Laowa 18/ 0.95 vs Voigtländer 17.5/ 0.95

Also posted this over at Dpreview while we still can.

Has anyone tried both of these?  I just found a very good deal on the Voigtländer 17.5 and went for it.  I do like the lens and it gives me some new enthusiam with my MFT collection, I really enjoy the character this lens creates.  Something I have been missing with my MFT gear (vs my Fuji gear), the jpegs of my G9 have a more documentary look vs the artistic look my Fuji gear gives me.

Just after I bought the lens I learned about the Laowa 18/ 0.95 and some reviews say it is even sharper than the Voigtländer with even more 3D pop.  I got my Voigtländer at a very nice price and can easily sell it for what I bought it for.  The Laowa is hard to find used so I don't want to buy it to try it and then sell (which is easy with used lenses).

So if anyone has tried both lenses, let me know your thoughts, thanks!

Beware of sample variation.

Oh, and "3D pop" has many factors, composition, perspective, color, DoF, etc.
It's not a lens property, contrary to what some want to believe.

I'm happy with the Olympus 17mm f/1.2, much faster focussing with autofocus. 😉
(And for minimal DoF there's the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art, on an FF sensor.)

From what I shoot, & what I've seen, I really think it does have something to do with the lens for sure. I've got quite a few prime lenses that overlap in focal length -or that close to it that it doesn't matter, & some just never seem to produce that look, no matter the light or subject. For example, I have the Lumix 25mm, PL 25mm & Siggy 30 1.4, & I've never seen the Lumix 25 give what the Siggy 30 & PL 25 do.

Interesting observation. Thanks!

Years ago I did some test shootings to compare PL 25/1.4, Oly 25/1.8, and Sigma 30/1.4. Although I noticed subtle differences (e.g. in color rendition and bokeh) "3D pop" was not apparent to me.

Since then I sold the PL 25, and bought the Lumix 25/1.7 and Oly 25/1.2. Eventually I'll test them together with the Sigma 30/1.4, and will check for any apparent differences in "3D pop" I might find.

You don't get it all the time with certain lenses, you're quite correct that it seems to be light & composition/Aperture dependant that gives it, and I think it may also be something to do with the body used as well. Or the sensor anyway. I think I see it more with my G100's & G9, which I think is related to the lack of AA filter on those bodies. Compared to my older GX8 anyway. I'm only surmising/guessing here, but it's just what I've seen.

I like the character of Loxia, Laowa and Voigtlaender lenses. Janet (jalywol) has a great eye for rendering and recommended the PL25/1.4. I like the character of that a lot too.

So far no-one seems to have both of the two lenses OP was asking about. From reviews they look quite different. I’m sure I’d end up keeping both of them, if I tried them both out.

Since this isn’t my favourite focal length, I’ve kept fast 35mm to my FF system. Now the Laowa 10/2 is a really nice lens for the price.

Andrew

Sorry, can't help you with the Laowa, all I can say is that I'm very happy with my 17.5mm Voigtlander. But a general comment: this sounds to me like "the grass is greener on the other side" syndrome. There will always be some other piece of equipment to chase, but the real joy is in actually getting to use what you've bought. The Laowa can wait, why not spend some more time with the Voigtlander and enjoy it?

Well, generally I agree with you, absolutely. But I literally just learned about the Laowa after I bought my Voigtländer and there is still very little information out there about it. Should the Laowa be significantly better (sharper, more "character". more pop etc.), why would I not want to go for it instead?
I am not sure about the Voigtländer yet. Its one of those lenses I think that need to grow on you. Overall it is an interesting lens and I have taken a few pictures that do give me that wow factor, but I am not sure yet if I am going to keep it.