Anhui, China—Venus Optics announced the Laowa 20mm T2.2 1.5x Nanomorph lens specifically for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensors. The company is touting the lens as the “most compact, fastest and widest Nanomorph to date.”
Further, its compact dimensions of 2.4×3.4 inches and light weight of 0.67 pound make the lens very portable. Consequently, it is a solution for drones, gimbals and handheld shooting. Note, the 20mm lens, which only fits MFT or smaller sensors, does not cover the S35 format.
Laowa 20mm T2.2 1.5x Nanomorph Key Features
The lens’s wide horizontal field of view opens the door to capturing establishing shots with expansive landscapes, architecture or any visual narrative requiring a broader context. Coupled with its constant 1.5x squeeze ratio and a large T2.2 aperture, it also offers more control over depth of field as well as more compressed oval bokeh.
Moreover, it offers a close focusing distance of 16 inches, a cinematic flare and a Ø55mm filter thread. Furthermore, Venus is making it available in the MFT and the Arri PL mount, tailored for solo filmmakers who use a smaller setup.
Plus, because of its portability, filmmakers can bring distinctive anamorphic aesthetics to almost everywhere. In addition, the Nanomorph 20mm lens boasts a wide horizontal field of view that empowers filmmakers to capture the breadth of various scenes, including landscapes and cityscapes.
Notably, the constant 1.5x squeeze ratio of an anamorphic lens guarantees a uniform and consistent anamorphic look across various focus distances, Additionally, it simultaneously eliminates the occurrence of anamorphic mumps.
What’s more, the Nanomorph 20mm MFT lens’s T2.2 aperture makes it the largest-aperture lens in the Nanomorph series. The additional control over depth of field allows for more precise subject isolation. Moreover, the lens will perform in low-light environments, including indoor low-light settings or scenes, without relying heavily on artificial lighting.
Flare Options
Further, the 20mm MFT lens offers a selection of flare color options. They include the classic sci-fi blue, a warm amber and a neutral silver. The silver flare option can change color in response to the prevailing light source, adding creative possibilities for filmmakers. Finally, filmmakers have the flexibility to mount compatible Ø55mm ND and creative-look filters on the lens.
The Nanomorph 20mm lens’s MFT- and PL-mount versions share the same 15-element, 13-group optical design. And both have a 13-blade aperture unit. However, due to the physical aspect and the flange distance, the housing is different between the two versions.
The Laowa 20mm T2.2 1.5x Nanomorph lens has a suggested retail price of $999 for the MFT-mount version. The PL-mount lens has an SRP of $1,499. Both versions are now available for order through the Indiegogo campaign website (Perk 1D & 1E). Venus Optics expects to ship orders in late October.
