Laowa Argus 25/0.95 APO M4/3

The fully manual Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 MFT APO prime features a full metal body with a 62mm front filter thread, internal focusing system, APO optical structure and a 300° focusing range.

An ultra-fast prime lens is a very useful tool, especially for sub- to full-frame sensors, as it can help achieve shallower depth of field on smaller sensors.

Optically, the 25mm Argus is an APO design and consists of 14 elements divided into 8 groups with 1 aspherical lens, 1 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass and 3 UHR (Ultra High Refractive) elements. Thanks to this optical structure, Venus Optics claims that the lens can produce sharp images even when fully open, minimizing chromatic aberration throughout the frame.

The lens has a 9-blade aperture that goes from f/0.95 to f/11. The minimum focus distance is 25cm (9.8″). To make this fully manual lens more suitable for video use, Venus Optics provided the following features:

• Internal Focusing System – Ensures that the front element does not rotate and does not move from side to side when focusing. In addition, it prevents dust from falling inside the lens.
• Minimal Focus Breathing – Thanks to the internal focusing system, the lens features low focus breathing. This feature is very useful as the lens will make a less jerky movement when changing focus.
• 300° focus – Having a wider focus is useful for more precise manual focus with or without a follow focus system.

The lens barrel is made entirely of metal and has a 62mm front filter thread. The aperture and focus rings have deep grooves for better handling. The dimensions of the lens are 71 x 86mm (2.8 x 3.4”) and it weighs 570g (1.25lbs).