DZO Vespid 12mm: A Comprehensive Review of This Ultra-Wide Cine Lens
The DZO Vespid 12mm T2.8 lens has quickly become a talking point in the cinematography world. Known for its compact design, impressive image quality, and affordable price point, it’s attracting both seasoned professionals and aspiring filmmakers. This review delves into the features, performance, and overall value proposition of the DZO Vespid 12mm, providing a detailed analysis to help you decide if it’s the right lens for your needs. The DZO Vespid 12mm promises a lot, and this article aims to deliver on understanding what makes it a great lens.
Overview of the DZO Vespid Prime Lens Series
Before diving deep into the DZO Vespid 12mm specifically, it’s crucial to understand where it fits within the broader Vespid Prime lens series. DZOFilm, the manufacturer, designed the Vespid primes to offer a balance between affordability and high-end performance. The series covers a range of focal lengths, all sharing a consistent aesthetic, mechanical design, and color rendition. This makes them a great choice for filmmakers looking to build a cohesive lens set without breaking the bank. The DZO Vespid 12mm is the widest lens in this lineup, providing an incredibly broad field of view.
Key Features and Specifications of the DZO Vespid 12mm
Let’s break down the core specifications and features that make the DZO Vespid 12mm stand out:
- Focal Length: 12mm
- Aperture: T2.8 to T22
- Image Circle: Covers Super35 sensors (and some larger sensors in open gate modes)
- Mount: Available in PL and EF mounts (interchangeable)
- Close Focus: 0.25m (approximately 10 inches)
- Weight: Around 750g (1.65 lbs)
- Front Diameter: 80mm
- Gear Pitch: Industry-standard 0.8 MOD
- Optical Design: Multi-coated elements for flare control and sharpness
These specs highlight several key advantages. The T2.8 aperture allows for decent low-light performance and shallow depth of field when desired. The wide 12mm focal length is perfect for capturing expansive landscapes, architectural shots, or creating a sense of immersion. The lens’s relatively compact size and weight make it suitable for gimbal work and handheld shooting. The DZO Vespid 12mm is clearly designed for versatility.
Image Quality and Performance
The most critical aspect of any lens is its image quality. The DZO Vespid 12mm delivers impressive results, especially considering its price point. Here’s a breakdown of its key performance characteristics:
Sharpness
The lens exhibits good sharpness across the frame, even at wider apertures. While there’s a slight drop-off in sharpness towards the extreme corners, it’s generally well-controlled. Stopping down to T4 or T5.6 further improves sharpness and resolves finer details. The DZO Vespid 12mm provides usable sharpness even wide open.
Distortion
As with most ultra-wide lenses, the DZO Vespid 12mm exhibits some degree of distortion. It presents a noticeable barrel distortion, which causes straight lines to appear curved, particularly towards the edges of the frame. This distortion is correctable in post-production using software like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. Knowing this, you can plan your shots accordingly. While the distortion is present, it’s within acceptable limits for most applications.
Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration, or color fringing, is generally well-controlled in the DZO Vespid 12mm. You might observe slight fringing in high-contrast areas, but it’s typically minimal and easily removed in post-production. This is a testament to the lens’s optical design and coating.
Flare
The lens handles flare reasonably well, thanks to its multi-coated elements. When shooting directly into a bright light source, you’ll likely encounter some flare, but it tends to be aesthetically pleasing and cinematic rather than distracting. The DZO Vespid 12mm produces organic-looking flares.
Bokeh
Given its ultra-wide focal length, the DZO Vespid 12mm isn’t typically used for creating shallow depth of field with creamy bokeh. However, when shooting at its minimum focus distance, you can achieve some separation between the subject and the background. The bokeh is generally smooth and pleasing, although it’s not the primary strength of this lens.
Build Quality and Handling
The DZO Vespid 12mm boasts a solid build quality. The lens housing is made of metal, giving it a robust and durable feel. The focus and aperture rings are smooth and well-damped, providing precise control. The lens is also relatively compact and lightweight, making it comfortable to use for extended periods. The interchangeable PL and EF mounts add to its versatility, allowing it to be used with a wide range of cameras.
Comparing the DZO Vespid 12mm to Other Ultra-Wide Lenses
The ultra-wide lens market offers several alternatives to the DZO Vespid 12mm. Here’s a brief comparison to some of its competitors:
- Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D: Another popular ultra-wide option, known for its excellent distortion control. However, it’s typically more expensive than the DZO Vespid 12mm.
- Tokina Cinema Vista 16mm T1.5: A wider and faster lens, but significantly larger, heavier, and more expensive.
- ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8: A top-of-the-line lens with exceptional image quality, but comes with a very high price tag.
The DZO Vespid 12mm strikes a good balance between performance, price, and size, making it a compelling option for filmmakers on a budget.
Who is the DZO Vespid 12mm For?
The DZO Vespid 12mm is well-suited for a variety of filmmaking applications:
- Landscape and Architectural Photography: Its wide field of view is perfect for capturing sweeping vistas and grand architectural structures.
- Documentary Filmmaking: It allows you to establish a sense of place and immerse the viewer in the environment.
- Narrative Filmmaking: It can be used to create dramatic perspectives and emphasize scale.
- Low-Budget Filmmakers: Its affordable price point makes it accessible to independent filmmakers and students.
If you’re looking for a versatile and high-performing ultra-wide lens without breaking the bank, the DZO Vespid 12mm is definitely worth considering. [See also: Best Budget Cine Lenses of 2024]
Pros and Cons of the DZO Vespid 12mm
To summarize, here’s a list of the pros and cons of the DZO Vespid 12mm:
Pros
- Excellent image quality for the price
- Compact and lightweight design
- Solid build quality
- Interchangeable PL and EF mounts
- Smooth focus and aperture rings
Cons
- Noticeable barrel distortion
- Slight drop-off in sharpness towards the corners
- Not the fastest aperture available
Final Verdict: Is the DZO Vespid 12mm Worth It?
The DZO Vespid 12mm is a fantastic ultra-wide cine lens that delivers impressive performance at an affordable price. While it has some limitations, such as barrel distortion and slight corner softness, its overall image quality, build quality, and handling make it a compelling option for a wide range of filmmakers. If you’re looking for a versatile and budget-friendly ultra-wide lens, the DZO Vespid 12mm is definitely worth considering. It’s a solid investment that will elevate your filmmaking capabilities. The DZO Vespid 12mm is a great addition to any filmmakers kit.
Where to Buy the DZO Vespid 12mm
The DZO Vespid 12mm is available for purchase from various online retailers and authorized dealers. Be sure to compare prices and check for any special offers or promotions before making your purchase. [See also: DZOFilm Official Website] Also consider checking used marketplaces for potential deals.
