Laowa 8-16mm F3.5-5 Zoom CF Lens Announced

Venus Optics has unveiled a groundbreaking ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, the Laowa 8-16mm F3.5-5 Zoom CF, tailored for mirrorless cameras featuring Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and Canon EF-M mounts.

Specifically engineered for APS-C format sensors, this lens delivers a vast viewing angle ranging from 82.8 to 120.9 degrees. Venus Optics assures precise control over optical distortion and sharp focusing, even at a remarkably close distance of 20 cm.

Primarily designed for landscape and architectural photography, as well as any scenario demanding an expansive field of view, this lens boasts an aperture range of F/3.5(5)-F/16.

Emphasizing its portability, Venus Optics highlights the lens’s compactness and lightness. Weighing in at a mere 463 grams and measuring 88.4×88.53 mm, it’s tailored for travel and street photography, ensuring user-friendly functionality for both amateurs and professionals.

Internally, the lens comprises 16 elements in 12 groups, including 2 aspherical elements and 2 ultra-low dispersion elements, enhancing its optical prowess. The lens features a five-blade diaphragm and allows for the installation of 86 mm light filters. Notably, it provides an extraordinary minimum focusing distance of just 20 cm, enabling the capturing of uniquely compelling images.

For videography enthusiasts, the Laowa 8-16mm F3.5-5 Zoom CF offers a seamless experience. It incorporates a feature to disable aperture clicks, ensuring smooth adjustments while filming.

Price and release date

Available for pre-order at an enticing price of $549, the Laowa 8-16mm F3.5-5 Zoom CF lens is accessible through the Bhphotovideo.com online store.

Laowa 8-16mm F3.5-5 specifications

• Focal Length: 8 to 16mm (35mm Equivalent: 12 to 24mm)
• Mount: Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF-M
• Lens Format Coverage: APS-C
• Focus Type: Manual Focus
• Maximum Aperture: f/3.5 to 5
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Angle of View: 82.8° to 120.9°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 7.87″ / 19.99 cm
• Maximum Magnification: 0.12x
• Optical Design: 16 Elements in 12 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades: 5
• Image Stabilization: No
• Front Filter Size: 86 mm
• Dimensions: 3.48 x 3.48″ / 88.39 x 88.39 mm
• Weight: 1.02 lb / 463 g

In addition, Pergear has introduced the 60mm f2.8 II manual focus lens, meticulously crafted for full-frame mirrorless cameras. This lens boasts compatibility with various mounts, such as Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E, and L-mount. Priced at $199 / £179, it offers an affordable yet high-quality solution for photography enthusiasts.