I do not like Lenses without aperture ring ! At the time my most used wide angle Lens is the Zeiss Loxia Distagon 21mm 2.8, second most used is the Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 35mm 2.0 Aspherical, some times I use the Sony 14mm 1.8 GM.
Ah, manual focusing - that thing we used to do when you weren't even a gleam in your dad's eye 😊 Those of us brought up on Fresnel and split image focusing screens still think we are dreaming with the options on a modern camera. Really enjoy your reviews and channel overall.
Ms. Nerd as always gives us a informative and interesting video. Watch at your own peril! Your credit card may cry after watching this video!!!! OH!! The Saal photobook outfit has amazing software to make it super easy to customize photobooks!! Thanks for the heads up on that one!!!!
I’ve actually used this for a bit of Astro recently and apart from the bit of softness wide open at the edges I really enjoyed using it. I still haven’t got my head around what else I’d use it for though since I never shoot anywhere near this wide normally, but it’s a great performer🖖
I recently bought the 7.5mm F2.0 from Laowa and I just love it! I was kicking myself a bit as the 6mm was released just as I ordered the 7.5. But I haven't been disappointed. Focusing is super easy and I have used it for some Astro Photography (was also my first time attempting it) with some very nice results for a beginner 😊
I just ordered this little guy and I can't tell you how stoked I am. I'll be flying this on a drone and definitely need ultra-wide focal lengths to properly capture movement. The fact that it's nearly perfectly rectilinear is a huge plus because that means I'll keep more resolution after correcting the minimal distortion and stabilization. This was a really great review and I really appreciate the thought you put into your perspectives. You're great on camera and a joy to watch! Thank you!
This is an amazing lens for a fixed wide angle lens. The street photography performance is good, but optical distortion can play on getting the composition bang on. The big nose effect can be hilariously used to break the illusion of being wide angle while being great for architecture and cityscape photography.😮
I will be waiting to see their 5 mm version over this 1:06 , now when they have 10 mm for 35mm format, and this same 6 mm for the Half-Frame mounts. The best is the Half-Frame version as you get equivalent to 9 mm focal length on 35mm system, so widest from all, as this is after all only equivalent to 12 mm on 35mm. With 5 mm version it would be very very attractive after getting use to 7 mm.
I have had this lens for a couple of months and have also really been enjoying using it. Mainly like you in the urban environment seen a another video where it was used landscape. Would love to try it for astro as well at some point.
Your video on the meike 25 1.8 got me into manual lenses. I bought the meike the same day I watched your video. I'm now going to purchase this one and also the 17mm laowa. Manual focusing has slowed me down and made me enjoy my photography more. Thank you 😊
I could be fun to compare this to the 8 mm fisheye lenses. When the Olympus 7-14 mm is not wide enough I grab the Olympus 8 mm fisheye Pro. And live with the slight "gopro" distortion.
Aah that 8mm fisheye is sublime. Yet another piece of equipment i regret trading in. It was just so heavy and so niche I ended up selling it and buying a Lumix G7 and the oly 8-18mm for the cost!
The OM 8mm f1.8 fisheye is considerably wider AFTER de-fishing. Resolution wise they are about the same but the 8mm has more even lighting that allows me to see into the shadows better. The OM1 in camera fisheye correction lets me use it like a normal wide angle lens. The lightroom Rikinon 8mm f2.8 fisheye profile does a perfect job of correcting the raw images.
Wow, 6mm, that's crazy! The widest I've got is the Leica/Lumix 9mm f/1.7 and that one blew me away after having nothing wider than 12mm up to that point. Awesome video as always!
WOW! Discover your inner nerd with Laowa rectilinear lenses and Emily's excellent explanation.👍 I have the exceptional Laowa 7.5mm which rocks on a tiny camera for travel or a bigger camera like the G9 for astro. What I really want from Laowa is a rectilinear lens that will capture the scene I see through the viewfinder AND the smile on my face. Anything's possible!😂
I picked up the 9mm f1.7 and I don't think I've shot wider than 14mm before even with the 12 to 60 zoom in my bag. It really threw me for a loop and it's going to be an adventure figuring out this new perspective.
I love the Laowa 6mm, I use it all the time and I think buying the photo version (which is $200 cheaper than the Cinema) is perfectly fine. I use as well the Panasonic 9mm 1.7 which is great, but the Laowa is my favorite
Thank you for this video and review. You attract tiny lenses. Sounds like you enjoyed using this lens. Sounds like this lens is destined to be added to your kit. One must use the right tool for the right job. I live between 15 and 45mm. I may venture into telephotoland sometimes. 6,8,9mm Is outside my comfort zone. I can see that for Astro or real estate this lens would be a real treat. That it is RL is an unexpected feature. This lens is one reason I’m happy to be in M43land. Keep having fun with your gear and taking us along for the ride. The Seahawks are looking go. Go 12. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
Looks to be a great lens and yet another great video your style of presentation is brilliant and I love watching ,question what camera were you using on most of your videos? 😊👍🏻
I lean more towards the "Bravo!" attitude when it comes to such lenses. They're *actually* (close to perfectly) rectilinear, like my beloved Tamron 17mm. of yore. I'd put straight edges right along the frame limits and the Kodachromes always came back confirming its unbelievable optics. It's the only lens from film I still own which, and also the sole reason why, I'd love to try on an "L" mount camera with a Canon adaptor. The resolution might not be up to modern standards but dang! it had good contrast and detail...and straightness.
