Laowa 17mm f4 Zero-D Tilt-Shift Lens for L-Mount

[JCW_Snaps]

I’ve recently been looking at shift lens’ for architectural work and on reading the specs for this lens noted the following

• *Not compatible with these Panasonic Lumix models: S52 S1M2 S1R2 S1M2E S5M2X

This was on the Wex website but having investigated further it seems to be on most retailers details.

I thought the whole reason behind L Mount was cross manufacturer compatibility so I’m intrigued as to why this lens apparently is different. This isn’t a rant BTW I’m just genuinely interested as to the reason.

Apologies for a long winded and slightly disjointed post. J.

 

[CharlesH]

I checked B&H where I purchase most of my camera equipment. For the Laowa Tilt-Shift there is button "check for compatibility with your camera". I checked for my S1M2 and it says this camera is compatible. From my perspective B&H has always been a reliable information source.

 

[JCW_Snaps]

I checked B&H where I purchase most of my camera equipment. For the Laowa Tilt-Shift there is button "check for compatibility with your camera". I checked for my S1M2 and it says this camera is compatible. From my perspective B&H has always been a reliable information source.

That’s interesting to know. I’d still be nervous about buying one given the warning on Wex and others.

 

[CharlesH]

I’d still be nervous about buying one given the warning on Wex and others.

You can always return it if it doesn't work; these dealers have very generous return policies. And the lens is made for L-Mount, it would be very unusual if it didn't work on an L-Mount camera.

 

[Travis Butler]

I have to wonder if there’s a projecting element at the rear of the lens, that might run into the interior mount baffles on some models. It’s a manual focus lens, so I wouldn’t expect there to be any electronics compatibility issues…

 

[Pete_W]

I’ve recently been looking at shift lens’ for architectural work and on reading the specs for this lens noted the following

• *Not compatible with these Panasonic Lumix models: S52 S1M2 S1R2 S1M2E S5M2X

This was on the Wex website but having investigated further it seems to be on most retailers details.

I thought the whole reason behind L Mount was cross manufacturer compatibility so I’m intrigued as to why this lens apparently is different. This isn’t a rant BTW I’m just genuinely interested as to the reason.

As far as I am aware, Laowa (Venus Optics) is a not a member of the L-mount alliance, so maybe this has something to do with the retail compatibility statement.

 

[brucemillerphoto]

It's the over hanging added top depth of the EFV housing that prevents movements.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

I have it, and it works fine on my S1RII.

However, there are two problems - one lens-specific, and one relative to the LUMIX firmware.

- The lens itself does not have knobs you can turn to make small adjustments to the tilt or shift. So, when you loosen the locking knob(s), the lens will just sag into whatever position gravity wants it to go. Worse, when you prop it back up using finger pressure, it has “sticktion” which means it will stick until you apply enough presssure to make it move (i.e., choose a different tilt) and then it will jump to a position that is probably on the other side of what you want. It’s very frustrating. And made worse by:
- If you are looking to use the tilt to increase the depth-of-field, you need to use manual focus and zoom in on the lower edge of the frame. Then you slowly change tilt until that part of the frame is in focus. At least, that’s they methodology I found on-line. However, LUMIX bodies only allow a 6x magnification if you want to see the edge of the frame. Anything above 6x and you can only magnify areas within a rectangle that covers about 60% of the center of the frame. So you have to rely on the edge highlighting to guess what the correct position is, and that is made super-frustrating by the above “move-jump-move back-jump again” sequence.

On top of all this, the shift range is limited, so if you are using the lens in portrait mode, again attempting to use tilt to maximize depth-of-field, and then want to shift it to get a nice, wide angle-of-view (after stitching of course), it won’t go as wide as you’d like it to. At least, as wide as I want it to.

I’m happy to be educated by anybody who has a better methodology, but I find the lens of limited utility for increasing the depth-of-field. For other uses, it might just be dandy.

But it does work with the S1RII.

 

[CharlesH]

The traditional Canon tilt shift lenses should work okay with a Canon to L Mount adapter and they have precision adjustment for both tilt and shift. I have used them on Canon cameras and they work as expected. But of course they are not cheap. I see the 17mm at $2399 on B&H. You might be able to find a used one.

 

[JCW_Snaps]

I have it, and it works fine on my S1RII.

However, there are two problems - one lens-specific, and one relative to the LUMIX firmware.

- The lens itself does not have knobs you can turn to make small adjustments to the tilt or shift. So, when you loosen the locking knob(s), the lens will just sag into whatever position gravity wants it to go. Worse, when you prop it back up using finger pressure, it has “sticktion” which means it will stick until you apply enough presssure to make it move (i.e., choose a different tilt) and then it will jump to a position that is probably on the other side of what you want. It’s very frustrating. And made worse by:
- If you are looking to use the tilt to increase the depth-of-field, you need to use manual focus and zoom in on the lower edge of the frame. Then you slowly change tilt until that part of the frame is in focus. At least, that’s they methodology I found on-line. However, LUMIX bodies only allow a 6x magnification if you want to see the edge of the frame. Anything above 6x and you can only magnify areas within a rectangle that covers about 60% of the center of the frame. So you have to rely on the edge highlighting to guess what the correct position is, and that is made super-frustrating by the above “move-jump-move back-jump again” sequence.

On top of all this, the shift range is limited, so if you are using the lens in portrait mode, again attempting to use tilt to maximize depth-of-field, and then want to shift it to get a nice, wide angle-of-view (after stitching of course), it won’t go as wide as you’d like it to. At least, as wide as I want it to.

I’m happy to be educated by anybody who has a better methodology, but I find the lens of limited utility for increasing the depth-of-field. For other uses, it might just be dandy.

But it does work with the S1RII.

The traditional Canon tilt shift lenses should work okay with a Canon to L Mount adapter and they have precision adjustment for both tilt and shift. I have used them on Canon cameras and they work as expected. But of course they are not cheap. I see the 17mm at $2399 on B&H. You might be able to find a used one.

Thanks for all for the input. It sounds like if I do go for it I might be better holding out for a second hand Canon 17mm TSE. I’ve already got an adapter I use successfully with the 24mm TSE II which isn’t always wide enough for interiors.

Thanks angain everyone. Really appreciate your insights.