Dope Tech: The Probe Lens!
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Promos
The Probe lens by Venus Optics is the most ridiculous piece of video gear I've ever seen. Venus Laowa Probe lens: amzn.to B&H link: bhpho.to OnePlus 7 Pro Review: youtu.be The Verge's Galaxy Fold Review: youtu.be Viral "shooting macro" video :youtu.be Intro Track: Filet Mignon by The Cutlery MKBHD Merch: shop.mkbhd.com Video Gear I use: kit.com Tech I'm using right now: amazon.com Playlist of MKBHD Intro music: goo.gl ~ twitter.com @MKBHD @MKBHD
Dope Tech: The Probe Lens dives into one of the more unusual pieces of gear a videographer can own, the Venus Optics Laowa macro probe lens. The host introduces the lens as a highly specialized tool designed specifically for video, highlighting its extraordinary length, near close-focus capability, and built-in LED lighting. The video unfolds by explaining the lens’s core specs: full-frame coverage, fully manual operation with a 24mm macro focal length, aperture range from f14 to f40, seven aperture blades, and an internal ring of LEDs powered via a micro USB connection. The host demonstrates how these features translate into practical use, including the ability to shoot in tight spaces and even underwater scenarios, thanks to the waterproof front end and the integrated lighting. He compares the lens to conventional cine lenses and underscores that its value comes from the unique perspectives it enables, rather than everyday versatility. Throughout, the video emphasizes the lens as a tool of last resort that can yield spectacularly close, dramatically lit macro and micro-scale shots when used creatively. The overall aim is to show how this device can enhance a tech or gear-focused video by delivering distinctive shots that would be hard to replicate with standard lenses, while also acknowledging that it demands careful setup and specialized application. The closing segment encourages viewers to recognize the lens in future projects and teases occasional, highly selective usage rather than overuse, inviting curiosity without promising frequent deployment.
Topics · technology · video production · cine gear · photography
Questions answered
- What makes the Laowa 24mm macro probe lens unique for video work?
- It is a fully manual, ultra-slim, long-probe lens with a 24mm macro focal length, a close minimum focus distance, built-in LED lighting, and waterproof front elements, designed to create ultra-close, perspective-bending shots not easily achieved with standard lenses.
- Can the probe lens be used in everyday shooting or is it mainly for special effects?
- While it can be used creatively in regular shoots, its value lies in special close-up, macro, and quirky perspective shots that require getting very close to subjects while maintaining a wide field of view, often best reserved for standout moments.
- What technical considerations should a creator plan for when using the lens?
- Expect strong lighting requirements due to the small aperture range, manage depth of field carefully because of the shallow focus, and plan practical setups that maximize the lens’s ability to reveal tiny details in tight spaces.