Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF AF (Nikon Z)
Launch MSRP
$699- Weight
- 390g
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Min focus
- 0.14m
- Max mag.
- 0.21×
- Formula
- 16E / 9G
- Released
- 2025
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x Aspherical
- 4x ED
- Aperture range
- f/2.8 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 390g
- ⌀ × length
- 77.2 × 80.6mm
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 7.2 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.14m
- Max magnification
- 0.21× (1:4.8)
Optical character
Laowa's second autofocus lens is a full redesign of its 12mm, and weighs 390g on Nikon Z against 609g for the original while adding a standard 72mm filter thread. The new 16-element, 9-group formula keeps distortion close to zero and adds a fourth ED element for better colour correction.
On Nikon Z it focuses automatically and nearly silently, with an AF/MF switch and the aperture set from the camera. Only the Z and Sony E versions get AF; the RF and L versions are manual. Five straight blades give strong 10-point sunstars, and the 0.14m close focus suits dramatic foreground compositions. A 14-blade manual-focus Z version is also sold in some markets.
Reviewer consensus
Early reviews report a strong centre from f/2.8 and corners that improve when stopped down, with one tester finding it sharp corner to corner even on 61MP bodies. Distortion is low enough to leave uncorrected, there is no lateral colour, and coma is slight at f/2.8 and well corrected from f/5.6.
Vignetting is the main weakness at around 3.2 EV wide open, and flare can appear with bright sources near the frame edge. AF is described as quiet and accurate rather than fast. Testers rate it optically close to the 10mm AF, with a $100 lower price.
Owner sentiment
Buyers like how light it is, the 72mm filters, and having autofocus on an ultra-wide this cheap. Vloggers and interior shooters find the 122° view easier to use than 10mm.
Some early units had AF lock-ups that firmware is expected to address, focus breathing is noticeable in video, and thin filters are recommended to avoid extra vignetting. Some owners of the manual versions miss an aperture ring.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Light 390g with 72mm filter thread
- +Near-zero distortion
- +Autofocus on Nikon Z
- +10-point sunstars from f/4
- +0.14m close focus
Weaknesses
- −Heavy vignetting (about 3 EV)
- −No aperture ring on the AF version
- −Focus breathing in video
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.3
- Bokeh Rendering
- 6.4
- Autofocus Speed
- 7.2
- Flare Resistance
- 7.4
- Build / Sealing
- 8.0
- Value / Size
- 8.5
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Nikon Z (FX) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 12mm |
| Category | Ultra-Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 16 elements in 9 groups |
| Special elements | 2x Aspherical · 4x ED |
| Aperture blades | 5 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | STM |
| Minimum focus | 0.14m |
| Max magnification | 0.21× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 390g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 77.2 × 80.6mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀72mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2025 |
| Launch MSRP | $699 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- laowa.jp/cat1/12mmf2.8-lite.html
- cathayphoto.com.sg/cameras/lenses/laowa-12mm-f-2-8-lite-zero-d-full-frame-auto
- focusnordic.com/products/photo/lenses/wide-angle-lenses/laowa-12mm-f-2.8-li
- venuslens.net/product/laowa-12mm-f-2-8-lite-zero-d-ff/
- phillipreeve.net/blog/review-laowa-12mm-2-8-af/
- en.pronews.com/news/20250822115812246.html
Similar focal length alternatives
- VS12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF AF (Nikon Z) vs 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D (Nikon Z)
- VS12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF AF (Nikon Z) vs 11mm f/4.5 FF RL (Nikon Z)
- VS12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF AF (Nikon Z) vs 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye (Nikon Z)
- LaowaZero-D
12mm f/2.8 Zero-D (Nikon Z)
12mmF2.8- WT
- 609g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.18m
- MSRP
- $849
MFRING - Laowa
11mm f/4.5 FF RL (Nikon Z)
11mmF4.5- WT
- 254g
- FLT
- ⌀62mm
- MFD
- 0.19m
- MSRP
- $699
MFRING - Laowa
8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye (Nikon Z)
8–15mmF2.8- WT
- 650g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.16m
- MSRP
- $699
MFRING
