Nov 18, 2018

Venus Optics Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D

Introduction

In the recent years, a few newcomers have begun to make their mark on the photo industry. Not wanting to challenge the established players, these new companies often position themselves by offering products not available in regular catalogs.  This is particularly welcome for Pentax users, who are suffering from a reduced level of third-party support from big names such as Sigma.  Other companies see this as an opportunity to step in.

One such player is Venus Optics. Established in 2013, the Chinese company has a rapidly growing lineup of unique lenses sold under the Laowa label. Most of the company's lenses are macro with unique features, such as extreme wide angle or magnification. One of their new lenses, the 12mm F2.8 Zero-D, is remarkable for another reason: it offers a combination of extreme wide angle (for full frame) and wide aperture. Launched on Kickstarter in 2016, this lens marks a milestone for the company.

The Laowa 12mm comes with automatic aperture coupling, a metal body and relatively small form factor. On paper, it is a very interesting lens with a lot going for it.

Read our review to find out if the lens performs up to expectations!


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