A 12mm f/2.8 full body lens opens the door to photographs that really feel larger than life. You may pull whole cathedrals, sprawling streets, or the curve of a canyon right into a single shot. It’s additionally simple to go incorrect with focal lengths this huge, which is why studying the best way to management perspective distortion is vital. If you happen to don’t, you’ll find yourself with scenes that look stretched and unnatural as a substitute of immersive.
Coming to you from Mark Wiemels, this thorough video breaks down the Venus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D AF lens. The dialogue begins with perspective distortion, which is how objects nearer to the lens can balloon in measurement in comparison with these within the distance. Wiemels explains how this can be utilized creatively or minimized by holding topics at comparable distances. He additionally factors out that 12mm isn’t a simple focal size to start out with. It’s higher suited to you should you’ve labored with one thing like 20mm first and perceive how huge angles behave. The lens shines in settings the place you need the scene to wrap across the viewer, akin to busy metropolis streets, architectural interiors, or landscapes with hanging foregrounds.
Wiemels notes that for excessive wraparound photographs, you received’t discover many zooms that hit 12mm on full body, that means you’ll most likely want a primary like this. He additionally covers how vloggers would possibly use the lens to seize each themselves and their environment, whereas warning about exaggerated facial distortion if framed poorly. Past vlogging and journey, this lens has robust potential for tight areas like caves, forests, or slim streets. Nevertheless it’s not nearly subject of view. Construct high quality is excessive, with a metallic physique, weather-sealing gasket, and a particular end that stands out from different lenses.
Key Specs
Focal Size: 12mm
Aperture: Most: f/2.8, Minimal: f/22
Lens Mount: Sony E, Canon RF, Leica L, Nikon Z
Lens Format Protection: Full body
Minimal Focus Distance: 5.5″ / 14 cm
Optical Design: 16 components in 9 teams
Aperture/Iris Blades: 5 or 14
Focus Kind: Handbook focus, anticipate with 5-blade Nikon and Sony variations
Picture Stabilization: No
Filter Measurement: 72 mm (entrance)
Dimensions: ø: 3 x L: 3.1″ / ø: 77.2 x L: 78.6 mm
Weight: 0.8 lb / 377 g
The video additionally covers variations in aperture blade depend: 5-blade variations for Sony and Nikon with autofocus, and 14-blade variations for all mounts in handbook focus. Wiemels notes a little bit of aperture chatter on the autofocus mannequin, which is regular. Picture high quality exhibits minimal barrel distortion, heavy vignetting in any respect apertures, and wonderful chromatic aberration management. The heaviest disadvantage is flare, which could be extreme when taking pictures into vibrant mild, although it might probably usually be managed within the subject. Shut-up picture high quality is robust, particularly at f/4 or f/5.6.
Sharpness is excessive throughout the body even huge open, with solely slight nook enchancment when stopped down. Bokeh is easy for such a large lens when taking pictures shut, providing pleasing background blur with out harsh outlines. Try the video above for the complete rundown from Wiemels.
