Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom
Launch MSRP
$849- Weight
- 496g
- Filter
- —
- Min focus
- 0.15m
- Max mag.
- 0.25×
- Formula
- 14E / 10G
- Released
- 2018
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 1x ED
- 2x Aspherical
- Aperture range
- f/4.5–5.6 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 496g
- ⌀ × length
- 70.0 × 90.9mm
- 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
The C-Dreamer 10-18mm was designed for Sony FE first and was the smallest full-frame zoom to start at 10mm, at 496g and about the size of a standard prime. It covers 130° to 102° in one manual lens, which makes it a practical travel ultra-wide for landscapes, interiors and cramped streets.
The front element is bulbous, so filters go either in a 37mm rear filter slot or in Laowa's 100mm magnetic holder. The aperture ring can be switched between clicked and smooth for video, and five straight blades give strong 10-point sunstars.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers found resolution at 10mm roughly on par with the Voigtlander 10mm prime, with good centres and corners that need f/8 to f/11. It does not match Sony's FE 12-24mm f/4 G for contrast or corner detail in the overlapping range.
Flare resistance is the main weakness: with the sun in frame, ghosting and other artifacts show up regularly. Vignetting is heavy at 10mm, and there are no electronic contacts, so distortion and colour-cast corrections have to be applied manually.
Owner sentiment
Owners like the size and the 10mm starting point, and many keep it as a light second lens for hiking and travel. The sunstars and the declickable aperture ring for video are frequently mentioned.
Complaints centre on low contrast against the light, ghosting, no EXIF data, and corners that stay soft at the wide end until well stopped down. Some find the rear filter slot fiddly.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +10-18mm zoom in a 496g body
- +Strong 10-point sunstars
- +Declickable aperture ring
- +Rear 37mm filter slot plus 100mm holder option
Weaknesses
- −Weak flare resistance
- −Soft corners at 10mm until f/8-f/11
- −No electronic contacts or EXIF
- −No front filter thread
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 7.2
- Bokeh Rendering
- 5.8
- Autofocus Speed
- MF
- Flare Resistance
- 6.2
- Build / Sealing
- 8.0
- Value / Size
- 8.0
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · 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 | 1x ED · 2x Aspherical |
| 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 | 496g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 70.0 × 90.9mm |
| Filter thread | None |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | Yes |
| Release year | 2018 |
| Launch MSRP | $849 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- venuslens.net/product/laowa-10-18mm-f-4-5-5-6-fe-zoom/
- imaging-resource.com/lenses/laowa-10-18mm-f-4-5-5-6-fe/specifications
- lenstip.com/1524-Venus_Optics_LAOWA_10-18_mm_f_4.5-5.6_Zoom-lens_specif
- sonyalpharumors.com/new-laowa-10-18mm-lens-reviewed-by-phillip-reeve/
Similar focal length alternatives
- VS10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom vs 12-20mm F2.8
- VS10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom vs 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye
- VS10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom vs 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom FF
- Tamron
12-20mm F2.8
12–20mmF2.8- WT
- 570g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.18m
- MSRP
- $1,699
AFWRRING·DC - Laowa
8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye
8–15mmF2.8- WT
- 650g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.16m
- MSRP
- $699
MFRING - Laowa
12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom FF
12–24mmF5.6- WT
- 497g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.15m
- MSRP
- $649
MFRING
