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Laowa 17mm GF

Don Libby

Well-known member
I recently ordered this lens about a week ago and have been testing it since it arrived a couple days ago. I have an excellant copy of the Fuji GF23mm however there are times when it just isn't wide enough. I didn't order the Laowa thinking it would solve world hunger or magically make me a better photographer; I ordered it to go super-wide. The Laowa 17mm GFX equally close to 13mm on my GFX100 whereas the 23 is closer to 18.

I have no issues with it being a manually controlled lens as I still have control of the ISO and shutter from the camera. Sizewise the 23 and 17 are similar with the filters being 82 and 86 respectfulluy. The Laowa feels good in my hands while handholding with the GFX100 and yes that a subjective thing; some might think differently. The lens is slightly longer than the 23; long enough to get a good grasp on.

Filters. This is where there's a slight issue. This is a super-wide lens that happens to have a filter thread attached to it. That's the good news. I've reciently switched to using the H&Y system and they happen to offer an 86mm filter attachment ring that I just picked up. The bad news is that there is vignetting when using the H&Y system (something I had expected). Not a huge deal as I'm thinking I might be able to crop the file while keeping the majority of the subject making it more a panorama. I'm also thinking a thin-ring screw on filter might work and to that end have ordered one.

Without filters the lens produces excellant files, files I can use full fram without worries.

The following is a test from last night; slight post in C1-12 without vignette correction...



Same file after vignette correction



I'm pleased with the lens overall. I hope the screw on filter corrects the majority of the vignette, however the files are crisp, and clean. $1,200 spent on the lens and so far no buyers remorse.


Don
 

GrahamWelland

Subscriber & Workshop Member
I picked up one last week too. Other than lack of weather sealing it seems very well put together and certainly a smaller package than using a Canon 17TSE and adapter that I have been using (although rise/fall has been helpful).

I'm hoping to spend some quality time with it at the weekend.
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
It's a lens that "is what it is" and will hopefully give me a wider field of view while not breaking my back. I'm planning to take this along with me next year to Petra along with the 23 of course.
 

TheDude

Member
Laowa 17mm GFX ... close to 13mm
Both Samsung's S10 line and Apple's iPhone 11 line have a 13mm (equivalent) lens.

Seems now to be a popular focal length.

Remember when Nikon 13mm f/5.6 was the "The Holy Grail", top "gear porn", special order only.
 

Paul2660

Well-known member
Don,

Thanks for the write up. Love the fact it has threads, as I have gone the other way, back to threaded filters.

One question, is on flare.

Have you used it in a sunrise, sunset, or other shot with a bright illumination? I have found that the 23mm GF lens has considerable flare, which can ruin a shot as it's like the flare with a Nikon 14-24, i.e. destructive flare where strong magenta and other colors are shown in the opposite area of the illumination. In a semi circle. With the 23mm the color flare IMO is so strong it's next to impossible to fix in post, thus you need to take a few shots with a block, (finger or other) on the sun.

Just curious as I agree there are times more than not the 23mm won't get the job done as it's not quite wide enough.

Also how is the distortion? The 23mm shows considerable retrofocus distortion towards the edges, (object elongate and flatten).

Lowa is famous for their "distortion free" designs, and I have used some of their optics on Pentax K1 shots, (Their 12mm). It was a sharp lens for sure and did show less distortion than other wides.

Paul C
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
I haven't done a side by side test of the GF23 and Laowa 17 and I don't think I will. The main reason is I don't think of the Laowa as a replacement to the GF23; rather it complements the lens. I plan on using the Laowa wherever the 23 isn't wide enough or I might want a special effect.

I'll admit to being slightly disappointed at the filter situation (using the H&Y) however not totally surprised. I understand they have some type of filter arraingment avaiable however I haven't looked too much into it. I do have a 95mm Singh Ray coming Tuesday which I plan on testing with a set-up ring; who knows it might be better and no way worse. Either way can't hurt to try.

