Last Updated on 07/13/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
Venus Optics recently expanded their roster of unique Laowa lenses with the Laowa 15mm f2 Zero-D and the Laowa 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 Zoom.
Photographers looking for a wider coverage for their Nikon Z and Canon RF mount cameras now have new options from Venus Optics. The company recently introduced two new Laowa wide angle lenses: the Laowa 15mm f2 Zero-D for both Nikon and Canon RF mount, and the Laowa 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 Zoom for Nikon Z mount.
The Laowa 15mm f2 Zero-D is a compact, lightweight lens comprised of 12 elements in 9 groups, as well as two aspherical elements and three extra-low dispersion elements. It currently takes the spot for the widest f2 rectilinear native lens for Full Frame cameras. As a member of the Laowa Zero-D product line, its patented optical design boasts of keeping the lowest optical distortion possible. It also allows photographers to get less than 6″ close to their subjects from the sensor. With its f2 aperture, it’s also possible to get creative with close-up wide angle shots by adding bokeh.
The front surface design also accommodates 72mm circular filters. Unlike the Sony E-mount version, this new version for Nikon Z and Canon RF mounts features a lens design with five straight aperture blades to create clean, sharp 10-point sunstar rendering. Still, Venus Optics was able to squeeze all these features into a lens 3″ long and 1.1 lbs.
Meanwhile, the Laowa 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 Zoom for Nikon Z mount prides itself in currently being the widest Full Frame zoom lens available. With its 102° (18mm) to the unique 130° (10mm) field of view, it offers great flexibility and creative options for landscape and architectural photography. Venus Optics was also able to design this variant to be the smallest of its class — just like the Sony E-mount variant that went before it — measuring around 3.5 inches long and weighing 1.1 lbs, with a lens diameter of 70mm. It has five straight aperture blades to produce 10-point sunstars and can accommodate a 37mm UV/ND filter. However, there are currently no plans to release this lens for Canon RF mount.
These new variants of the Laowa 15mm f2 Zero-D and the Laowa 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 Zoom have an SRP of $849 each, and are now available through the Venus Optics website and authorized retailers.
