Laowa DJI DL and XCD Mount Options for Wide-Angle Lenses Added

Lens News

by Omri Keren LapidotMay 7^th, 2024

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Laowa added DJI DL and Hasselblad XCD mount options to five of their current ultra-wide lenses (two for the DL mount and three for the XCD mount). The new DL options consist of the Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL and the Laowa 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D. Both lenses are full-frame lenses, so they will work with both the DJI Ronin 4D and the Zenmuse X9-8K module on the Inspire 3. The XCD trio consists of the 15mm f/4.5 and 20mm f/4 adapted DSLR shift lenses, and the 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D, covering the larger sensor.

Laowa is amongst the most innovative lens manufacturers on the market. Having recently announced their first autofocus lens, the company usually makes mechanical, non-electronic lenses. The last year saw the debut of various cine lenses. The Nanomorph zoom and prime lines, Proteus x2 anamorphic set, Ranger, Ranger S35, and Ranger lite, all expand the envelope of relatively affordable cine gear. With this announcement, Laowa goes back to their humbler origins, adapting current mechanical lenses to some modern mounts. There’s more than one way to push the envelope.

DL mount lenses

Laowa DJI DL ultra-wide lenses, the Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL, and the Laowa 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D. While both lenses already exist with most mirrorless mounts (L, RF, Z, M, E) and are already easily adaptable with DJI’s DL modules, the new mount saves some bulk and extra steps. Both lenses are quite compact with the 11mm weighing 206g and the 14mm weighing only 186g. With 126° and 114° angles of view for the 11mm and the 14mm respectively, they offer much wider alternatives compared with genuine DL lenses.

No autofocus, no problem

The purely mechanical nature of these Laowa DJI DL ultra-wide lenses may seem challenging, but it’s not as big a problem as one may initially perceive. Drone footage usually works fine when focused on infinity. The extremely wide focal length and relatively slow aperture fortify this practice further.

The Ronin 4D would probably do fine with hyperfocal workflow, but if autofocus is needed, the LiDAR system should be able to provide it.

Who they are for

The new 11mm / 14mm Laowa DJI DL ultra-wide duo provides high-end drone operators (mostly Inspire 3) and Ronin 4D operators with the widest possible angle of view. They do so while keeping the price relatively low, and although omitting autofocus, it’s an arguably unnecessary feature for their intended use case. With no direct alternatives regarding field of view, size, and price, the Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL and the Laowa 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D occupy a unique spot in the market.

Medium format ultra-wide-angle lenses

As we’ve come to expect, Laowa’s medium format trio also breaks some boundaries. But unlike the new DL lenses, here things aren’t as easy. Let’s start with the specs. Laowa offers three ultra wide-angle lenses for Hasselblad XCD cameras boasting a 33x44mm medium format sensor (same as the one found in FUJIFILM’s GFX cameras). These are the three available lenses:

• 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift
• 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D
• 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift

Significantly wider than anything in Hasselblad’s XCD line, this trio broadens the mount’s scope regarding available focal lengths. Not only are the lenses wide, but two of them also add a shift functionality, still missing from Hasselblad’s current crop. Seems like a no-brainer for landscape or architecture photographers.

Photography vs. videography

Hasselblad chose to omit video functionality from their recent XCD cameras although both the 907X 100C and the X2D 100C use a sensor similar to the one found in FUJIFILM’s GFX 100 line. CineD readers are well aware of the impressive video quality coming from this sensor, yet Hasselblad did not incorporate any video features in their latest and greatest. While we can end here, I believe at least some of our audience continues to shoot stills from time to time, so let me elaborate just a bit more.

Lenses are more than numbers

Laowa’s new lenses do expand the scope of available focal lengths for the XCD system. The lenses also cost a fraction of most Hasselblad’s XCD lenses (save for their widest current lens, the XCD 28mm f/4 P lens). But these extreme optical features combined with the competitive price pose their own compromise. The Laowa lenses are completely mechanical. No autofocus or EXIF data. While made entirely out of metal, they aren’t as tight as Hasselblad’s lenses. But most importantly – they optically fall short.

Few photographers go as far as purchasing a medium-format camera, let alone a Hasselblad. As one who took that step towards a medium format FUJIFILM GFX100s, I can say firsthand – it’s rarely logical. Full-frame cameras will get you 90% of the way regarding image quality. They’ll be faster, more reliable, and considerably cheaper. Full-frame lenses are significantly more affordable, abundant, and versatile. Considerable effort and expense usually come with high standards, especially regarding pristine image quality.

Who is it for

Laowa targets landscape and architecture photographers with the new 15mm f/4.5 Shift, 19mm f/2.8, and 20mm f/4 Shift lenses. With no in-house Hasselblad lenses to challenge them, the trio holds its ground. However, there are some caveats. All lenses struggle to resolve the level of detail required for a medium format sensor, be it a 50mp or a 100mp. Both the 15mm shift and 20mm shift were originally designed for full-frame DSLRs. This means extreme shifts might result in dark corners and optical degradation in the corners. This also means adapting an EF / Nikon F lens may prove more flexible and future-proof. That said – if you want an ultra-wide field of view or Shift functionality on a Hasselblad you’re left with few alternatives.

Alternatives

Laowa cleverly took advantage of the 33×44 sensor being just slightly larger (70%) than the 24×36 full-frame sensor. While Hasselblad doesn’t make comparable lenses, one can easily find full-frame tilt-shift lenses from Canon, Nikon, and others. While generally pricier, these will elevate both usability (with EXIF data and electronic aperture control) and optical qualities. They also add tilt functionality, significantly expanding creative options. If you’re in for the faster, shiftless 19mm f/2.8, you may find interesting alternatives with old DSLR wide zoom lenses such as the Tokina Opera 16-28mm f/2.8. While not a medium format lens per se, it will cover the entire sensor at around 21-22mm and provide autofocus, electronic aperture control, and EXIF data. Its older model is my lens of choice for wide-angle photography on my FUJIFILM GFX100s.

Price and availability

The Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL (DJI DL mount) will cost $549 and the Laowa 14mm f/4 FF
RL will set you back $449. The XCD Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift will cost $1,199. The Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift will cost $1,099 and the Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D is priced at $999. Pricing varies across the world. All lenses are available through Laowa and authorized resellers.

Will you equip your Inspire 3 or Ronin 4D with lenses so wide? Is electronic connectivity an issue for you? Let us know in the comments.