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Laowa 20mm F4 'Zero-D' Shift Review

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The Laowa 20mm F4 'Zero-D' Shift lens is a solidly built lens with smooth ergonomics. It has good coatings and minimal flare, but there are some reflections when shooting towards the sun. The shift mechanism is useful for architecture photography, and the minimum focusing distance allows for interesting close-up shots. The bokeh is a bit rough and the sharpness is better in the center than in the corners.

The shift mechanism is particularly useful for architectural photography, allowing for adjustments to correct perspective distortion. The minimum focusing distance of 25cm also allows for unique close-up shots.

Pros
  • Solid build quality
  • Smooth ergonomics
  • Good coatings with minimal flare
  • Useful for architectural photography
Cons
  • Distracting reflections when shooting towards the sun
  • Rough bokeh
  • Better sharpness in the center than in the corners

The bokeh, while decent, can exhibit some rough characteristics, and the sharpness is better in the center than in the corners, making it preferable to shoot at narrower apertures like f/8.

The Laowa 20mm F4 'Zero-D' Shift lens is a well-constructed lens with smooth ergonomics and a solid build. It features good coatings, resulting in minimal flare, but there are some distracting reflections when shooting towards the sun. The shift mechanism is particularly useful for architectural photography, allowing for adjustments to correct perspective distortion. The minimum focusing distance of 25cm also allows for unique close-up shots. The bokeh, while decent, can exhibit some rough characteristics, and the sharpness is better in the center than in the corners, making it preferable to shoot at narrower apertures like f/8. Overall, it's a budget-friendly lens with some innovative features, but it does have limitations in certain areas.

The Laowa 20mm F4 'Zero-D' Shift lens is a well-constructed lens with smooth ergonomics and a solid build. It features good coatings, resulting in minimal flare, but there are some distracting reflections when shooting towards the sun.

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