The rumour mill is active again, this time, it looks like a new ultra-wide lens for the microFourThirds system is coming soon – Laowa C-Dreamer 6mm F2.
Laowa’s new ultra-wide lens for the system is the widest lens of the system, covering a 12mm equivalent field-of-view in 135 format (“full-frame”). Although technically not really a brand new lens, it is a new lens in “standard”, photographic sens – there is already existing 6mm T2.1 cine lens, this new one is based on. It is the third Laowa ultra-wide-angle lens designed specifically for the system, and the fourth if lenses designed for other systems are included. According to the screenshots that emerged, the lens will have full electronic communication with the camera, meaning EXIF data, stabilisation and full aperture control will be supported. Five aperture blades, 58mm filter thread and 9cm minimal focus distance are other significant facts.
Laowa is doing great work, filling the void neither Olympus nor Panasonic filled, until very recently, at least. With this lens release, Laowa alone will be offering a 4mm circular fisheye, 6mm, 7.5mm, 9mm and 10mm wide-angle prime lenses below – somewhat arbitrary – 12mm cutoff focal length.
At the same time, Olympus and Panasonic have managed to produce only ONE ultra-wide-angle prime lens, Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7. Sure, there are three fisheye lenses – Panasonic Lumix G 8mm F3.5, Olympus M.Zuiko 8mm F1.8 Pro, and Olympus 9mm F8 body-cap toy lens – and six zoom lenses, ranging from almost as wide 7mm to 25mm on the narrow end, depending on the lens. Olympus M.Zuiko 9–18mm F4–5.6 zoom weighs only 155 grams, less than Laowa primes, but not everyone is a fan of slow, variable-aperture zoom, and not everyone prefers a zoom lens in the first place.
In the end, let’s hope Laowa will manage to keep the cost down, and, someday, it will add autofocus support to its lenses, as well. For now, keep up the good work.
Source: First images of the new Laowa 6mm f/2.0 C-Dreamer MFT lens on 4/3 Rumors
