The Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine Collection options full-frame cine prime lenses from Venus Optics, tailor-made for filmmakers in search of sturdy macro capabilities and cinematic usability.
There are six focal lengths within the Laowa Sward FF Macro Cine Collection: 15mm, 25mm, 35mm, 60mm, 100mm, and 180mm. The 15mm has a T4.1 aperture, the 180mm has a T4.6 aperture, and the remainder are T2.9. All are full-frame with elective mounts, PL, EF, RF, E, Z, and L. The macro magnifications for the 15mm, 25mm, and 35mm are 1:1. The 60mm and 100mm are 2:1, and the 180mm is 1.5:1.
Venus Optics despatched me the 60mm, 100mm, and 180mm lenses to check out. I wished to check the lens I’d prefer to see in macro. I didn’t need to shoot one thing boring, so I arrange outdoors subsequent to our butterfly bushes and captured what I might with these lenses on the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF. You may see that evaluation of the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF right here.
I additionally shot a extra conventional scene of my household studying a e book, or not less than performing like they’re studying a e book. My daughter determined to ham it up for the digital camera, which made us all smile and chortle.
What Works Properly
In these assessments, and different materials I shot for enjoyable earlier within the evaluation course of, I noticed that the lenses let me get very shut. That closeness was clearly due to the two:1 magnification within the 60mm and 100mm. I discovered the lenses produced nice element. You may see this within the butterfly video, the place you may see the person hairs on the butterfly. A lot to see in these butterfly shoots.
I discovered the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine lenses, the 60, 100, and 180 I had readily available, have been fairly sharp vast open, however that sharpness improved fairly a bit as soon as I ended down. I don’t know in the event you’ve tried capturing macro footage of butterflies, however one higher cease down so far as you may, as a result of you’ll need as a lot depth of subject as you will get. These butterflies transfer a lot faster than one thinks. I tended to choose the 60mm and 100mm over the 180mm. The primary two appeared to point out off the sharpest picture to me, particularly after I stopped down.
I observed that after I shot on the widest apertures, the butterfly picture had decrease distinction and the perimeters have been a contact tender. Stopping down improves this, sharpens the perimeters, and snaps the distinction again.
Chromatic Aberration
I didn’t see an oz of chromatic aberration. I didn’t see any shade bleed after I had a brilliant sky or mild falling behind a topic. This is spectacular for a collection of lenses priced as affordably because the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection.
Consistency
The entire Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection set has a constant construct. For individuals who could purchase or hire the collection, this consistency helps with lens modifications and retains the shoot workflow operating easily. Plus, all of the lenses I examined have been fairly light-weight. I’d be greater than snug filming on a gimbal with any certainly one of these lenses. The cine-style gears and good focus and iris throws present me that Laowa has these lenses primed for any shoot, large or small.
Filming A Non-Macro Scene
The Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection of lenses are, as acknowledged of their title, macro lenses. The Swords will shine greatest when capturing macro scenes. That’s to not say one can’t use these Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine lenses in one other method, I actually did.
Like every cine-style lenses, the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection did effectively for me. I like how the 60mm flared after I had the lights pointing on the lenses. That will not be what you need, however I appreciated it. So, sure, you need to use the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine as conventional prime lenses. No want to order them for macro filming solely.
Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine Collection Worth
The Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection costs are $1,499 for a single lens, $5,699 for a 4-lens set, or $7,999 for your entire collection. You should purchase elective bayonets for $50. For those who purchase the entire collection, you save $165.83 per lens —about $1,000 in comparison with buying the lenses one after the other. That may be a fairly good worth for a devoted macro lens set. There are opponents in the marketplace, however the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection appears to be a extra full set, with stronger magnification ratios within the 60mm and 100mm fashions.
For those who movie a good quantity of macro cinematography, then the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection will be the proper equipment for you. I movie lots of hospital footage and analysis footage. The thought of a macro equipment of cine-style lenses is one thing my artistic staff may must discover additional.
Add in the truth that the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection might work effectively on a gimbal and give us the excessive close-ups, which might give us fairly the software in our toolbox.
Ideas on the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection
Total, the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection gave me the impression of a cine lens set that’s each sturdy in macro functionality and value as cine primes. I like that the Sword FF Macro Cine Collection affords a single macro lens with out an adjunct, or as a super-specialized lens, as a result of one can use any lens within the collection for non-macro scenes. It’s the flexibleness I like probably the most.
If I have been selecting a couple of lenses from the set, the 60mm and 100mm can be my favorites. These two lenses gave me greater than sufficient attain for macro, good sharpness, and are fairly sized. Although I’ll say, since I didn’t get to check the broader lenses, I’m greater than within the distinctive photographs they might enable.
All within the Laowa Sword FF Macro Cine collection delivered nice element, distinction, and a beautiful picture, whether or not I shot macro or conventional scenes. The truth that these lenses will not be costly is mind-blowing to me.