Currently use an old gopro 4 placed behind my turntables which are backed pretty close to the wall. Going to grab one of these and a em1 mkii as an upgrade 😊
I want to decide between Panasonic 9mm and Laowa 6mm for night sky photos. I think autofocus is not essential. I prefer a wider lens. But I would really like to know the difference in low light. How much better is Panasonic with f/1.7. Would you be able to compare Panasonic vs Laowa with the same shutter speed and ISO? Thanks!
Got it, not really tried it in anger, but what’s the Micro usb port for, no one has mentioned it???? I know it’s probably firmware, but why not a coffee and cake dispenser?
I tend to agree about starbursts I think they look unnatural much of the time, I used to have a a star filter many years ago and stopped using it for that very reason. Star filters are plain glass with lines scored across them at several different angles which gives the same effect, it means the lens does not have to give this feature for every shot
Already got the Laowa "C-Dreamer" 7.5mm f2 (it's fantastic) and the Meike 6.5 f2 fisheye (can be de-fished even for Video through e.g. Resolve Studio) - this 6mm rectilinear looks fun.. my poor wallet. Also: What camera with the big "sample" sticker was that? Something new from OM?
Fantastic review, I'm fairly new to the M43 system having recently ditched my full frame Canon gear and I'm loving the size, features and lenses of my OM-1. I'm currently in the market for a "20ish" full frame equivalent lens, so the Laowa 10mm and Panasonic 9mm are both peeking interest, thank you from a new subscriber :)
Hallo. MFT ist eine gute Entscheidung. 😀 Ich habe mich für das Pana Leica 9mm 1.7 entschieden, weil es mit AF ist. Dieses Objektiv zusammen mit dem Starry Sky AF der OM1 ist ein Traum für Astrolandschaften. 🤩
Wow! I thought my Laowa 7.5mm was wide but you win.🤣🤣 As for focusing, I have my focus set to infinity, and the Focus Ring Duct Taped to never move again. As long is my subject is somewhere between about one meter and the Andromeda Galaxy, everything should be in focus. I'm guessing that your lens should be good for astro, because I've not been let down with my massively zoomed out 7.5mm lens. I've got a shot of the Milky Way and Ribble Head Viaduct in my Flickr for you to get a rough idea of how much stuff you can get in frame. Sadly, like yourself I've been thwarted by awful weather. I'm hoping to go hunting for the moon tomorrow night, round your neck of the woods. I know it won't be full, but I'll be working on the big night. 😭😭
The moon on Saturday was crazy big even though it was only a half moon! I was driving home from a wedding shoot and almost decided to pull over but I didn't have a long enough lens on me anyway. I'm so hoping for some astro next month in Kenya! We're there during the full moon and I'm packing this 6mm 🙏
@@MicroFourNerds Kenya, you say? That's quite an impressive globe trotting year you are having so far.😂 I'm no expert but I think the 6mm may not have enough reach to capture the moon in all its glory.🤣🤣 However I suspect that you are going to have incredibly dark sky's for perfect Milky Way opportunities.
@@MicroFourNerds I've only ever been to Tanzania, back in the day with a Nikon Coolpix 880, and if I was to go to Kenya now I'd be itching to take my 200mm Prime. I highly recommend selling a kidney to MPB for a second-hand 200mm Prime. Either that or an Olympus 300mm Prime, which is an f4.
Damnit theres that painful feeling of a rising GAS attack Recently got the 9mm PaniLeica 'cause I was sick of lugging my 7-14 Oly pro now there's this .. o h well at least the two together would be "only" 318g as opposed to 534g for the Oly (AKA "bloody hell this lens is bigger and heavier than my GX9")
If I had to pick I'd still choose the 9mm to be fair! It's more than wide enough for most instances and absolutely pin sharp. For the super crazy wide looking shots, this 6mm is a ton of fun though!
G.A.S. 😱 Thanks for bringing this lens to my attention. Up to now my favorite wide angel is the 8mm F1.8 Fisheye is my favorite whereas I have not actually don't like the 7-14mm f2.8. You are mentioning the lens correction being directly applied within camera for olympus and Panasonic lenses. Wondering whether this is applied to the raw file? My raw converter On1 photo raw is offering a lens correction in post and I'm wondering what is applied in post if this is corrected in camera already. Any idea?
