Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT is perfect for street, travel and everyday photography. Weighted 6oz (172g) only, this remarkably light, compact and agile lens serves as an exceptional complement to MFT cameras. It is a great tool that should be in every photographers’ kit bag. The wide angle of view(65°) pair with the large f/1.8 aperture can easily handle different lighting conditions. The lens houses nine elements in seven groups, and has a seven-blade diaphragm to give a traditional sunstar rendering in out-of-focus highlights.
The 17mm gives the equivalent to a 34mm angle of view on a full-frame sensor. Optimized for M43 system, the resulting images deliver stunning details and contrast across the entire frame, even at a wide-open aperture. The vibrant color rendering results in high saturation, leaving the photograph impressively pleasing straight out from the camera.
An ultra-fast f/1.8 maximum aperture not only creates smooth bokeh with its rounded 7- blade diaphragm, but also offers great low-light performance. Despite the fast aperture, sharp, high-contrast images of distant subjects can be captured at any apertures. It is an Ideal lens for portraits, landscapes, travel and all-purpose imaging.
Weighted 172g only, this remarkably light, compact and agile lens serves as an exceptional complement to MFT cameras. It is a great tool for still-life shots, street and travel photography.
This lens has a 5.9”(15cm) minimum focusing distance that greatly benefits working with close-up subjects in detail. Photographer can make use of the “Mini-macro” feature to capture macro shots with shallow depth of field, creating smooth out-of-focus blurring and good subject separation from the background.
Attributed to the compact and light body, the 17mm f/1.8 lens is a portable and on-the- go option of videographers, both handheld and on gimbals. The high-performance optical design incorporate one Super ED (extra-low dispersion) glass element that delivers high- definition images with minimum ghosting and flare, broadening your shooting potential in challenging situations.
On top of traditional M43 cameras, this lens is also drone-friendly. It is compatible on DJI X5 camera, making it an alternative lens for aerial photography and videography.
Venus Optics Laowa 17mm f/1.8 Overview
A comfortable wide-angle prime for Micro Four Thirds, the Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT is characterized by its especially sleek and lightweight design, making it ideal for use as a walkaround and travel lens. Despite its compactness, it sports a bright f/1.8 design for working in difficult lighting and the 34mm-equivalent wide-angle field of view suits working with subjects ranging from landscapes to portraits. One Super ED element is featured in the optical design and helps to reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing for high clarity and color accuracy. Additionally, a Frog Eye Coating has also been applied to the front element to guard against water and dust, and the lens's manual focus design permits working with subjects as close 5.9" away.
Venus Optics Laowa 17mm F/1.8 Specs
Focal Length |
17mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 34mm) |
Maximum Aperture |
f/1.8 |
Minimum Aperture |
f/22 |
Lens Mount |
Micro Four Thirds |
Lens Format Coverage |
Micro Four Thirds |
Angle of View |
65° |
Minimum Focus Distance |
5.91" / 15 cm |
Maximum Magnification |
0.2x |
Macro Reproduction Ratio |
1:5 |
Optical Design |
9 Elements in 7 Groups |
Diaphragm Blades |
7 |
Focus Type |
Manual Focus |
Image Stabilization |
No |
Filter Size |
46 mm (Front) |
Dimensions (ø x L) |
2.17 x 2.01" / 55 x 51 mm |
Weight |
6.07 oz / 172 g |
Package Weight |
0.77 lb |
Box Dimensions (LxWxH) |
3.8 x 3.8 x 3.6" |