Distortion - Great question; it appears that there isn't much if any. This needs to be absolutely level otherwise you get some surprises due to the reach. Overall I feel the lens is very sharp and I like what it does to bright lights. This lens works perfectly with the GFX100 for I don't se a reason it wouldn't work equally well on the GFX50 series.

Shot directly into the sun shortly after getting the lens and using the H&Y filter system.



Interior shot set on tripod, no filter 5-seconds ISO 400



I've gotten out of the practice of noting the f/stop and will have to begin doing that again with this lens.

More later....

Don
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
I had a choice of getting a standard 86mm ring or a thin 95 and picked the 95. Also picked up a step up ring. I now have both and took a quick break to test the lens and filter. Works great and it doesn't appear to vignette at least in camera. I'll know more later once I load the files.
 

gurtch

Well-known member
I recently ordered this lens about a week ago and have been testing it since it arrived a couple days ago. I have an excellant copy of the Fuji GF23mm however there are times when it just isn't wide enough. I didn't order the Laowa thinking it would solve world hunger or magically make me a better photographer; I ordered it to go super-wide. The Laowa 17mm GFX equally close to 13mm on my GFX100 whereas the 23 is closer to 18.

I have no issues with it being a manually controlled lens as I still have control of the ISO and shutter from the camera. Sizewise the 23 and 17 are similar with the filters being 82 and 86 respectfulluy. The Laowa feels good in my hands while handholding with the GFX100 and yes that a subjective thing; some might think differently. The lens is slightly longer than the 23; long enough to get a good grasp on.

Filters. This is where there's a slight issue. This is a super-wide lens that happens to have a filter thread attached to it. That's the good news. I've reciently switched to using the H&Y system and they happen to offer an 86mm filter attachment ring that I just picked up. The bad news is that there is vignetting when using the H&Y system (something I had expected). Not a huge deal as I'm thinking I might be able to crop the file while keeping the majority of the subject making it more a panorama. I'm also thinking a thin-ring screw on filter might work and to that end have ordered one.

Without filters the lens produces excellant files, files I can use full fram without worries.

The following is a test from last night; slight post in C1-12 without vignette correction...



Same file after vignette correction



I'm pleased with the lens overall. I hope the screw on filter corrects the majority of the vignette, however the files are crisp, and clean. $1,200 spent on the lens and so far no buyers remorse.


Don
Hello Don. Thanks for the info on the 17 mm lens. I have been considering adding it to my lens line up. My widest GFX lens is the 23mm. Because of where we live, and the sea scape photography that I do, I always put on a UV filter when the lens is new and never take it off. Blowing fine sand and sea spray are a constant hazard here. In your opinion, would an 86mm filter vignette? Would I need an ultra thin filter? Thanks in advance.
Dave in NJ
Www.modernpictorials.com
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
I finally got around to loading the test images this morning.

Conditions weren't the best however a test is a test. The image that follows was taken using a GFX100, Laowa 17mm lens with a 95mm filter and 86 to 95 step up ring. The filter is a thin mount from Singh Ray. This is the best by far that I've seen regarding vignetting and would say that while it appear to have vignetting it is very slight.

I had wanted to mount a thin ring filter directly however the filter I wanted (Singh Ray LB Color Intensifier) is only available in a thicker ring at 86mm. I choose to try the 95mm using a step up ring as I figure the thickness the this will be less than the 86 thicker ring.



Overall I'm very pleased with the results and don't plan on trying any other filters on this lens.

I believe that a thin mount 86mm filter will work as well if not better than a regular thicker filter however if you can't find the filter you want in a 86mm then I suggest going with the 95mm and using a step up ring. In all cases I would highly recommend a thin mount ringer due to the extrema reach of this lens.

Don
 

Ed Hurst

Well-known member
Fully note the point above about not doing any formal testing, but would be great to know how good this lens is in terms of the usual criteria (resolution, aberrations, etc etc), even if it's just based on general experience. Any thoughts? Does it do justice to a 50/100MP sensor, or are we using it because it's (almost) the only show in town at this length?
 

