The Chinese are Coming
No, no…this is a territorial claim of a different kind, and they come in peace!
Retail shops like B & H in New York and Park Cameras in London are now inundated with cheap but decent optical products , most of them originating from China. These products are sustaining the budget end of the imaging market. Let us take a look at the companies and brands behind those products.
The most visible in the world market is Venus Optics that uses the brand name Laowa. Venus Optics was formed in 2013 in Hefei, China. Its factory is located in Shanghai. The brand Laowa stands for ‘Lao’ meaning old and ‘Wa’ meaning frog. Laowa has focussed on macro and ultra wide angle lenses for mirrorless cameras. Examples of Laowa lenses include the Argus 35 mm f/ 0.95 mirrorless lens and the 9 mm f/ 5.6 full frame ultra wide mirrorless lens. Currently, Laowa manufactures only prime manual focus lenses.
Yongnuo is the international brand under which products of Shenzhen Yongnuo Photographic Equipments are sold. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Yongnuo makes lenses, lashguns and lighting equipments. A majority of Yongnuo lenses are with a Canon or Nikon mount. All the lenses are prime manual focus lenses. Yongnuo is also developing camera bodies with the micro four thirds mount. There were rumours that Canon was set to acquire Yongnuo but we are unable to con irm this. Yongnuo products are available online in India through Amazon and other online stores.
Mitakon is yet another Chinese brand belonging to Zhong Yi Optical & Electronic Company also called ZY. ZY was established in 1984 and manufactures a number of prime high aperture lenses for both still and cine cameras. In certain territories, ZY uses the Zhong Yi brand. One example of ZY’s optical prowess is the 50 mm f/ 0.95 lens for the Canon EF mount. Mitakon lenses are reputed to have good optics. Even Meyer Optik of Germany relied on Mitakon for their 35 mm f/ 0.95 lens design.
Yet another Chinese lens brand is Meike. Meike makes prime as well as zoom lenses for both still and cine cameras. Amongst Meike’s lagship lenses is a 25 mm f/ 0.95 manual focus lens. The Neewer brand is also supposed to come from the Meike stable. 7 Artisans is yet another Chinese manufacturer making lenses in Shenzhen, China. 7 Artisans, again, focuses on high aperture prime lenses with manual focus.
Other Chinese lens manufacturers include Viltrox, Kam Lan and Opteka but there are many more. Expect them to hit the Indian market online and of line very, very soon.