Venus Optics Laowa Argus – F0.95 Primes for MFT, APS-C & FF Revealed

Lens News

by Olaf von VossFebruary 3^rd, 2021

Earlier this month, Chinese lens manufacturer Venus Optics unveiled four new lenses at an online event in China, all marketed under the Laowa Argus brand. One is for MFT mount, one covers APS-C sensors, and two come as full-frame lenses. Let’s take a closer look!

Since these Laowa Argus lenses are already circulating on various rumor sites due to leaked marketing material, Venus Optics has decided not to hold such events in other regions as well, but to simply release the news without much fuss (we have written permit to report about these new Argus lenses). So here we are, with four different lenses, all bearing the Argus name – yet it is not exactly one lens line at all, but three:

• MFT: Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95
• APS-C: Laowa Argus 33mm f/0.95
• Full Frame: Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 and 45mm f/0.95

The one common thing here is certainly speed: All four Laowa Argus lenses sport a very fast f/0.95 aperture.

Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 for m4/3

This 25mm MFT lens offers a 50mm full-frame equivalent field of view and it, obviously, sports a fast f/0.95 aperture. It features 14 elements in 8 groups, including one aspherical element, two extra-low dispersion elements and three high-refractive index elements.

This lens, just like the 33mm f/0.95 for APS-C lens, offers a 9-blade aperture diaphragm as well as a 62mm front filter thread. The minimum focusing distance is 25cm (9.84″).

The Laowa Argus 25mm is 71mm (2.8″) x 86mm (3.4″) in size, and it weighs 570g (1.26lbs). Availability is set for Q4 2021.

Laowa Argus 33mm f/0.95 for APS-C

Next up, the Laowa Argus 33mm is meant to be used with APS-C sensors and will produce a 50mm full-frame equivalent field of view. This lens will be available in either Canon EF-M, Sony E, Fujifilm X or Nikon Z mount.

It features 14 elements in 9 groups, which include one aspherical element, two extra-low dispersion elements and three high-refractive index elements.

This lens also offers a 9-blade aperture diaphragm and its minimum focusing distance is quite a bit better than the 25mm MFT version: only 35mm (1.4″). It sports a 62mm front filter thread, and this lens is 71.5mm (2.8) x 83mm (3.27″) in size while tipping the scale at 590g (1.3lbs). The Laowa Argus 33mm lens will be available a bit earlier (Q2 2021).

Argus 35mm & 45mm for Full Frame

The next two lenses have the same image circle they cover: Full-frame. Both lenses have the same fast aperture of f/0.95 and both lenses offer a 15-blade aperture diaphragm.

The 35mm lens is 76.8mm (3″) x 103mm (4″) in size and weighs 755g (1.66lbs). This lens will be available for Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon RF and it’s set for a Q2 2021 arrival.

Last but not least, the Argus 45mm f/0.95 offers an internal construction consisting of 13 elements in 9 groups, including one aspherical element, one extra-low dispersion element and one high refractive element. This lens shares the minimum focus distance an the front filter thread with its 35mm sibling, it’s 76.8mm (3″) x110mm (4.3″) in size, and weighs 850g (1.87lbs). Mounts are the same (Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon RF) and it will be ready for shipment in Q2 2021.

Pricing is still tba.

first seen on: DPReview | Link: Laowa website

What do you think of these new Argus lenses? Share your thoughts in the comments below!