself. Edited July 8, 2022 by LarsHP Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 8, 2022 Share #19 Posted July 8, 2022 9 minutes ago, LarsHP said: They make lenses with parameters no other lens manufacturer has made before, which also is a statement by itself Interesting indeed but what does it mean actually? Just curious. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarsHP Posted July 8, 2022 Share #20 Posted July 8, 2022 20 minutes ago, lct said: Interesting indeed but what does it mean actually? Just curious. What it means to me is that a manufacturer that makes products noone else have made is innovative and don't just copy what others have done before. It puts Laowa in a different category than the "China-copy" category that many people seems to think every Chinese manufacturer belongs to. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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