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Bringing Zooms to Macro: Laowa Probe Zooms
- Author: Sam Jorgensen
Laowa and Cine Visuals Present: Laowa Probe Zooms
Cinematic Heritage
Laowa is the brand name of the lenses crafted by Venus Optics. Founded in 2013, the team at Venus Optics set out to develop cinematic lenses at an affordable price for filmmakers. Early on, they focused much of their R&D into creating niche use-case lenses at an affordable price, which is what they have become known for. Two areas they decided to focus their attention on were wide-angle rectilinear lenses and macro cinematography. Macro shooting has been part of filmmaking since the beginning, but typically requires heavy and/or cumbersome optical equipment to be used effectively. Inspired by inventions such as a Frazier Lens System, Laowa wanted to take the heart and soul of these progressions and put it into a more ergonomic, accessible, and affordable package.
In 2018, they announced the first Laowa Probe Lens. No taking lens required, no heavy support needed. An all-in-one lightweight design with the lens and probe system built-in. The design created a wide-angle deep focus perspective, giving a sought after perspective in macro filmmaking in an user-friendly package. The lens became an instant hit.
Yet, Venus Optics remained committed to their goals. Improving on their Probe Lens design, at the NAB convention in 2025, Laowa announced a whole new upgrade to their probe system, introducing the Laowa Probe Zoom Kit. In an effort to add even greater flexibility, they added a 15-35mm T12 and 15-24mm T8 zoom taking lens with four lightweight and flexible probe attachments for four different angles and perspectives.
Image Fidelity & Focus
As with Laowa’s commitment to bringing sharp images to often fringe needs, the Laowa Probe Zooms bring a sharp, crisp appearance from edge-to-edge of frame. Designed with the desire to bring the macro world into an accessible format, the glass is able to present a wide and clean image in a small compact format. For usage in situations where the lens needs to be in a place normal cinema lenses struggle to reach while still presenting a wide, clean image. These lenses have excellent deep focus that maintains a sharpness in depth. This allows the filmmaker to create and capture worlds on the macro scale and bring them into a field of view that feels wide and grand.
Handling & Adaptability
Designed with ease-of-use in mind, the Laowa Probe Zooms take the ultimate leap in accessibility. With both zooms offering a 15mm base to their zoom, they are now both some of the widest probe lenses available anywhere. Both the 15-35mm and 15-24mm offer a flexible range that gives the filmmaker the ability to quickly re-adjust and re-frame their images without having to move the camera. The zoom options allow for a more flexible approach with the 15-35mm offering a wider range of focal lengths whereas the 15-24mm rated with T8 (as opposed the former’s T12) gives the filmmaker more wiggle room in their lighting setups. An incredible increase in options from the original 24mm T14 Laowa probe lens.
For each zoom lens, which now acts as a sort of taking lens, there are four probe attachment options. Three are fixed angles with the fourth being an added periscope, similar in nature to the rotating flexibility of the Frazier Lens System or P+S Technik’s Skater Scope. The first is the now tried and true 0 degree view with the probe lens at the same angle as the sensor. The second is a 35 degree view probe attachment. This gives the filmmaker the ability to obtain cinematic low angle and high angle perspectives without great difficulty in changing the camera’s position. The 35 degree view is particularly useful in miniature situations when the camera would otherwise have to be lower than the object being photographed. The third is a 90 degree view for difficult to reach side perspectives, top-down, or worm’s eye view. The last is a periscope similar to the function of the P+S Technik Skater Scope, Frazier Lens System, and the Raptor Scope. This last one gives the probe lens the advantage that these other, heavier systems offer in a lighter and yet cinematic perspective.
Macro setups are often complicated in nature whether that be miniature work with delicate and precise designs in a studio or photographing insects or other small aspects of nature out in the wild. The ability to maximize options and precision in a more timely manner is one of the most advantageous aspects for a filmmaker.
Image Circle
Despite their small, lightweight design, these compact lenses cover an impressive Full Frame image circle, able to cover ARRI LF, Sony FF, and RED VV. These lenses are adaptable and work with a wide range of cinema cameras and budgets allowing productions flexibility in workflow whether they are using a single Super 35mm sensor or a wide range of capture formats and sizes.
Flare & Bokeh
The Laowa Probe lenses have minimal flaring and distortion, allowing for a crisp sharp image in a small compact form. With the design focusing on deep space, the bokeh is kept to a minimum especially due to the slow nature of each zoom lens with their native T8 and T12 respectively. In this way, the image is allowed to be brought to places it otherwise would be unable to venture.
These lenses are available for rent at Cine Visuals. For inquiries or testing appointments email info@cinevisuals.com or call (323) 244-2552.