Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 FF 35mm

The Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 lands in the 100th percentile for bokeh and 99th for aperture, making it a top-tier choice for dreamy portraits and low-light shooting. But optical sharpness is middling, build quality is in the bottom quarter, and you'll have to live without autofocus or EXIF data. It's a character lens at a fair price, if you're okay with its quirks.

The f/0.95 aperture is the star here. It lets in over 2.5 times more light than an f/1.4 lens, which makes it a beast for astrophotography and low-light scenes. In our database, that aperture size lands in the 99th percentile. Bokeh is where this lens really shines. The 15-blade aperture produces buttery smooth out-of-focus areas, earning a perfect 100th percentile score. You'll get those creamy backgrounds that make portraits pop. But sharpness at f/0.95 is, well, dreamy in the wrong way. Optical performance is only average (53rd percentile), and the lens is quite soft until you stop down to f/1.4 or f/2.0. Purple fringing is also a real issue wide open, so plan on some post-processing cleanup. For video, the de-clicked aperture option is a nice touch, letting you smoothly adjust exposure without clicks.

Stacked against zooms like the Nikon Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR or the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, this Laowa is in a completely different world. Those lenses offer versatility, stabilization, and autofocus but can't touch the Argus's f/0.95 aperture or bokeh quality. The Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN is faster than a kit zoom but still nearly three stops slower. If you want the shallowest depth of field possible on a Z-mount, there's nothing else like it. The trade-off is you're giving up all modern conveniences: no image stabilization, no autofocus, and a build that feels less refined than a Nikon S-line lens. It's a special-purpose tool, not a daily driver.

Prices swing from $649 to $889 across retailers, a $240 spread. At the low end, it's a decent deal for the f/0.95 experience, especially if you're shooting northern lights or portraits where character matters more than clinical sharpness. At the high end, you're edging into territory where a used autofocus f/1.4 prime could be had, and you'd gain weather sealing and EXIF data. I'd wait for a sale or snap up the $649 listing.

At f/0.95, this lens sits in the 99th percentile for aperture among every lens we've tested. Bokeh is literally top of the charts, 100th percentile, thanks to a 15-blade diaphragm and a design that prioritizes character over clinical sharpness. That's the heart of the Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95. But don't expect autofocus or weather sealing. This is a manual focus prime that weighs 754g, with no stabilization and a build quality that's landed in the 24th percentile. If you're after a dreamy, shallow depth-of-field look for portraits or astrophotography, it's a compelling tool. If you need a grab-and-go walkaround lens, you'll be fighting its quirks.

The optical performance sits at a middling 53rd percentile, which tells you sharpness wide open isn't its strong suit. Users confirm it's soft at f/0.95 with noticeable purple fringing. But stop down a bit and images clean up nicely. It's a lens that trades resolving power for that one-of-a-kind rendering no f/1.8 zoom can match. At $649 to $889 depending on the retailer, you're paying for that f/0.95 magic and all its quirks.

If you need autofocus for fast-paced shooting or you rely on EXIF data for cataloging, skip this lens. Its stabilization and build quality percentiles are in the bottom third, making it a poor choice for travel or run-and-gun video. And if you're bothered by purple fringing and don't want to correct it in post, look at an f/1.4 or f/1.8 prime instead. This lens leans hard into its niche, and it's not for everyone.

The Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 is a niche lens that delivers exactly what it promises: an ultra-bright aperture and spectacular bokeh. It's one of the best lenses we've tested for rendering dreamy out-of-focus areas, and astrophotographers will love the light-gathering ability. But you have to accept softness wide open, purple fringing, and potential build quality quirks. If that trade-off fits your creative vision, and you can snag it near the $649 mark, it's a fun addition to your bag. If you need a reliable workhorse, look elsewhere.