Laowa 24mm f/14 2x Macro Probe Lens Nikon F

This open a whole new level of creative opportunities. So far seems to be a great product

A very special creative tool!

Honestly, I think the medium where this lens shines its brightest is macro videography. You simply can’t produce the types of video shots with traditional lenses that you can with this unique gear.To Illustrate this point, I have included a link to sample footage that I shot with this lens. https://youtu.be/PV8Jua640jM or visit www.robertkstudios.comI wish we could upload video footage with reviews in addition to posting photos.Moving along, the photos that I’ve included within this review doesn’t do the lens any justice. Again, is strength being macro video work. With that said, I’ll let the footage do all of the talking.However, there is one thing to be mindful of. This lens requires a great deal of light. Consequently, you need to invest in a powerful ... MoreHonestly, I think the medium where this lens shines its brightest is macro videography. You simply can’t produce the types of video shots with traditional lenses that you can with this unique gear.To Illustrate this point, I have included a link to sample footage that I shot with this lens. https://youtu.be/PV8Jua640jM or visit www.robertkstudios.comI wish we could upload video footage with reviews in addition to posting photos.Moving along, the photos that I’ve included within this review doesn’t do the lens any justice. Again, is strength being macro video work. With that said, I’ll let the footage do all of the talking.However, there is one thing to be mindful of. This lens requires a great deal of light. Consequently, you need to invest in a powerful lighting system.Presently, I use the Nikon Z6 which is amazing in low light, thus allowing me to get by with a makeshift lighting system. I can shoot up to an IOS of 5,000 without any noticeable grain in footage. Currently I’m saving up for The Aputure Light Storm C300d Mark II LED Light Kit.Also, the LED lights at the tip of the lens appear to have a warmer color temperature. Ideally I prefer a cooler temperature. Even so, depending on your content you can make it work.In sum, I must say that Laowa’s probe lens is a special tool that allows for endless creativity. I encourage creatives, filmmakers and photographers to try this lens. Is it worth the price? YEP!

Arrived on time. Ready for

Arrived on time. Ready for production right out of the box. We'll be back. :)

Great lens for the price

If you are looking for ways to add another dimension to your videos this lens is a great addition to your kit. I shoot mostly food and drink and am always looking for ways to make it more interesting in motion. The combo of ultra macro and wide angle makes this a really great perspective. One thing I don't like is that the f-stop ring rotates smoothly without clicks so it is easy to change it accidentally while focusing. Also you will need to make sure you control vibration since the lens is super macro and has such a long barrel. Lastly, it works best when combined with a slider or jib -- but make sure the motor can work smoothly because any small jerking motion will ruin the video.

Great lens for very limited applications

I saw an article where a guy was taking photos inside an old violin and was enthralled. Must have been cut and paste or magic. Not so - this lens goes through th ehose where base support is and has a light ring installed at the end. I am now trying to figure out other applications. I'll do another review after I've used it some more.Very well designed and engineered. Need to do focus stacking in post-processing. More to come with photos

Great lens to get unusual images

This lens challenges the imagination of the photographer to try new possibilities.

Great lens!

This lens is unique and a challenge. I use this for standard macro and chase a lot of insects. Oddly enough the smaller profile scares a lot less of them off. The challenge is YOU. You are 100% in control being it's manual and if you're intending to do the same as I, you are not on a safe tripod nor a set of rails running it through the pages of a book for the 1000th public example *yawn. But that is the pleasure of it. You'll refine your own skill set within the process. Getting the correct amount of light, positioning your lens for the correct DOF for your subject, accompanied with finding the fine line of precise focus. All controlled by your body & hand position. That's the biggest takeaway, it's not an easy button lens if you're going to chase around our macro ... MoreThis lens is unique and a challenge. I use this for standard macro and chase a lot of insects. Oddly enough the smaller profile scares a lot less of them off. The challenge is YOU. You are 100% in control being it's manual and if you're intending to do the same as I, you are not on a safe tripod nor a set of rails running it through the pages of a book for the 1000th public example *yawn. But that is the pleasure of it. You'll refine your own skill set within the process. Getting the correct amount of light, positioning your lens for the correct DOF for your subject, accompanied with finding the fine line of precise focus. All controlled by your body & hand position. That's the biggest takeaway, it's not an easy button lens if you're going to chase around our macro friends. But it is gratifying when you get the shot. The LEDs are sufficient. I do have a small strobe on a small tripod as well but chasing insects and such, the strobe doesn't compliment the process well so I rely on the LEDs often. The light it gives isn't great for color but that's moot if you're shooting RAW. Overall it's a great lens and is much less intimidating to the macro world vs. a standard macro lens and your face. The optics are good as well, if a photo is off there's a 99.9% chance it's you, not the glass. But that's pretty normal lens commentary. These were all shot on a D850.

If you do technical illustrations, YOU NEED THIS

I was very doubtful about this, but after looking at all the places I could use it for clients I took the chance. The build quality is far beyond what I expected. It's adjustments are all tight and smooth. The first images are very good. You can get surreal pictures inside tiny spaces in a machine. The iris is manual, so you have to close it down manually before shooting, but that makes the mechanism simpler and hopefully more durable. It works very well with my Nikon flashes in TTL remote auto mode, so that convenience is still there. The built-in LEDs are bright enough for accurate focusing even at f14. They are bright enough for handheld shots if you're very careful, and push up the ISO. I'll post more info after I visit a client's plant with it.

Quirky, but cool.

The perspective this lens offers is unique. The build quality seems good. I am having fun looking at things quite differently.

weirdest lens i own

no question about it, this is a specialty lens and it has a pretty narrow and specific purposeit's built very well, crazy-weird looking, but what it does is pretty amazing!! i can't think of another lens that can give the same perspective to capture immersive macro videos (and photos)only cons: f/14 requires a TON of light and the built-in ring light could be better (especially if it had could adjust from 3200k - 5500k). the metal case is good protection (when closed), but not designed well as it falls over every time you open it…even with these minor issues, the unique perspective keeps it at a 5 star rating for me!