Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95 FF
£869/$799
Does its sharpness match its softness?
The Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95 FF is the latest in Venus Optics’ line of signature Argus lenses, all of which feature a monstrously wide f/0.95 aperture. In short, every Argus lens is a bokeh machine – and the 45mm is no exception. The choice of a 45mm focal length is an interesting one. This puts the Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95 FF roughly in ‘nifty fifty’ territory, but the extra width makes the field of view tangibly different.
At f/0.95, this is one of the fastest lenses you can buy, though this aperture isn’t as novel as it once was; we’ve got full-frame lenses like the almost-equivalent Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 and Venus Optics’ companion prime, the Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 FF.
So what does the Argus 45mm bring to the table, and what compromises do you make to achieve that bokehlicious effect?
Performance
When it comes to bokeh, the Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95 really can’t be beaten. The shallow depth of field, between the wide aperture and focal length, affords beautiful blur and subject separation.
The quality of bokeh is subjective, but we find it pleasing, though the bokeh balls do ‘cat’s eye’ towards the edges of frame, as is usually the case when shooting at these kinds of extreme apertures.
Sharpness wide open is slightly soft, as you would expect, though by f/1.4 the centre is very impressive – but you’ll need to stop down to the f/4-5.6 range for sharpness in the corners of the frame. Ditto vignetting, which is noticeable at f/0.95, but becomes less intrusive the more you close down the aperture.
The ability to flit between clicked and clickless aperture is a godsend for hybrid shooters. Being able to adjust the f-stops smoothly and silently is a boon for video, but it can also be useful for shooting stills and shooting between the set aperture values. James Artaius