Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO § 03 Head to head
Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO vs Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical
Laowa 18mm f/0.95 has a longer reach. Voigtlander 17.5mm f/0.95 has a wider field of view.
Both lenses are made for the Micro Four Thirds mount: the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO is an 18mm f/0.95 prime, and the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical is a 17.5mm f/0.95 prime. On paper the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical comes out ahead, 4 advantages to 3, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.
Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO 
Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical 01
Key differences
Why is the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO better than the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical?
- Longer reach (18mm vs 17.5mm)
- 40 g lighter (500 g vs 540 g)
- Newer design (2022 vs 2012)
Why is the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical better than the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO?
- Wider field of view (17.5mm vs 18mm)
- Focuses 5 cm closer (0.15 m vs 0.2 m)
- More aperture blades (10 vs 9)
- Smaller filter thread (58 mm vs 62 mm)
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Which should you buy?
- landscape For landscape photography, the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical has the edge: it goes wider, to 17.5mm against 18mm.
- architecture For architecture, the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical has the edge: it goes wider, to 17.5mm against 18mm.
- astrophotography For astrophotography, the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical has the edge: it goes wider, to 17.5mm against 18mm.
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Specification
| Specification | Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO | Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 18mm | 17.5mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/0.95 | f/0.95 |
| Minimum aperture | f/11 | f/16 |
| Lens type | Prime lens | Prime lens |
| Format | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weight | 500 g ◆ | 540 g (19.05 oz) |
| Dimensions | 83 x 80 mm | 63.4 x 80 mm |
| Minimum focusing distance | 0.2 m | 0.15 m (5.91 inches) ◆ |
| Image stabilization | No | No |
| Aperture ring | — | Yes |
| Aperture blades | 9 | 10 ◆ |
| Optical construction | 14 elements / 8 groups | 13 elements / 9 groups |
| Filter size | 62 mm | 58 mm ◆ |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Released | 2022 | 2012 |
| Price | $449 launch price | — |
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Size
- A · Venus
- B · Voigtlander
- 80 × 83 mm
- 80 × 63.4 mm
The Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical is 40 g heavier than the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO.
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Sample frames
Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical
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Video reviews
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Questions
- Which is lighter, the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO or the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical?
- The Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO weighs 500 g, 40 g less than the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical (540 g).
- Which focuses closer, the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO or the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical?
- The Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical focuses down to 0.15 m, against 0.2 m for the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO.
- Do the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO and the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical have image stabilization?
- No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.
- Is the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO or the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical better for landscape photography?
- For landscape photography, the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical has the edge: it goes wider, to 17.5mm against 18mm.
- Is the Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 18 mm f/0.95 MFT APO or the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical better for architecture?
- For architecture, the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical has the edge: it goes wider, to 17.5mm against 18mm.