Laowa GF 19mm F2.8 Review

The Laowa 19mm F2.8 lens for the Fujifilm GFX cameras is a reasonably priced lens with a solid metal construction. It has minimal distortion and allows for close-up shots. However, it has a few drawbacks such as busy ghosting and flare, and the sharpness is better when stopped down.

The Laowa 19mm F2.8 lens is reasonably priced and has a solid metal construction, making it a good option for occasional ultra-wide usage on medium format cameras.

The lens has minimal distortion, which means minimal correction work in post-processing, but it suffers from busy ghosting and flare, especially across the aperture range.

The Laowa 19mm F2.8 lens is a reasonably priced lens designed for Fujifilm GFX cameras, with a solid metal construction and a smooth manual focusing ring. It has minimal distortion, which means minimal correction work in post-processing. The lens also allows for close-up shots, although it is not suitable for macro photography. The lens has a nice smooth bokeh but has a five-bladed aperture, resulting in pentagon-shaped bokeh when stopped down. The lens produces dramatic sunstars but suffers from busy ghosting and flare, which can be distracting. In terms of sharpness, it performs better when stopped down to around f/5.6, especially in the corners.The Laowa 19mm F2.8 lens is a quirky option, as it is fully manual with no electrical connections, leading to some unique characteristics such as strange ghosting and flare patterns. While it may not offer the highest level of sharpness, it is reasonably priced at around $1000 USD, making it a good option for occasional ultra-wide usage on medium format cameras. Compared to other Fujifilm options, the Laowa lens provides a more affordable prime lens alternative, although it may require stopping down for optimal performance. Adapting full-frame or other medium format lenses may also present limitations and result in additional expenses.Overall, the Laowa 19mm F2.8 lens offers a niche option for Fujifilm GFX users, providing a balance between affordability and performance. It may not be perfect, but it can serve as a valuable addition to a photographer's kit, especially for those looking for a cost-effective ultra-wide prime lens for medium format photography.

Compared to other Fujifilm options, the Laowa lens provides a more affordable prime lens alternative, although it may require stopping down for optimal performance.