For a lens of this type, the Laowa 200mm f/2 AF FF is light, fast and affordable. In fact, Venus Optics – the Hefei, China-based makers of Laowa lenses – claims that this is the most affordable ultra-fast telephoto prime of its kind currently on the market.
Competition is stiff for lenses in the coveted 200mm f/2 range, with brands such as Nikon and Sigma leading the way. They’re also somewhat expensive and often beyond the reach of many photographers, which is why a budget-friendly version like this one is highly welcome and long overdue.
Price tag notwithstanding, this lens punches way above its weight. A typical 200mm f/2 can be large, bulky and fairly heavy. Weighing in at less than 1.6kg, however, the new Laowa is surprisingly light and portable, and it packs some pretty impressive features and performance into its relatively compact form factor.
The large f/2 maximum aperture and nine-blade diaphragm combine to enable clean, detailed image capture with exceptional subject separation, shallow depth of field and beautifully smooth background blur, not to mention outstanding low-light performance.
Autofocus is respectably precise, as well, allowing for responsive tracking of fast-moving subjects. The barrel sports five FN buttons, one of which can be assigned functions such as ISO or white balance for quick and easy access. A sliding AF/MF switch makes for effortless toggling between auto and manual focus.
View Laowa 200mm f/2 AF FF Pricing and Availability at Vistek
Available in Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon EF mount variations, the Laowa 200mm f/2 AF FF also boasts versatile cross-platform compatibility: Canon EF can be used with Fujifilm GFX and Canon RF cameras by way of optional autofocus adapters.
The Sony E and Nikon Z mount models feature a built-in 43mm rear filter holder that offers a handy way to introduce ND and other creative filters into your mix. By eliminating the need for bulkier 105mm front filters, this also reduces additional costs and keeps weight down to a healthy minimum.
Features
- Full-frame format
- 200mm focal length
- f/2 to f/22 aperture range
- 11 elements in 9 groups
- 9 aperture blades
- 1.5m minimum focusing distance
- 0.15x maximum magnification
- Lightweight 1588g design
- Stunning bokeh effect
- Powerful compression
- Precise autofocus and fast tracking
- Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon EF mount options
- 43mm rear filter holder (not available on Canon EF versions)