Text: Ugo Baldassarre – Translation: Giorgio Aprile
It’s no secret that the Micro 4/3 photographic system is perhaps the most complete, in the mirrorless world, regarding the availability and coverage of each focal length: from the most extreme wide angles to the longer telephoto lenses, practically nothing is missing.
Yet, every now and then, someone still manages to amaze with the release of otherwise unusual products, such as the present Laowa 4mm f/2.8, a truly extreme fisheye.
Aware of the fact that it was certainly not a lens to be used every day and not even for all tastes, we took possession of a specimen, thanks to the collaboration with Laowa Italia, and we “played” with it for a while.
As already noted with the Laowa 7.5mm f/2.0 (already tested on these pages), the product is presented in the best way.
The packaging is made in a very elegant way and opens like a small casket, to underline the “preciousness” of the content.
The inside of the box is completely in sponge and the lens is contained in a convenient transparent bag easy to open / close. If the good day starts in the morning, the Laowa Fisheye starts on the right foot.
The size of the object is very small. The lens is small, compact and substantial, in the hand, thanks to the entirely metal construction. The particular cap, also completely made of metal, which completely covers the entire lens and the barrel, immediately catches the eye.
The construction, the movement of the rings, the insertion of the cap: everything is very precise and mechanically very well done. There are no strange clearances or movements, everything highlights great constructive care and quality in the materials used.
Given the very small size, the choice of having used a support for the fingers (as on Leica M lenses) is very appreciable; the aperture ring, however, placed in the front position does not require any particular precautions to be identified and rotated (although I doubt it will ever move from a versatile f/5.6).
Needless to say, the lens has only manual focus and therefore without AF motor and electronic contacts (to use the stabilizers in the camera bodies the focal length must be manually inserted in the appropriate option of the camera).
The uniqueness of this lens is that it really offers a spherical, “ball” effect.
The field of view is 210° and a spherical image is recorded on the sensor (depending on the specimen there is a very light crop at the top or at the bottom, specified by the manufacturer, which does not represent a manufacturing defect)
There is no doubt that a shot of this type can certainly not be defined “for everyone”, but it is also true that it is the only way to be able to create certain effects during the shooting phase or for example to create 360° images (as happens in 360 ° cameras).
Considering the type of framing, the optical complexity and the shape of the lenses, the 4mm Laowa offers good to excellent results. At maximum aperture, of course, it is a little difficult to understand what is in focus and to correctly manage the focus plan (not easy to understand which one is!), so it is much more profitable, in terms of quality and sharpness, a hyperfocal approach.
The real enemy of this 4mm, however, is precisely the frame itself. The field of view is so wide that, inevitably, anything falls inside the frame, including the finger that holds the camera and the one on the shutter release button. With the two cameras that I used for the test, for example, namely the Olympus OMD EM1 Mark2 and the Lumix G90, the handle itself ended up in the frame (and there was nothing we could do about it) so, it is a lens much more oriented to use with more compact cameras, without pronounced parts (for instance PEN F, GX9, GM or EPL series, etc.).
To avoid intrusions, I only used the touch screen shot, even better if with a tripod or a secure stand.
On the right you can see the hand that holds the camera… the field of view is very wide
Despite the very wide framing and the shape of the front, dome-shaped lens, the chromatic aberrations are not worrying and not as present as expected. Obviously, with the sun in the frame, flares are inevitable, but it is obvious that this is so, we are talking about an effective focal length of only 4mm and quite bright.
Laowa confirms itself as a manufacturer attentive to the needs of third-party systems with this little gem intended for those looking for creativity and shooting out of the ordinary. It is a unique lens in the system, so it is not possible to provide alternatives or comparisons, but who will be able to find out how to use it at its best will have fun. The selling price, not particularly exaggerated, makes the 4mm Laowa attracting even for those who just want to try something different, to always keep it in the bag and use at the right time.
Laowa products are imported in Italy by Image Consult.
For more information visit www.laowa.it.
On the official Youtube channel other examples and demonstration videos: Laowa 4mm on youtube