Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom (L-Mount)
Launch MSRP
unconfirmed- Weight
- 492g
- Filter
- —
- Min focus
- 0.15m
- Max mag.
- 0.25×
- Formula
- 14E / 10G
- Released
- 2020
Also made for
The L-Mount version is 4g lighter than the Sony E-mount version, and 4g lighter than the Nikon Z-mount version.
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x Aspherical
- 1x ED
- Frog Eye Coating
- Aperture range
- f/4.5–5.6 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 492g
- ⌀ × length
- 68.0 × 82.0mm
- Filter
- —
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- Yes · de-click
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- —
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.15m
- Max magnification
- 0.25× (1:4.0)
Optical character
A fully manual ultra-wide zoom that covers 130° to 102° in a body about the size of a standard prime. On L-Mount it weighs about 492g and measures 68 x 82mm, which makes it a light travel option for landscapes, buildings, interiors and night skies.
The L-Mount version differs from the Sony FE and Nikon Z versions in one practical way: it has no 37mm rear filter thread, so filtering depends on Laowa's 100mm magnetic front filter holder. The aperture ring can be switched between clicked and smooth for video, and five straight blades give 10-point sunstars. There are no electronic contacts, so nothing is recorded in EXIF.
Reviewer consensus
We summarise professional reviews only after reading at least two independent ones. Not enough have been published or verified for this lens yet.
Owner sentiment
Owner comments are mixed. One owner on a 24MP body was pleased with its sharpness and found it only slightly behind a Samyang 14mm and a Zeiss 16-35mm f/4, while another found the sides weak between about 10 and 13mm compared with Laowa's 15mm f/2.
Other reports cover a light leak on one copy that showed only in long exposures, the green corner cast that needs custom correction, and workarounds for polarisers. Those reports come from rear-filter mounts; on L-Mount the rear thread is absent, so filter use goes through the front holder instead.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +10-18mm zoom at about 492g
- +10-point sunstars from five straight blades
- +Switchable clicked/declicked aperture ring
- +0.15m close focus, 0.25x
Weaknesses
- −No rear filter thread on the L-Mount version
- −No electronic contacts or EXIF
- −Weak flare resistance and soft corners at 10mm
Six-axis rating
Ratings are published once at least two independent professional reviews have been read.
Technical specifications
| Mount | L-Mount (FF) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 10–18mm |
| Category | Ultra-Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/4.5–5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 14 elements in 10 groups |
| Special elements | 2x Aspherical · 1x ED · Frog Eye Coating |
| Aperture blades | 5 |
| Focus type | Manual Focus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Manual Helicoid |
| Minimum focus | 0.15m |
| Max magnification | 0.25× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 492g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 68.0 × 82.0mm |
| Filter thread | None |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | Yes |
| Release year | 2020 |
| Launch MSRP | Unconfirmed |
Sources
Verified against the pages below. Specifications come from the maker; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.
Specifications
- laowa.jp› cat1/69d5c3d18c4a44eca1fa4c5e25b5a26c73aab37e.html
- venuslens.net› product/laowa-10-18mm-f-4-5-5-6-fe-zoom/
- laowa.de› 10-18mm/
Professional reviews
- phillipreeve.net› blog/review-laowa-10-18mm-4-5-5-6-fe-c-dreamer/
Owner reports
- phillipreeve.net› blog/review-laowa-10-18mm-4-5-5-6-fe-c-dreamer/
Similar focal length alternatives
- VS10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom (L-Mount) vs 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye (L-Mount)
- VS10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom (L-Mount) vs 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom FF (L-Mount)
- VS10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom (L-Mount) vs Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14-24 f/2.8 ASPH.
- Laowa
8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye (L-Mount)
8–15mmF2.8- WT
- 650g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.16m
- MSRP
- $699
MFRING - Laowa
12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom FF (L-Mount)
12–24mmF5.6- WT
- 497g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.15m
- MSRP
- —
MFRING - LeicaSuper-Vario-Elmarit
Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14-24 f/2.8 ASPH.
14–24mmF2.8- WT
- 855g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.28m
- MSRP
- $2,495
AFWR