GrahamWelland

Subscriber & Workshop Member
Fully note the point above about not doing any formal testing, but would be great to know how good this lens is in terms of the usual criteria (resolution, aberrations, etc etc), even if it's just based on general experience. Any thoughts? Does it do justice to a 50/100MP sensor, or are we using it because it's (almost) the only show in town at this length?
Ed, you know the inevitable answer ... just buy it :ROTFL: We already know that it’ll give some coma at the edges of night images with the inevitable bright spots with wings.

Btw, it does seem excellent - on a photo shoot this weekend so hopefully I can share some GFX100 / Laowa 17 / 23 G experiences.
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
Fully note the point above about not doing any formal testing, but would be great to know how good this lens is in terms of the usual criteria (resolution, aberrations, etc etc), even if it's just based on general experience. Any thoughts? Does it do justice to a 50/100MP sensor, or are we using it because it's (almost) the only show in town at this length?
Ed, I really don’t have a solid answer for you. Yet.


I question if I like the lens enough to keep it and theanswer is yes. Is it better than a 23mm? I think the answer is I don’t know yetbut I highly doubt it. Having just said that I really don’t believe its anyworse either.


I like the resolution that I’ve been able to get and otherthan the (now slight) vignette I see no issues using this on my GFX100.


I’ve got a trip planed for Jordan next year and see bringingthis lens as well as the 23 and 32-64 so in other words it’s a keeper.

Life is currently interfering with what I’d rather be doingright now and once we get back on track I plan on doing comparisons between the23 and 17.

Don
 

Luvwine

New member
Just thought I would chime in on this lens. Have not posted in a while and recently picked up a GFX 100 and some lenses (Laowa 17, GF 23, GF 32-64, GF 110, and GF 100-200. I have been trying to make filters work on the Laowa. My experience has been that a circular 86mm filter will work—polarizer or ND. I have both from Breakthrough Photography and they work fine but if I stack them, the lens will vignette. Also, I went through options for square 100mm filters and 100x150 GND filters. I tried the Laowa magnetic filters system but found it to be a disaster and returned it. Happy to give details if wanted. A better solution is the Nisi v. 6 filter system. It does not vignette so long as the horizon is close to level. If you rotate the GND significantly off level, then it will vignettte. With this system, I can use GND and ND. However, I did try attaching a circular polarizer and then screwing in the Nisi, but it vignettes. Thus, if you want a vignette free filter use, I think polarizing filters or ND/GND filters are possible, but not both. Perhaps a thinner polarizer or some other solution is out there, but I am okay with my setup now as is. Also, I think the lens seems pretty good, but not up to the level of the GF 23. It does have a remarkable close focus ability which may make some creative shots possible. It is also not light. I am taking it to Iceland this week and will see how it does. For what it is worth, on my copy I think the sharpest image for infinity is at the hard stop, which is convenient. Not sure if that is how others are.
 

Ed Hurst

Well-known member
Ed, you know the inevitable answer ... just buy it :ROTFL: We already know that it’ll give some coma at the edges of night images with the inevitable bright spots with wings.

Btw, it does seem excellent - on a photo shoot this weekend so hopefully I can share some GFX100 / Laowa 17 / 23 G experiences.

Ed, I really don’t have a solid answer for you. Yet.

I question if I like the lens enough to keep it and the answer is yes. Is it better than a 23mm? I think the answer is I don’t know yet but I highly doubt it. Having just said that I really don’t believe its any worse either.

I like the resolution that I’ve been able to get and other than the (now slight) vignette I see no issues using this on my GFX100.

I’ve got a trip planed for Jordan next year and see bringing this lens as well as the 23 and 32-64 so in other words it’s a keeper.

Life is currently interfering with what I’d rather be doing right now and once we get back on track I plan on doing comparisons between the23 and 17.

Don

Thank you both for your responses... Would love to "just buy it", but first I would have to buy a camera to mount it on - since the 645Z is not compatible... So, at the moment, it's more wistful musing on theoretical possibilities. You know the sort of thing. Generally ends up with buying it ;-)
 
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