The Venus Optics Laowa ‘Argus’ 33mm F0.95 CF APO is an ultra-fast manual focus lens for APS-C mirrorless bodies, available for Sony E, Canon RF, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z mount cameras ($500, available now).
We tried out the Fujifilm version and found the lens a tad unwieldy to use for still photography due to its heft (590g / 1.31lbs) and the fact there’s no electronic communication between lens and camera body, meaning no automatic manual focus assist. Still, zooming into 100% proved adequate enough to nail focus for the majority of our shots.
More importantly, this hefty chunk of glass and metal produces some lovely images, even wide open. And we think it’ll be a tempting option for video folks looking for a fast, yet reasonably-priced prime lens. To add to its appeal: the step-less aperture ring moves smoothly and the manual focus ring is well-damped; focus breathing is also quite well controlled.
Jump into our sample gallery to see for yourself what the Laowa Venus 33mm F0.95 is capable of.
View our Venus Optics Laowa ‘Argus’ 33mm F0.95 CF APO sample gallery
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