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Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe Lens for Sony E

BH #VE2414FE • MFR #VE2414FE
50 reviews
Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe Lens for Sony E
Key Features
  • E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/14 to f/40
  • Two Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
  • One Extra Refractive Index Element
Described as "weird but genius," the Sony E-mount Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe from Venus Optics is a truly unique lens designed for close-up shooting. Distinguished by its long, slender lens barrel, this macro lens provides a 2:1 maximum magnification with a 1.5' minimum focusing distance and a close 0.8" minimum working distance. Even with such a close working distance, the lens measures 1.3' long, placing you at a comfortable distance to photograph nearby subjects. Also, as a wide-angle lens, greater depth of field is afforded when compared to traditional telephoto macro lenses, which allows for greater detail in the background with less subject isolation.
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Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Macro Probe Overview

Described as "weird but genius," the Sony E-mount Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe from Venus Optics is a truly unique lens designed for close-up shooting. Distinguished by its long, slender lens barrel, this macro lens provides a 2:1 maximum magnification with a 1.5' minimum focusing distance and a close 0.8" minimum working distance. Even with such a close working distance, the lens measures 1.3' long, placing you at a comfortable distance to photograph nearby subjects. Also, as a wide-angle lens, greater depth of field is afforded when compared to traditional telephoto macro lenses, which allows for greater detail in the background with less subject isolation.

The optical design includes both extra-low dispersion and extra refractive index elements, which help to suppress chromatic and spherical aberrations for a high degree of clarity, color accuracy, and sharpness. Manual focus control permits focusing from 1.5' to infinity, and the front of the lens has a built-in LED ring light to aid in focusing at close distances. The slim 0.2" diameter of the front of the lens barrel also offers greater opportunities for lighting subjects from the front. Additionally, the front portion of the lens is waterproof, and permits working with subjects just beneath the surface of water or in other dusty or trying environments.

Wide-angle prime is designed for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras but can also be used with APS-C models where it will provide a 36mm equivalent focal length.
Unique macro lens design offers a greater-than-life-size 2:1 maximum magnification along with a minimum focusing distance of 1.5' and a working distance of just 0.8".
The long, tubular lens barrel contributes to producing a distinct bug-eye perspective and, despite the short working distance, the length of the lens barrel places the camera at a comfortable shooting distance.
Wide-angle 24mm focal length affords greater depth of field and more surrounding detail than traditional telephoto macro designs, which tend to isolate subject matter with shallow depth of field.
Optical design includes two extra-low dispersion elements that control color fringing and chromatic aberrations in order to produce greater clarity and color accuracy. One extra refractive index element is also featured, which reduces spherical aberrations and distortion for improved sharpness and accurate rendering.
Slim 0.8" front diameter allows performing unique "slide-in" shots as well as affords a greater range of close-up, inconspicuous shooting opportunities. The smaller front diameter also makes it easier to illuminate close-up subjects from the front.
The front of the lens is also waterproof, allowing you to comfortably work just under the surface of water or in dusty environments.
The front of the lens also has a built-in LED ring light, which is powered via a micro-USB port on the barrel, to provide some illumination on close-up subjects for easier focusing.
Designed for use as a close-up, macro lens, the manual focus operation also lets you focus at infinity.
Seven-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality.

Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Macro Probe Specs

Focal Length24mm
Maximum Aperturef/14
Minimum Aperturef/40
Lens MountSony E
Lens Format CoverageFull-Frame
Angle of View85°
Minimum Focus Distance1.54' / 47 cm
Maximum Magnification2x
Macro Reproduction Ratio2:1
Optical Design27 Elements in 19 Groups
Diaphragm Blades7
Focus TypeManual Focus
Image StabilizationNo
Filter SizeNone
Dimensions (ø x L)1.5 x 16.06" / 38 x 408 mm
Weight1.04 lb / 474 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight5.435 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)22.6 x 7.3 x 5.7"

Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Macro Probe Reviews

A very unique lens!

