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Register/Nikon Z-mount/Laowa/Ultra-Wide
Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL (Nikon Z) — Product view
Product view© Venus Optics (LAOWA)
Laowa

Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL (Nikon Z)

Z · PRIME
11mm
APERTURE
1:4.5
MFRING

Launch MSRP

$699
Weight
254g
Filter
⌀62mm
Min focus
0.19m
Max mag.
0.10×
Formula
14E / 10G
Released
2020
AlternativesCompare with…
01

Specification sheet

Optical construction

14
Elements
10
Groups
3 LD · 2 ASPH
5 rounded blades
  • 2x Aspherical
  • 3x ED
  • 1x UHR
Aperture range
f/4.5 — f/22

Physical & ergonomics

16842
Weight
254g
⌀ × length
63.5 × 58.0mm
Filter
⌀62mm
Weather sealed
No
Aperture ring
Yes

Autofocus actuator

Manual Helicoid
Manual Focus
Stabilisation
Body IBIS
Teleconverter
Not supported
AF speed score
—

Close-up performance

Min focus distance
0.19m
Max magnification
0.10× (1:10.0)
0.10×
0×0.25×0.5× half macro1.0× macro
02

Optical character

At 254g, this is one of the smallest and lightest full-frame 11mm lenses made, and it takes standard 62mm screw-in filters, which is unusual for a 126° rectilinear lens. It is a compact all-metal manual-focus lens with a fixed petal hood.

The f/4.5 maximum aperture is modest, but the lens is built for stopped-down landscape, architecture and travel work. Five straight blades give clean 10-point sunstars from f/8, and the 0.19m close focus allows strong foreground emphasis.

Reviewer consensus

Reviewers report good corner sharpness and contrast from f/5.6, with the best overall results around f/8. There is a slight mid-zone dip at wider apertures, and borders suffer from field curvature near minimum focus.

Vignetting is heavy at about 3 EV wide open and barely improves when stopped down, and some mirrorless bodies show a slight colour cast in the corners. Distortion is noticeable and wavy, flare resistance is average, and the Nikon Z version has no electronic contacts, so there is no EXIF data.

Owner sentiment

Owners value how small it is: it fits in a jacket pocket and balances well on compact bodies. The 62mm filter thread is a major reason people pick it over the 9mm or 10-18mm, and the build draws praise.

The fixed hood makes rotating polarisers awkward, the aperture click stops are unevenly spaced, and the lack of EXIF annoys users who rely on automatic lens profiles.

03

Strengths, weaknesses & performance

Strengths

  • +Very compact and light, 254g
  • +Standard 62mm filter thread
  • +Good corners from f/5.6
  • +10-point sunstars from f/8
  • +Solid all-metal build

Weaknesses

  • −About 3 EV vignetting
  • −Wavy distortion
  • −No electronic contacts or EXIF
  • −Fixed hood complicates polarisers

Six-axis rating

SHARPBOKEHAFFLAREBUILDVALUE
Sharpness
7.9
Bokeh Rendering
5.8
Autofocus Speed
MF
Flare Resistance
7.0
Build / Sealing
8.4
Value / Size
7.8

Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.

04

Technical specifications

Optics
MountNikon Z (FX) · full frame
Focal length11mm
CategoryUltra-Wide
Maximum aperturef/4.5
Minimum aperturef/22
Construction14 elements in 10 groups
Special elements2x Aspherical · 3x ED · 1x UHR
Aperture blades5
Focus
Focus typeManual Focus
DriveManual Helicoid
Minimum focus0.19m
Max magnification0.10×
StabilisationNone (uses body IBIS)
TeleconvertersNot supported
Body
Weight254g
Diameter × length63.5 × 58.0mm
Filter thread⌀62mm
Weather sealingNo
Aperture ringYes
De-clickable apertureNo
Release year2020
Launch MSRP$699 USD
05

Sources

Specifications

  • photographyblog.com/news/laowa_11mm_f_4_5_ff_rl_for_full_frame_mirrorless_camer
  • laowa.de/11mm-f4-5-ff-rl/
  • zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/third-party-lenses/third-party-manual-focus/
  • phillipreeve.net/blog/review-laowa-11mm-4-5-ff-rl/
  • venuslens.net/product/laowa-11mm-f-4-5-ff-rl/
06

Similar focal length alternatives

  • VS11mm f/4.5 FF RL (Nikon Z) vs 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye (Nikon Z)
  • VS11mm f/4.5 FF RL (Nikon Z) vs 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF AF (Nikon Z)
  • VS11mm f/4.5 FF RL (Nikon Z) vs 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D (Nikon Z)
  • Laowa

    8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye (Nikon Z)

    Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye (Nikon Z)
    8–15mmF2.8
    WT
    650g
    FLT
    —
    MFD
    0.16m
    MSRP
    $699
    MFRING
  • LaowaZero-D

    12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF AF (Nikon Z)

    Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF AF (Nikon Z)
    12mmF2.8
    WT
    390g
    FLT
    ⌀72mm
    MFD
    0.14m
    MSRP
    $699
    AF
  • LaowaZero-D

    12mm f/2.8 Zero-D (Nikon Z)

    Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D (Nikon Z)
    12mmF2.8
    WT
    609g
    FLT
    —
    MFD
    0.18m
    MSRP
    $849
    MFRING