During IBC 2024 Laowa (Venus Optics brand) introduced no less than 4 different products/families of lenses. The fi12-120mm T4 8K broadcast zoom lens, the Nanomorph LF 1.5X full-frame series, Sword full-frame macro series, and the 60mm nanomorph super 35mm macro lens.
Laowa Ultima 12-120mm T4 8K Broadcast Lens
The first lens that we saw at the Laowa booth at IBC this year was the 12-120mm T4 broadcast lens, it is Laowa’s first entry into the 8K broadcasting market. The lens has a Super 35 coverage and 10x optical zoom with a T4 aperture and it was designed to work with MOVCAM Servo Unit that can control the focus, zoom, and aperture we had a test to try it at the show and it worked fantastically well.
The lens has a very complex optical design with 28 elements in 20 groups (one of the most complex lenses that we ever come across) and it weighs in at 3.2 kilograms but feels pretty compact for what it is. The lens is also parafocal as you would expect from a broadcast lens of this caliber.
The lens comes in Arri PL mount (Laowa will consider B4 mount in the future). Pricing of this lens will be set at around $15,000 and should be available in early 2025.
The upcoming Laowa Ultima 12-120mm T4 8K Broadcast Lens
Nanomorph LF 1.5x Full Frame Anamorphic Series
A new series of full-frame lenses called Nanomorph LF was also revealed at IBC 2024. This line comes in 32mm, 42mm, 55mm, and 85mm focal lengths with a constant T2.9 with 1.5x squeeze and a large number of mounts including PL, EF, RF, E, Z, DJI DL, as well as L-Mount.
All lenses in this new series have low breathing and should be available by the end of 2024 for around $2000.
The Laowa Nanomorph LF 65mm T2.9 1.5x anamorphic
Sword Full Frame Cine Macro Series
Another new line from Laowa is called Sword. This full frame lens line includes 5 macro lenses starting from 15mm T4.1, 25mm T2.9, and 35mm T2.9 lenses (all with 1:1 macro magnification) as well as a unique 180mm T4.6 with 1.5x magnification and finally 60mm T2.9 and 100mm T2.9 with 2:1 macro magnification.
The Sword line will come in PL, EF, RF, E, Z, and L mounts, and pricing, again will be set at $2000 per lens with availability around the end of 2024.
The Laowa Sword 15mm T4.1 macro lens almost touches the product at the minimal focus distance
Nanomorph 60mm Macro Anamorphic Super 35 Lens
Finally we have a new member to the existing Nanomorph (super 35 line) in the form of the Nanomorph 60mm T2.9 1.5x Anamorphic macro lens. Anamorphic macro lenses are few and far between and most of them are pretty expensive. Providing a quality affordable option makes a lot of sense for Laowa.
The new lens has a 24-centimeter (or 9.44-inch) close-focusing distance with a macro magnification of 1:2.
Pricing will be (yet again) $2000 and it will be available before the end of 2024.
The Laowa Nanomorph 60mm T2.9 super 35-macro lens
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