Shift lenses are the best way to slow down and compose your images. In a world where gambles with likes for instant gratification, a shift lens makes you weigh your satisfaction of getting a perfect shot in a camera vs. doing it post-production. However, while these lenses were largely prime focal lengths, you’d be happy to learn that Laowa has achieved the impossible with its shift lens: they can also zoom now! The Laowa 12-24mm f5.6 Zoom Shift lens is the world’s first wide-angle zoom shift lens designed for various mounts. Here is a look at what you can do with this innovation.
The lead image and those within the article are screenshots from Laowa’s website.
Laowa 12-24mm Zoom Shift is a Dream Come True
With a 12 to 24mm focal range, the Laowa lens is the first shift lens to offer a zoom (via Photo Rumors). At the time of its launch, it was the only device delivering a zoom, with others mostly being primes. The lens provides a 102.5° to 63.9° angle of view, with f5.6 being a constant aperture for the entire zoom range. It also offers ±7mm shift capability with minimal distortion. Some other features include a close focusing distance of 15 cm and a 77mm filter thread. Available for APS-C cameras from Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Canon, and more. Like the other shift lenses, this one features a manual focus.
Interestingly, the company already has a 12-24mm f5.6 lens, which is not a shift lens. However, perhaps the lens has been advanced based on that, as well as the company’s 15mm f4.5 and 20mm f4 shift lenses. Unlike the latter two, the Laowa 12-24mm Zoom Shift does not have a shift capability of ±11mm and also does not have a Zero-D Shift tag. The latter is supposed to help reduce distortion, but the company claims that the lens can function well despite its lack. Furthermore, the lens claims to offer great image quality, making it an ideal choice for architectural and interior photography.
It Would Be Worth A Buy
Laowa has produced lenses that offer great quality at a reasonable price. In our review of the 20mm f4, we wrote, “It really gave me beautiful photos of the architecture around Dubai. These are images that I had struggled to get with regular lenses or without much cropping from wider angles.” And that is the beauty of the shift lenses. They create images that you remember long after you see them.
In that regard, the zoom will also open up a world of possibilities that otherwise would not be possible. With a wide prime lens, you must physically move yourself to get the desired frame. With a zoom, even if you are slightly far away, let’s say due to crowd or traffic, you can simply zoom in and focus on the architecture you really want to photograph. A constant aperture also makes it easy to avoid losing out on light when changing the focal range. And all of this at just $699. One can view this as an investment where you get two different lenses in one.
Third-party lenses are changing the game, which is a much-needed welcome. I bet Sony, Nikon, and Fujifilm have the money and resources to create distinct products, but they will not take on the task because the market is niche and because the end price would be triple the cost of a Laowa. Perhaps this means that camera manufacturers will have to cater to the luxury market as lens prices reach new heights.
You can purchase the Laowa lens here.
Laowa 12-24mm Zoom Shift Specifications
| Format Compatibility | APS-C |
| Focal length | 12-24mm |
| Max. Aperture | f5.6 |
| Angle of view | 102.5°- 63.9° |
| Lens structure | 15 elements in 11 groups (2 aspherical elements, 3 ED elements) |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Shift Capability | ±7mm |
| Min. Focusing distance | 15cm |
| Max. Magnification | 0.4 |
| Focus mode | Manual (MF) |
| Filter thread | ø77mm |
| Dimensions | Ø98.91mm x 80mm |
| Weight | About 575g |
| Mount | Sony E / Nikon Z / Canon RF / L Mount / Fuji X / EF-M |