Hello..... My wide-angle lens isn't that wide-angle at all, it's the Sigma 19mm f2.8 DN-Art. Personally, I can't do anything with the ultra-wide-angle lenses. Usually the Panasonic 25mm f1.7 is my favorite lens. Best regards
I was very happy with the Olympus 8-25mm F4 Pro, until I had to take photos of dark and dingy interiors of European Gothic Cathedrals... I'd have loved a faster lens like this for places such as these, as I wasted a lot of time sorting out the noisy results in Post from increased ISO settings and some of the photos just weren't salvageable....
Funny I was shooting that exact lens alongside this laowa lens the whole time I was reviewing it and I came to the same conclusion. The 8-25mm f4 is so versatile in decent light but not good at all in tricky conditions
@@MicroFourNerds I was looking at a Laowa 18mm (or 25mm) F0.95 APO lens. It's not ultra wide, obviously, and has no contacts at all for communication with the camera, which is a pain, but look at that F0.95 APO aperture! It's got my heart racing. But the 6mm F2 is on my wishlist, too and I think I need to weigh the pro's and con's as to which one I want for lower light settings. I was very disappointed with the Olympus 8-25mm F4 Pro, despite reading somewhere that it performs adequately in low light.
@phsb66 I have reviewed that 25mm 0.95 lens, around 1 year back. The aperture is amazing but it can be quite soft wide open, and also very tricky to nail focus in my experience even with all the focus peaking to assist. But when you get it right it really is a lovely lens!
@@MicroFourNerds I have read all that elsewhere and it makes it a challenging lens to want in my arsenal, but I'm willing to rise to the challenge and I'm going to go hunt down your video about it 😊
Thanks as always for these videos. I have a Panasonic GH5 and G85 and use these mainly for talking head videos. I do have a Laowa 7.5mm (version 1). Do you think it is worth getting a 6mm? If yes, would the cine 2.1T be a better option for me as opposed to the newer 6mm F2 Zero-D? Thank you again.
Ooo good question. I think the 7.5 is also superb! I suppose the only benefit would be if you wanted to get an even wider field of view. If you use the 7.5 a lot, then this would be a great upgrade. If it's an occasional lens then I think you already have a great lens 😁
Great advise. Thank you. I use my Olympus 14 to 40 more than the 17mm, 7.5mm or the 42.5 I got. I want to get used to video to interviews using the 7.5mm but worry I will have out of focused recordings that I can't reshoot. Anyway that's for another day to tackle. Thank you.
Trade ya for my 18mm Laowa! Lol jk , ill be ordering this soon. I have the 20mm pro so im not sure why i bought the 18mm Laowa. Impulse shopping I guess. The 6mm will stand out further than 18mm
Thanks for that, Emily. I've been so curious about this lens. I have 2 questions, if that's OK? Firstly, how does this lens compare with the Laowa 7.5mm in terms of quality and sharpness? And secondly, you mentioned that the lens hood is permanently attached which I'd not heard before. Can you still attach a filter holder to it? Thanks
Hi! The filter hood does remove, I just had a VERY stiff copy. It should take a filter holder just fine with that removed 😁 I've only used the 7.5 for a short period of time so wouldn't want to say anything definitive, but I will say they're both tremendous quality! I think the 7.5mm is a bit sharper at the edges in my experience
Hi Emily, did you try this lens with filters? I use an ND variable together with a promist and I'm worried that one or two filters will be visible with black vignetting with such a wideangle lens. Have you tried and experienced that?
Please, try it for astro. Were very intrested in the results you could get. It should be possible to set shutterspeed to 30 secs without seeing a star trails. Please, could you compare it with leica 9mm f1.7 for astro? Thanks
I'll definitely be trying the 6mm for astro later this month in Kenya! I don't own the lumix 9mm unfortunately so can't compare the two. I have high hopes for the 6mm!
You could use it for video! Just be careful if you wanted to add movement to your shots with it as all super wide lenses can add jello in the corners sometimes. But static shots are absolutely fine
I see at 1:17 you've got a polarizer on that Meike 8mm lens. I've got a few petal shaped lens hoods and would love to be able to add filters. What system is used there?
@@MicroFourNerds thanks for the quick reply! 😁😁 I get that maybe they're taking one step at a time (i.e. the f/2.0 was a winner so don't change that!) but not sure why they would add a 6mm when they already have a 7.5mm ... unless they're targeting mirrorless vloggers? At that price, it's still tempting to add one to the kit bag but as you say, it's only 3mm FF difference. The 7.5mm lacks bokeh for anything less than 20-30 feet away ... so if Laowa could release a 6mm f/0.95 or f/1.2 or f/1.4 that's just as sharp as their f/2 offerings ... DREAMS! 🤣 Thanks for sharing your insight and opinions - I always love your content! Keep up the good work! 😄
Nein, das habe ich für mich entschieden. Ich habe das Laowa 7,5 mm mit Blendenübertragung. Es ist ein tolles Objektiv und von Preis-Leistung würde sich der Umstieg auf das Laowa 6mm nicht lohnen. Es sei denn du brauchst unbedingt 2 Ultraweitwinkel Objektive. Dafür würde ich dann eher das Pana Leica 9mm mit AF empfehlen, weil bessere Bildqualität.
