Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom FF (Canon RF)

Reviewers found it good to very good across the frame from 12mm to about 20mm at f/8 to f/11, with a sharp centre at the wide end. The long end is weaker: one test found the 24mm corners never fully sharp, and the copies tested had a weak focal length near the long end. Coma is better corrected than on Laowa's older 10-18mm. Distortion measurements differ, from low to clearly wavy at 12mm, so a profile helps for architecture.

Vignetting is heavy at 12mm, about 3.6 EV wide open in one test, and a green corner cast appears at the wide end. Purple fringing shows in high-contrast scenes wide open, and flare is the other weak point, with a halo and a small rainbow ghost at 12mm. Build quality and handling were praised, and it was judged affordable for its specification.

Owners call it a great lens for its price, and one likes how the filter ring is implemented. That owner reports that it works very well for infrared, with no hotspots and almost no colour fringing, and plans to replace a 16-35mm with it.

One Nikon Z owner reports noticeable field curvature at focus distances under about 2m, with sharpness dropping at the long edges, and a slight blue cast on that mount. The infrared owner notes that some vignetting remains visible.