
Laowa 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D (Canon RF)
Launch MSRP
$549- Weight
- 228g
- Filter
- ⌀52mm
- Min focus
- 0.27m
- Max mag.
- 0.07×
- Formula
- 13E / 9G
- Released
- 2020
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x Aspherical
- 3x ED
- 1x UHR
- Aperture range
- f/4 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 228g
- ⌀ × length
- 58.0 × 59.0mm
- Filter
- ⌀52mm
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- Yes
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- —
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.27m
- Max magnification
- 0.07× (1:14.3)
Optical character
Laowa's 14mm f/4 FF RL is a very small full-frame ultra-wide: about 58 x 59mm and 228g, with a flat enough front element to take ordinary 52mm screw-in filters. FF RL stands for full-frame rectilinear, and the Zero-D label marks Laowa's low-distortion designs; the 13-element optic includes two aspherical, three ED and one ultra-high-refraction element.
It is an all-metal, all-manual lens with no electronic contacts, a built-in petal hood, a clicked aperture ring and five straight blades that draw crisp 10-point sunstars. The f/4 maximum keeps it compact; it is aimed at landscape, cityscape, architecture and travel work stopped down, with focus down to 0.27m.
Reviewer consensus
Testers find the centre sharp from f/4 and excellent around f/8, with distortion very low for a 14mm and lateral chromatic aberration close to absent. Borders are decent, but views on the corners differ: one test found them good from f/5.6, another found edges and corners softer at every aperture and best around f/11. Field curvature is pronounced at close focus distances.
Vignetting is the main weakness, close to 3 EV wide open and still around 2 EV at f/8, and there is no in-camera correction because the lens has no contacts. Sunstars from the five straight blades are long and well defined, and the metal build and smooth focus ring are praised. Flare is generally well controlled, though one test saw a large halo around light sources at f/4. One pre-production test sample had its infinity mark set well past true infinity and an alignment fault.
Owner sentiment
Owner feedback will appear once we have verified real-world reports for this lens.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Very compact and light, about 228g
- +Standard 52mm filter thread
- +Very low distortion and lateral CA
- +Crisp 10-point sunstars
- +Solid all-metal build
Weaknesses
- −Heavy vignetting, about 2 EV even stopped down
- −Softer corners, especially at f/4
- −No electronic contacts or EXIF
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 7.6
- Bokeh Rendering
- 6.0
- Autofocus Speed
- MF
- Flare Resistance
- 7.0
- Build / Sealing
- 8.5
- Value / Size
- 8.0
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Canon RF · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 14mm |
| Category | Ultra-Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 13 elements in 9 groups |
| Special elements | 2x Aspherical · 3x ED · 1x UHR |
| Aperture blades | 5 |
| Focus type | Manual Focus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Manual Helicoid |
| Minimum focus | 0.27m |
| Max magnification | 0.07× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 228g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 58.0 × 59.0mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀52mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2020 |
| Launch MSRP | $549 USD |
Sources
Verified against the pages below. Specifications come from the maker; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.
Specifications
- laowa.jp/cat1/c694dd16db6e0699aa3fe7265aab1946dbf70dec.html
- laowa.de/14mm-f-4-ff-rl-zero-d/
- venuslens.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/1440LensStructure.jpg
Launch price
- newsshooter.com/2020/09/18/laowa-14mm-f-4-ff-rl-zero-d/
Professional reviews
- opticallimits.com/sony/laowa-14mm-f-4-ff-rl-zero-d-review/
- alphashooters.com/
Similar focal length alternatives
- VS14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D (Canon RF) vs 14mm F2.8 (Canon RF)
- VS14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D (Canon RF) vs RF 14mm F1.4 L VCM
- VS14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D (Canon RF) vs AF 14mm F2.8 RF
- 7Artisans
14mm F2.8 (Canon RF)
14mmF2.8- WT
- 504g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.43m
- MSRP
- $299
MFRING·DC - CanonL
RF 14mm F1.4 L VCM
14mmF1.4- WT
- 578g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.24m
- MSRP
- $2,599
AFWRRING·DC - Samyang/RokinonAF
AF 14mm F2.8 RF
14mmF2.8- WT
- 484g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.20m
- MSRP
- $799
AFWR


