Laowa has pulled the covers off a new lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras that will make bokeh lovers look twice. This is because the new Argus 33mm CF APO is a prime optic that features an ultra-fast maximum aperture of f/0.95.
There’s more to the name of this lens than many may realise as Laowa explains that; ‘The ‘Argus’ name was originally from the Greek mythology and was the name of a vigilant guardian with a hundred eyes and an “all-seeing” sight. The name represents the ultra-bright f/0.95 aperture of the lenses and the exceptional image quality they deliver.’
While the name is cool, it’s the image quality photographers will be more interested in and the Argus 33mm f/0.95 CF APO is built to impress, with a construction that includes one Extra-low Dispersion Glass, one Aspherical Lens and three Ultra High Refraction Glass to suppress both lateral and longitudinal chromatic aberration.
Thanks to the 1.5x crop factor on APS-C sensors, the 33mm focal length switches up to 50mm, making the lens prefecture for portraiture. This is further backed up by that fast f/0.95 aperture and 9-bladed aperture design that will not only create shallow depths of field, but also that attractive bokeh that portrait photographers seek. In the field, that fast maximum aperture will also enable photographers to work handheld, even in low light conditions, without worrying about slow shutter speeds introducing blur into the frame.
With a minimum focusing distance of just 35cm, photographers will be able to get in close and fill the frame with their subject and, despite the fast glass, the lens is relatively lightweight and compact, measuring just 71.5mm long and tipping the scales at only 590g.
The Argus 33mm f/0.95 CF APO is available in fitment for Fuji X, Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon R cameras and photographers don’t have long to wait before they can shoot that bokeh as the lens is expected to ship from mid May with a price tag of around $499.
