Filmmaker Video Reviews

If it breathes • or has rolling shutter • we can review it

As active working filmmakers we love cameras, lens and filmmaking technology, and spend a lot of time finding the combinations that work for us and the way we make films.
In our reviews we try to give fellow filmmakers our honest experiences using a specific piece of technology, the pros, the cons and the value for money. Our reviews will range from new cameras and lenses, to classic pieces like vintage lenses, filters or even custom made kit.

August 16, 2019

Venus Optics - Laowa 4mm F2.8 Fisheye MFT (Micro Four Thirds) Review

August 16, 2019/ Daniel Fox

Who needs a 4mm fisheye lens, with such crazy wide images and insane levels of distortion? Can this lens be used for filmmaking, or is it simply a fun gimmicky lens?

TstopGear takes a detailed look at the Laowa 4mm and how - in the HD crop mode and at high frame rates - it can be used to produce some totally unique images on the BMPCC4K.

All footage was shot in HQ ProRes, with only minor colour correction to adjust for exposure. No creative grade or "film look" has been applied. Full review coming soon from TstopGear.

Filmed and edited by Daniel J. Fox of TstopGear.

You can order the lens direct from Venus Optics website.

If a manufacturer has sent us a new piece of kit to test, we will always state this in our review, but we are never paid to review items. Reviews will always be our honest reaction to a piece of kit… as working filmmakers we can only recommend something that we ourselves would use on a film shoot or commercial job.

You can watch recent videos by clicking on any of the images on this page or to view our entire catalogue visit our Youtube Channel. Reviews are divided up into easy to navigate playlist.

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Filmmaker Video Reviews

If it breathes • or has rolling shutter • we can review it

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TstopGear is a trading name of CNP Media Ltd.