Laowa updates its 12mm F2.8 Zero-D lens with autofocus for some mounts
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission. Image: Laowa Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D FF, an updated, mirrorless version of one of its popular ultra-wide-angle lenses. The new model is slimmed down (hence, the Lite in the name), introduces autofocus capabilities for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts and brings additional upgrades over the original 12mm F2.8 Zero-D. The 12mm F2.8 Zero-D lens's claim to fame was that it was one of the widest non-fisheye lenses for full-frame cameras. Like the original model, the Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D offers an ultra-wide 122° view with a rectilinear optical design, which Laowa says results in "virtually zero distortion." The optical design includes 16 elements in 9 groups, with 4 extra-low dispersion elements and 2 aspherical elements. It can focus as close as 14cm (5.5"), making it possible to capture close details. Image: Christopher Frost / Laowa Laowa says that the new model offers improved image quality, with better sharpness all the way to the edges and "excellent control of chromatic aberration." It is also more compact and lightweight than its predecessor, coming in at just 377g (13.3oz) for the E mount version. For comparison, the original model weighed 609g (1.3lbs). The lens sees the addition of a filter thread, using 72mm filters, whereas the old model required a filter holder system. The autofocus version (left) and manual focus version (right) feature slightly different body designs. Image: Laowa The 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D is available for Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF and L mounts. The Sony E and Nikon Z versions offer autofocus, while the RF and L mount models are manual focus only. The autofocus versions offer an MF/AF switch but no aperture ring, while the manual focus models feature an aperture ring. Making things more complicated are the two aperture blade configurations. You can choose between a 5-blade or 14-blade aperture. Laowa says the 5-blade creates a 10-point sunstar effect when you stop down the aperture. If you want the 14-blade aperture, though, you'll need to opt for the manual focus lens no matter what mount you have. The autofocus versions are only available with the 5-blade aperture. The new Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is available for purchase for $699. Image: Bastian Kratzke / Laowa Press release: The Legend Returns for Mirrorless Systems: The Legend Returns for Mirrorless Systems: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF Anhui, China – June 26, 2025 – 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
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| Image: Laowa |
Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D FF, an updated, mirrorless version of one of its popular ultra-wide-angle lenses. The new model is slimmed down (hence, the Lite in the name), introduces autofocus capabilities for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts and brings additional upgrades over the original 12mm F2.8 Zero-D.
The 12mm F2.8 Zero-D lens's claim to fame was that it was one of the widest non-fisheye lenses for full-frame cameras. Like the original model, the Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D offers an ultra-wide 122° view with a rectilinear optical design, which Laowa says results in "virtually zero distortion." The optical design includes 16 elements in 9 groups, with 4 extra-low dispersion elements and 2 aspherical elements. It can focus as close as 14cm (5.5"), making it possible to capture close details.
 |
| Image: Christopher Frost / Laowa |
Laowa says that the new model offers improved image quality, with better sharpness all the way to the edges and "excellent control of chromatic aberration." It is also more compact and lightweight than its predecessor, coming in at just 377g (13.3oz) for the E mount version. For comparison, the original model weighed 609g (1.3lbs). The lens sees the addition of a filter thread, using 72mm filters, whereas the old model required a filter holder system.
 |
| The autofocus version (left) and manual focus version (right) feature slightly different body designs. Image: Laowa |
The 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D is available for Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF and L mounts. The Sony E and Nikon Z versions offer autofocus, while the RF and L mount models are manual focus only. The autofocus versions offer an MF/AF switch but no aperture ring, while the manual focus models feature an aperture ring.
Making things more complicated are the two aperture blade configurations. You can choose between a 5-blade or 14-blade aperture. Laowa says the 5-blade creates a 10-point sunstar effect when you stop down the aperture. If you want the 14-blade aperture, though, you'll need to opt for the manual focus lens no matter what mount you have. The autofocus versions are only available with the 5-blade aperture.
The new Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is available for purchase for $699.
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| Image: Bastian Kratzke / Laowa |
Press release:
The Legend Returns for Mirrorless Systems: The Legend Returns for Mirrorless Systems: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF
Anhui, China – June 26, 2025 – 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.
Pricing & Availability
The new Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is currently available via Venus Optics official website (http://www.venuslens.net/) and authorized resellers.
The US price for Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF is USD699 for all mounts for both AF and MF versions. Pricing varies in different countries.
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 12 mm |
| Lens mount | Canon RF, Canon RF-S, L-Mount, Nikon Z, Sony E, Sony FE |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | F22 |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 5 |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 9 |
| Special elements / coatings | XLD, aspherical elements |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.14 m (5.51″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.21× |
| Autofocus | No |
| Distance scale | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 377 g (0.83 lb) |
| Diameter | 77 mm (3.03″) |
| Length | 77 mm (3.01″) |
| Colour | Black |
| Filter thread | 72 mm |
| Tripod collar | No |
