Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF
Launch MSRP
$699- Weight
- 377g
- 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
- 377g
- ⌀ × length
- 77.2 × 78.6mm
- 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 377g 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 Sony E it focuses automatically and nearly silently, with an AF/MF switch and the aperture set from the camera. Five straight blades give strong 10-point sunstars, and the 0.14m close focus suits dramatic foreground compositions. A separate 14-blade manual-focus version is also sold for E-mount.
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 377g with 72mm filter thread
- +Near-zero distortion
- +Autofocus on Sony E
- +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 | Sony E (FE) · 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 | 377g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 77.2 × 78.6mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀72mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2025 |
| Launch MSRP | $699 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- venuslens.net/product/laowa-12mm-f-2-8-lite-zero-d-ff/
- en.pronews.com/news/20250822115812246.html
- phillipreeve.net/blog/review-laowa-12mm-2-8-af/
- sonyalpharumors.com/new-laowa-12mm-f-2-8-lite-zero-d-ff-lens-review-by-christop
- bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1904389-REG/venus_optics_ve1228affe_laowa_12mm_f_
Similar focal length alternatives
- VS12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF vs 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D
- VS12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF vs 12mm F2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-eye
- VS12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF vs Ultra Wide-Heliar 12mm F5.6 Aspherical III
- LaowaZero-D
12mm f/2.8 Zero-D
12mmF2.8- WT
- 609g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.18m
- MSRP
- $949
MFRING - Samyang/Rokinon
12mm F2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-eye
12mmF2.8- WT
- 525g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.20m
- MSRP
- $549
MFRING - VoigtlanderHeliar
Ultra Wide-Heliar 12mm F5.6 Aspherical III
12mmF5.6- WT
- 350g
- FLT
- —
- MFD
- 0.30m
- MSRP
- $999
MFRING·DC
