Press release: Laowa 7.5mm f/:2 MFT is the widest f/2 rectilinear lens

We already reported about this lens last week. But now the English press text has been released with a new set of images of the lens (see bottom of this post):

PRESS RELEASE

May 1sr 2017.

UK Optics are pleased to announce the new Laowa manual focus lens for Panasonic/Olympus CSC cameras. The 7.5mm f/:2 UWA Lens for MFT.

With its acute 110° angle of view and ultra-fast f/2 aperture allows photographers to create extraordinary quality astro- photography shots with fabulous detail. It also gives photographers a fast wide-angle option for landscape photography and low-light shooting.

The Laowa 7.5mm f/:2 MFT is the widest f/2 rectilinear lens ever designed for Micro Four Thirds Cameras.

Wide angle and Fisheye lenses of a 7.5mm focal length are extremely difficult to construct, with such lenses barrel or pin cushioning distortion ie.; where vertical and horizontal lines tend to bow out away from the centre of the image, the correction becomes more challenging as the focal length decreases, therefore lenses that achieve this effect are called Rectilinear.

Despite the extreme specifications, Laowa have successfully minimized the weight and physical size of the lens to a mere 0.37 pounds (170g) and 55mm long.

The extreme 110° angle of view, ultrafast f/:2 aperture and featherweight, makes this lens an ideal option to pair up with drones for aerial photography. It also gives photographers a fast and wide-angle option for low-light shooting as well as landscape photography.

The build quality of the Laowa lens is exceptional. The lens body is made of lightweight aluminium and the lens mount is manufactured from Hard Chromium metal providing superb abrasion resistance and mount accuracy.

The lens is a Prime Manual Focus lens. The aperture ring operates in full clicks (f-stops). The detachable (metal petal shaped) lens hood is so small that you can in most cases leave it mounted to the lens.

The lens has a (46mm) filter thread and comes complete with the metal petal shaped detachable hood. The 7.5mm lens is available in a choice of either Black or Silver finish.

The MSRP price is £499.00 and availability will be end of May 2017.

Also due out July/August will be a light weight version at 150g specifically designed for the Drones market but with the same optical performance available in Black only, the MSRP is anticipated to be £519.00

Lens Description

7.5mm f/2

Focal Length

7.5mm

Maximum Aperture (Fno)

F/2.0

Angle of View

110°

Format Compatibility

Micro Four Thirds

Minimum Focus distance

4.72” (12cm)

Maximum Reproduction Ratio

0.11x

Focusing

Manual Focus

Filter Thread

46mm

Dimensions(DxL)

Φ50x55mm

Weight

170g

Mounts

MFT

Colour

Black/Silv

New version of the Field Monitor APP adds False Color (pro feature known from 40K$ Cameras like Arri)

Holger just sent me this:

a new version of my Field Monitor app is available – now with False Color , a profi feature known from 40K$ Cameras like Arri. Now available for Lumix cameras. See a demonstration video here: https://youtu.be/n7m1ejtiy6M
An Android version also available in Version 1.1.0 with Anamorphic Stretch, Crop Bars and False Color  with all the features of the iOS version coming in next releases: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.minaxsoft.gmonitor&hl=de

a bit of everything…


Sneak peek of LUMIX GH5 launch in New Zealand

Watch This Before You Buy the Panasonic GH5 (Jreshow).
Panasonic GH5 Field Test Part III: Dynamic range, 6K photo and timelapse and the final wrap-up (Imaging Resource).
Bird photography experience with the Olympus E-M1 Mark II (Olympus Passion).
Pushing the Panasonic GH5 Stabilization to the Limit (Fstoppers).
Panasonic Lumix GH5 – Prueba de campo (Albedomedia).

Plenty of news on the facebook E-M1II group and the GH5 group.

Mark:A link to a post on my photoblog you may find interesting and worthwhile sharing.
Essentially it looks at the real-world difference one might (or might not) obtain by buying a new E-M1 MkII if you are using legacy 4/3 glass and gives tips on shooting fast action with the original E-M1.
As you know, I am a long time user of Olympus equipment (more than 30 years!) and have used 4/3 since my switch to digital with the E-1 in 2004.
http://flightlevel42.co.za/photoblog.htm#New%20Gear-itis:%20Is%20there%20a%20cure?

a bit of everything…(Great SLR magic 8mm video, top 15 Olympus lenses)

SLR Magic 8mm F4 + Osmo + DJI Inspire 1 w/ Zenmuse X5R from Noktor on Vimeo.

New SmallHD On-Camera UltraBright Monitor Bundles (Explora).
SLR Magic Anamorphic Lens Rig, NAB 2017 (Personal View).
Top 15 Best Olympus Micro Four Thirds Lenses 2017 (ePhotozine).
Panasonic GH5 sample video (Dpreview).

Plenty of news on the facebook E-M1II group and the GH5 group.

Daniel:its really a question, have a Panasonic DMW-FL360L Flash that I used on an Olmpus E-M5 and a Lumix GH3 but suddenly it just does not work on TTL nor wants to fire, any help is welcomed, thanks https://youtu.be/jqkXQ7-h1_o

Rico: “A short test of a Schneider Kreuznach 18-90mm 2.0 C-mount lens on a Panasonic Mirrorless camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOTUTU_KjzI

 

Panasonic GH5 will be back in Stock on May 2 (and a petition to add 4:2:2 IPB 200mbps)

Panasonic shipped a new large Stock of GH4 cameras to the US and it should be in Stock at Amazon on May 2 (Click here). It will be in Stock on May 4 at BHphoto.

And there is a new Petition to ask Panasonic to add 4K 4:2:2 IPB 400mbps and FHD 4:2:2 IPB 200mbps modes for Panasonic GH5. Join here: change.org/p/panasonic-introduce-4k-4-2-2-ipb-400mbps-and-fhd-4-2-2-ipb-200mbps-modes-for-panasonic-gh5

Big new Panasonic deals:

$500 off on the GH4 at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$300 off on the G7 at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$200 off on the GX8 at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
Free lens with the GX85 at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$150 off on the 30-100mm lens at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.

New FlashQ Q20 announced

Press text:

The new FlashQ Q20 Launch Now !

“A complete wireless handy flash unit, FlashQ Q20, is a full featured GN20 flash with detachable radio control, LED lighting, flash head tilting and built-in gel holder. The innovative, fully-functional and stylish off-camera flash ensures a wonderful experience for every photographer.”
We hope this is a new product you can share with your audience. We believe your audiences get interested in this new Q20.
Furthermore, if you’re interested, we can provide FlashQ Q20 for your hands-on review. Please let us know and give your shipping address. A FlashQ Q20 Kit (BLACK) will be provided to you.
FlashQ Q20 product page, https://lightpixlabs.com/pages/q20
and media kit,  https://goo.gl/ZPt9Z6
P.S. This is a long journey to bring FlashQ Q20 to public since we unveiled it on Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in 2015 APR. We never give up to build our dream product. Finally we did it :)

Thank you.

KK
The FlashQ Team