The L-mount camera system is gaining ground pretty fast, and now lens maker Laowa has joined in, with four new lenses to fit the Sigma fp, Leica mirrorless and Panasonic Lumix S models.
We have reviewed all four new L-mount lenses in other mounts: the Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye, Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D ultra-wideangle, the extraordinary Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe lens and the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro.
However, the news is made slightly less exciting by the fact that while all the latest L-mount cameras are full frame, the Laowa fisheye is designed for the Micro Four Thirds mount and the 9mm Zero-D is an APS-C lens. On full frame L-mount cameras they would need to be used in crop mode.
Leica does make APS-C L-mount cameras too, but unless Sigma or Panasonic surprise us with a smaller format L-mount camera, the Laowa 4mm fisheye and 9mm Zero-D are likely to have limited appeal for L-mount camera owners.
The two macro lenses, however, are full frame models. The bizarre Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe lens might resemble a telephoto that’s shrunk in the wash, but it is in fact an ultra-high-magnification macro lens that can reach places other macro lenses can’t.
The Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro is just as extraordinary in its own way, offering a variable 2.5x to 5x macro magnification range, though it has no focus mechanism – you just move closer or further away to focus and it’s only really at home when mounted on a focus rail.
Prices and availability
The Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye will cost just $199, the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D will cost $499, the specialised Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe comes in at a pretty steep $1,499, while the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro will be $399. All four lenses should be available from early March.
These are not the first L-mount lenses from Laowa. They join eight existing L-mount lenses. Here’s the full list including the latest models:
Laowa wide angle L-mount lenses:
• 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye
• 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D
• 9mm f/5.6 FF RL
• 11mm f/4.5 FF RL
• 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D
• 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Zoom
• 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift
• 15mm f/2 Zero-D
Laowa macro L-mount lenses:
• 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
• 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe
• 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro
• 15mm f/4 Wide Angle Macro
Read more:
• Best wide-angle lenses
• Best macro lenses
• Best L-mount lenses
• Best Panasonic cameras
