Laowa Ranger Zoom Lenses VS DZO Catta (Full Frame Cinema Lens Comparison + Review)

[@p0ggles]

This video was exactly what I needed. thank you, bro!

[@FilmJams]

Awesome! Glad to hear that!

[@DavinaHader]

Thanks for a great comparison! …and a very cute short! I’m looking for a set of zooms and this was very helpful. :)

[@FilmJams]

You’re very welcome! Glad it was helpful. Think we may have a demo set of these for sale if you’re interested!

[@timeltdme4355]

i like ranger better in everything, except the parfocality seemed to have a focus issue zoomed in!

[@FilmJams]

Yeah I agree. The Rangers are awesome lenses...used them a lot in my last feature. The reach of the 75-180mm is incredible for the price and it's so much smaller than anything comparable. Thanks for stopping by the channel!

[@cowladyrita]

Congratulations Zach that’s awesome

[@DastanZhumagulov]

While Catta zoom seems like a more logical addition to my DZO Vespid set in terms of image character, I find Laowa Ranger more appealing option in terms of widest focal length, close focus and price ($300 less for the midrange zoom). There was a noticeable difference in exposure in your sharpness test even though it was the same T stop on the two lenses. Did your lighting change in any way or is Catta a half stop brighter or something?

[@FilmJams]

Thanks for checking out the video. I agree that makes sense. Our lighting setup did not change...so one lens is rated higher it seems than the other.

[@DastanZhumagulov]

@@FilmJams so much for T stops being an absolute value huh

[@FilmJams]

@@DastanZhumagulov More like Absolute...Nonsense! :D

[@billyoung9538]

The only aspect of the DZO that I preferred out of the gate was that they were slightly warmer. Other than that I preferred the Laowa.

[@FilmJams]

Yes true. I thought the DZO was a little bit too yellow but I agree- lots to like with the Laowa.

[@scooteractual]

Were these the Catta zooms or Catta Ace? Would there be any optical differences?

[@FilmJams]

In this video are the native E mount Catta Zooms. Don’t think they’re different optically aside from one having a slightly larger image circle. This is what DZO says: The main differences between Catta Zoom and Catta Ace are: Larger format, Ace cover a 46.5mm image circle. Catta Zoom covers a 43.5mm image circle. Catta Ace is a black aluminum alloy on the shell. Catta Ace is no more than 187.5mm/7.38″, they are more compact. Catta FF Zoom supplies users E/RF/L/X/Z mounts. Catta Ace are originated in PL mount and packed with additional EF and LPL mount. Catta Ace will be equipped with a professional Pelican case and customized foam.

[@josergonzalez1762]

Do the Rangers have the COUNTER CLOCKWISE ZOOM throw, Unlike the Cattas Which are Clockwise?

[@FilmJams]

I’ll have to check! Thanks for stopping by the channel.

[@LOMISFILM]

I went with the Rangers. They're superior to the Cattas in every way.

[@FilmJams]

I’d have to agree after testing them side by side. The flares and sharpness were the kickers for me. The Catta just have no character to them.

[@kilikdudley]

Rented both. Went with the rangers

[@FilmJams]

@@kilikdudley You made a wise choice! How do you like them?

[@viralprimenetwork]

Great comparisons and reviews - thanks for sharing! 👍👍🫶

[@FilmJams]

Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🎥😆

[@ramakrishnamurthi2489]

Catta is very butifull

[@FilmJams]

Love those lenses! Thanks for watching!

[@iamthejtm]

Focal range of the Rangers is much closer to the range I like on full frame. Id rather have the 28mm on the wide end than the 35mm. And 70-135 just isnt a lot of lens.

[@FilmJams]

Yeah I agree. I really like the focal range Laowa designed. It’s a more useful range for me…and having a lot extra on the telephoto end I find pushes me to use that focal length which I’m not used to having. It certainly makes for nice separation and cinematic CUs. Anyway thanks for watching!

[@scooteractual]

DZO's have a much more filmic look to them in my opinion. Softer, less clinical.

[@FilmJams]

Interesting! I didn’t find the Laowa’s clinical. I actually thought they flared more cinematically than the DzO. But the DZO are definitely softer if you like that look.

[@pauly8951]

​@@FilmJamsBecause you didn't test their T value. From other videos, I saw that Laowa's T value is fake. It has a non-constant aperture design like a SLR lens, and the maximum aperture is obviously less than T2.9. This is why the Laowa lens Sharper and more compact.

[@FilmJams]

@@pauly8951always enjoy a good bit of discussion on lens tests! Can you clarify what you mean that we didn’t test their T value? And just making sure, you’re saying that the Laowa has a variable aputure and they lied in their marketing? And you’re basing that off some other video you saw on KZbin? You can see clearly in our test both lenses zooming in and out where you would notice a change in stop. And I don’t see a perceptible change - if anything the DZO has a slight exposure shift. But the Laowa looks spot on constant.

[@IrdnJszm]

Judging from Laowa’s Chinese patent, 28-75 is indeed a non-constant iris design.@@FilmJams

[@phoenixfunny4517]

​@IrdnJszm what does that mean

[@MelnardEdaCinematography123]

rangers hand down

[@FilmJams]

Thanks for watching. Yeah the DZO didn’t really have any advantages that I saw. Glad I got the rangers!

[@MelnardEdaCinematography123]

@@FilmJams I tried different lenses of DZOfilm and the Catta were very soft and like also out of focus,not very well calibrated. Pictor were better. And I see on your video the Catta is very off on focus. Looks like the Rangers are a better choice also for their zoom range.

[@FilmJams]

@@MelnardEdaCinematography123 yeah I tested the DZO Pictor 14-30mm in another video and was disappointed to find it was not color matched to the other Pictors in the same lineup (800 kelvin off), or to the Vespid primes. But yes the Catta seem at least a little better color matched but much softer compared to the Rangers. Laowa is making some great stuff lately.

[@cugan83]

Speaking to your audience but looking off camera really doesnt work.

[@FilmJams]

It was accident. Filmed this right before vacation and my brain wasn’t turned fully on. 1 out of 200+ videos… we all make mistakes.