By Elena
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-11

This is such a unique lens and offers an incredibly interesting perspective! I love that it's water-proof! I've tried it only for a few video clips already but I love the macro wide angle, such a cool perspective!

great macro

By Jose Antonio
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-25

best macro ever!

Great lens for very limited applications

By Charles
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-01-10

I saw an article where a guy was taking photos inside an old violin and was enthralled. Must have been cut and paste or magic. Not so - this lens goes through th ehose where base support is and has a light ring installed at the end. I am now trying to figure out other applications. I'll do another review after I've used it some more. Very well designed and engineered. Need to do focus stacking in post-processing. More to come with photos

Super fun.

By Jon
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-12-30

I've only been able to use this lens a little bit but already love it. It is a fun way to take macro pictures.

Unique Lens

By Justin
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-11-01

Great lens for unique photo opportunities

Crazy fun lens

By Nina
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-09-20

This is definitely a niche lens but fun to use. It provides a very different perspective.

A new way to do Macro

By Jeff
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-06-28

I'm primarily a video producer, but also do a fair amount of commercial photography. This lens offers a unique perspective that other macro lenses just can't deliver. The image quality is fantastic and the 24mm allows for immersive videos and photos allow you to explore the world from the perspective of an ant. The probe lens reaches places other macro lens cannot and the light can be powered by a rechargeable, portable power pack for light in any macro environment. I rented this lens, but just had to buy one to have on multiple upcoming projects.

Great lens!

By Chris
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-06-15

This lens is unique and a challenge. I use this for standard macro and chase a lot of insects. Oddly enough the smaller profile scares a lot less of them off. The challenge is YOU. You are 100% in control being it's manual and if you're intending to do the same as I, you are not on a safe tripod nor a set of rails running it through the pages of a book for the 1000th public example *yawn. But that is the pleasure of it. You'll refine your own skill set within the process. Getting the correct amount of light, positioning your lens for the correct DOF for your subject, accompanied with finding the fine line of precise focus. All controlled by your body & hand position. That's the biggest takeaway, it's not an easy button lens if you're going to chase around our macro friends. But it is gratifying when you get the shot. The LEDs are sufficient. I do have a small strobe on a small tripod as well but chasing insects and such, the strobe doesn't compliment the process well so I rely on the LEDs often. The light it gives isn't great for color but that's moot if you're shooting RAW. Overall it's a great lens and is much less intimidating to the macro world vs. a standard macro lens and your face. The optics are good as well, if a photo is off there's a 99.9% chance it's you, not the glass. But that's pretty normal lens commentary. These were all shot on a D850.

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It is Compatible with Sony a6400?

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Do I need a Slider to use the lens?

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Asked by: Nicolás
You mean to shoot movies? If so then I find it is hard to get smooth clips without a tripod and/or slider because the end is so far from the camera it is impossible to keep it steady. But I mostly used this for stills so far, it takes outstanding stills just holding it by hand and I don't use a macro slider. I am shooting stationary subjects underwater, so the advantage of being able to maneuver it into tight spots makes attaching it to more gear sort of unappealing.
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Hi, would i be able to adapt this lens to a ...

Hi, would i be able to adapt this lens to a BMPCC4K (black magic pocket4k) Word and adapter?
Asked by: Mario
Yes, one can adapt the Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe Lens for Canon EF to a Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K using a few different adapters such as: https://bhpho.to/2KTNKQT or https://bhpho.to/2bMLA0u .
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I have both a Nikon D800 and a Canon Rebel T7I. You sell adapters to convert one to the other, so which lens mount should I get and which adapter so the lens could technically work on either?
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There are only adapters going from Nikon F to a Canon EOS body such as the FotodioX Pro Lens Mount Adapter for Nikon F Lens to Canon EF-Mount Camera, B&H # FOPCEANF. That being said you can go with the Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe Lens for Nikon F for your D800 and adapt to the T7i when needed. https://bhpho.to/2k1eTpP https://bhpho.to/2lVBp3X
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