Laowa Argus T1.0 Prime Lenses

Just in case T1.4 primes are not fast enough, Laowa announces the Argus T1.0 line in many different modern mounts including L-mount and excluding PL-mount. According to Duclos Lenses they are “Independently tailored for MFT to FF formats.”

https://laowacine.com/product/laowa-arg ... series-ff/

The MFT ones (and some/all of the others) already have photography-lens counterparts in Laowa's Argus line, so I'm assuming they just rehoused them although they do say they have minimal focus breathing and I like the gears and 77mm thread. I might get the 18mm for my original BMPCC and Micro Cinema Cameras; based on the existing MFT 18mm 0.95 Argus from Laowa these should be sharper than the Vogtländers wide open.

I’m not sure what Duclos means by independently tailored” for mFT, Super 35, and full-frame without looking at the details, but the cine versions are a step up from the photo versions that are copiously reviewed on social media.

but the cine versions are a step up from the photo versions that are copiously reviewed on social media.

I think the question is whether they are a step up optically or just ergonomically. I'm happy with the ergonomic improvements; if the optics are (even) better that's just icing on the cake. Laowa is making some excellent and innovative lenses these days.

I have always liked Laowa lenses. I wish they had FF options in EF or PL though.

Yes, they’re designed to cover the short throw 20-16mm of the modern mounts. So one could buy the L-mount cameras from BMD and you’re covered.

I have always liked Laowa lenses. I wish they had FF options in EF or PL though.

Same, I much prefer PL mount over a mirrorless mount for cine lenses.

At this price point I think I would be more inclined to go with the Nisi Athena Primes in PL mount. I know they are not as fast, but I'm not sure I would use T 1.0 on full frame honestly. That would be a real focus challenge.

they are “Independently tailored for MFT formats.”

From the web site:
"Available in Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z mount."

they are “Independently tailored for MFT formats.”

From the web site:
"Available in Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z mount."

Yes, but they have two in MFT as well:

https://www.ducloslenses.com/collection ... ft-18mm-t1

and

https://www.ducloslenses.com/collection ... ft-25mm-t1

I'd be much more inclined to shoot fast lenses like that on MFT; I know I'd never nail focus wide open on full frame unless I'm taking footage of statues.

But you could shoot a sequel to “Army of the Dead” (Zack Snyder).

But you could shoot a sequel to “Army of the Dead” (Zack Snyder).

No, please, no.

I'd never nail focus wide open on full frame unless I'm taking footage of statues.

I worked with a Sony guy who wanted me to step in and track the bride up the aisle as he ran the gimbal.

Depth of field was SOOO shallow, I could get her nose OR her ears in focus...but not both.

Here is a look at the Argus lenses, but in the S35 variant.

That's quite a startling difference in sharpness compared to the zooms. I think it shows many of these Chinese cine zooms that look cosmetically impressive are really quite soft. A good parfocal zoom has always been very expensive to get right. We paid around £11k and £9K for a Canon J11 and J17 respectively, over 20 years ago, and they were just standard definition. And I've got an old J16 still that is sharper than that on my UBG2. Those primes are nice though; pity as others have said they don't come in EF or PL though.