Sony Photography News and Rumors

Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF: Venus Optics / B&H Photo / Amazon

Optical Limits published its full review of the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF you can read the full review here or see the excerpt from the review below:

… the center quality is downright superb, but it fades quickly beyond – not helped by some astigmatism. This is most obvious at f/2.8, of course. Stopping down to a medium aperture setting, the results are actually pretty sharp and that’s where you’d use it the most anyway. Image distortions are minimal – by design, not because of autocorrection. The latter helps somewhat in taming vignetting, though. Lateral CAs are quite good. The quality of the bokeh is also decent for such a lens, and if sun stars are your thing, it does excel in this category. The flare resistance could be better, though…all-metal body down to the lens mount and up to the lens hood…AF is decently fast and essentially noiseless. Weather-sealing has not been implemented, though.

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Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF: Venus Optics / B&H Photo / Amazon

 Laowa announces the launch of the new Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF for mirrorless systems. The original 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D was one of Laowa’s bestsellers, known as the widest non-fisheye lens available on the market at the time. Now, in the mirrorless era, the new Lite version is optimized specifically for mirrorless systems, featuring 122° ultra wide angle of view with a more compact and lightweight design. It also supports autofocus on Sony E and Nikon Z cameras.

Equipped with a fast f/2.8 aperture and maintaining Laowa’s signature “Zero-D” (zero distortion) optical design, this lens delivers natural-looking results. A built-in ⌀72mm front filter thread further enhances its portability. This lens is a versatile choice for landscape, architecture, astrophotography, aerial shots, vlogging, and more.

Key Features:

• Ultra-wide 122° Angle of View
• “Zero-Distortion” 
• Fast & Accurate Autofocus
• Compact & Lightweight
• Bright f/2.8 Aperture
• 14cm Close Focusing Distance
• Excellent Image Quality
• ⌀72mm Filter thread
• 10-Point Sunstar

Ultra-wide 12mm with f/2.8 Large Aperture
The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF offers an ultra-wide 122° angle of view paired with a fast f/2.8 aperture, making it an excellent choice for landscape photography—especially in low-light conditions such as sunrise, sunset, or starry nights. The wide perspective helps capture vast, expansive scenes with dramatic scale and depth, while the f/2.8 aperture allows more light to enter, enabling faster shutter speeds and better performance in dim environments. This also offers creative flexibility for foreground emphasis and environmental storytelling. Whether you’re exploring rugged mountains, shooting seascapes, or capturing the night sky, this lens is built to handle it all with ease and clarity.

“Zero-Distortion”
While most 12mm full-frame lenses on the market are fisheye, Laowa continues to break boundaries with a rectilinear design. Building on the legacy of the original 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D, this new Lite version inherits its acclaimed optical performance. Thanks to Laowa’s advanced optical engineering, distortion is kept to a minimum, ensuring straight lines stay true, even at the edges of the frame. This makes it a powerful tool for architecture, cityscapes, interiors, and any scene where accuracy and perspective matter.

Compact & Lightweight
Designed with portability in mind, this lens is both lightweight and compact, weighing just around 377g ( 0.83 lb). It’s an ideal companion for creators on the move, whether you’re shooting handheld, flying with a drone, or mounting it on a gimbal. Its minimal weight makes it perfect for street photography or travel scenarios where mobility matters and heavy gear is a hassle.

Close Focusing Distance of 14cm
With a close focusing distance of just 14cm (5.5 inches), this 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF lens lets you capture stunning details up close, opening up exciting possibilities for wide-angle macro photography.

“Excellent Image Quality
The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is engineered with exceptional optics, resulting in outstanding image sharpness and excellent control of chromatic aberration (CA). Compared to the original 12mm f/2.8 version, it shows significant improvement in sharpness, even at the corners.

Fast and Accurate Autofocus
As the second autofocus lens in Law’s lineup, the 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D delivers fast, precise focus tracking for both Sony E and Nikon Z mounts. It combines the convenience of reliable autofocus with the exceptional optical quality Laowa is known for, ensuring you never miss a moment.
*RF and L mount are fully manual

Built-in Filter Thread
The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF comes equipped with a built-in ⌀72mm filter thread, providing photographers with the flexibility to easily attach a wide range of filters and adding greater convenience to your shooting setup.

Stunning 10-point Sunstar
This lens is available in both 5- and 16-blade versions. The 5-blade version creates a distinctive 10-point sunstar effect when you stop down the aperture, adding a striking visual element to your photos.

12mm f/2.8 Zero-D vs. 12mm f/2.8 Z Lite Zero-F FF: Enhancement and Distinctions Clarified