The Laowa 105mm f/2 Smooth Trans Focus Lens has an apodization element for beautiful bokeh – and it's just $479
(Image credit: B&H)
If you love beautiful bokeh, a lens with a fast aperture will only get you so far. For really bokehlicious images, you need a lens with an apodization element, but these are extremely expensive… except for the Laowa 105mm f/2 Smooth Trans Focus Lens, which is currently discounted by $220!
If you're looking for a special effect optic, this is one of the best portrait lenses for DSLRs – which can be easily adapted to mirrorless cameras, too!
Laowa 105mm f/2 Smooth Trans Focus Lens: $479 (was $699)
Laowa's STF lens uses an apodization element to smooth the edges of the bokeh in photographs taken on Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mount cameras (the K-mount is slightly more at $499, but still a bargain!).
Apodization elements (also known as Smooth Trans Focus) further soften the bokeh in images, delivering impossibly smooth and creamy bokeh that standard lenses simply can't render even with fast apertures.
The Laowa 105mm f/2 Smooth Trans Focus Lens gives similar results to the far more expensive Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS (along with the Fujifilm XF56mm f/1.2 R APD apodization lens and the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Defocus Smoothing lens), making it incredible for shooting stunning portraiture.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.