Venus Laowa 17mm F4 Zero-D GFX

Fujifilm G

Review

The Venus Laowa 17mm F4 Zero-D is a unique lens designed for the Fujifilm G mount and caters to photographers who seek a wide-angle perspective without the distortion that often comes with such lenses. This manual focus lens is crafted for Fujifilm’s GFX medium format cameras, making it an exciting option for those serious about landscape and architectural photography.

Build and Design

The build quality of the Laowa 17mm F4 Zero-D is impressive. It features a robust metal construction, giving it a premium feel in hand. Weighing around 1.1 kg (2.43 lbs), it's not the lightest option out there, but the solid build assures durability. The lens is compact for a wide-angle option, which makes it relatively easy to carry around for extended shooting sessions. The weather-sealed design also means that it can battle the elements, making it suitable for outdoor photography.

Optical Performance

One of the key highlights of this lens is its "Zero-D" (zero distortion) optical design. It truly lives up to this claim, maintaining straight lines and minimal distortion, even at the edges. This aspect makes it particularly valuable for architectural photography where straight lines are paramount. The lens is equipped with 15 elements in 10 groups, including aspherical and extra-low dispersion glass, which results in excellent sharpness and contrast. Even at full aperture, sharpness remains high across the frame, and by stopping down, it becomes razor-sharp.

Color Rendering and Bokeh

Color rendition is another strong suit of the Laowa 17mm F4. Images boast vibrant colors with well-controlled aberrations. However, when it comes to bokeh, the performance is a bit of a mixed bag. While being a wide-angle lens, the bokeh can appear somewhat busy, particularly in scenes with considerable background detail. This may not be a critical factor for landscape photographers, but it may influence those looking to incorporate some selective focus in their work.

Usability

As a manual focus lens, the Laowa 17mm F4 requires a bit more involvement from the photographer. The focused ring is smooth and well-damped, making it easy to achieve precise focus without much effort, although it may take some practice for those used to autofocus. The aperture control is also manually adjusted, which can be preferable for dedicated artists but might pose a challenge for some casual users.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent build quality and durability.
• Minimal distortion, great for architectural and landscape photography.
• High sharpness across the frame.
• Attractive color rendering.

Cons

• Manual focus may not suit everyone.
• Bokeh can be less appealing in certain situations.
• Heavier than some other options in the category.

Verdict

The Venus Laowa 17mm F4 Zero-D is an exceptional choice for photographers who prioritize optical quality and minimal distortion. Its solid build, coupled with top-notch performance in landscape and architectural photography, makes it a standout option for Fujifilm G mount users willing to work with manual focus. Although it might not be the most versatile lens for all shooting scenarios due to its weight and manual operation, it certainly excels in its intended applications, granting it a respected place in a photographer's kit.