Review: Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D

Announcement and review

Venus Lens has introduced the Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF

The list price (US) for the 10mm is $799

Or help us by buying at B&H

30 mins – Video review: RF [manual] version
Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D

Jump to main review below release notes

Venus Optics: Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF

Press info:

Anhui China, Feb 22, 2024 – Venus Optics announces the launch of the new Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF Lens. It is the world’s first rectilinear 10mm full-frame lens with f/2.8 aperture and the first-ever auto- focus lens, for Sony E and Nikon Z mount, in Laowa’s lineup. Designed in a compact and lightweight manner, the lens weighs only 420g(0.93 lbs) with a stylish grey outlook. The lens also delivers outstanding image quality and close-to-zero distortion. Despite such an ultra-wide angle, the lens comes with a 77mm front filter thread, making it a powerful tool for photography and videography, from capturing one-of- the-kind landscapes, architecture, interior and astrophotography to stunning time-lapse and vlogging.

This 10mm lens marked 10 years journey of Laowa in the realm of optics. Over a decade of innovation, Venus Optics continues to surprise the world by bringing new products with optimized optical designs and solid lens quality. The Laowa 10mm f/2.8 lens delivers an unmatched ultra-wide-angle shooting experience for photographers and video creators to achieve every new idea.

First Auto Focus Ultra-wide 10mm with f/2.8 Large Aperture

Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF has pushed the boundary of the maximum aperture for the 10mm wide non- fisheye lens. The f/2.8 fast aperture opens up a lot more possibilities to take landscape and architecture photography in low-light conditions and be able to capture at an ultra-wide perspective which was never possible before.

Angle of View of 130°

The remarkable 130.4° angle of view helps exaggerate the sense of space. And allows you to capture the magnificent landscape with a dramatic impact all in a single image. This one-of-a-kind perspective helps realize a lot of formerly impossible shots. From breathtaking landscapes to dynamic architecture, this lens opens up new dimensions in visual storytelling.

[An example, from my own testing – click to enlarge]

Close-to-Zero Optical Distortion (Zero-D)

A lens in 10mm is usually a fisheye or heavily distorted. This full-frame 10mm optically suppresses distortion to a close-to-zero level. Both horizontal and vertical straight lines can be maintained on the image from corner to corner. Giving you a true 10mm experience even without any in-camera lens correction.

Lens info: Internal structure

Initial Lens Review: Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF

The lens is a solid metal construction, with internal focusing (keeps dust out for one thing).

Several people have suggested that it must be plastic, because of the weight, but it’s actually an Aero Aluminium alloy, which explains the relative lightness in heft, and the cool metallic feel of the exterior.

This video looks at testing the Manual focus RF mount version.

It’s ~30 mins long.

Some of the sample images from it are shown here, after it – click to enlarge images

Video review:
Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D

Some example images form the video review

OOF highlight – pentagonal shaped

Star spikes with bright lights

A very wide view – just a bit of barrel distortion

Flare is only an issue with sunlight just hitting the lens front element from the side

Otherwise it’s well controlled

I’ll be having more about this lens in due course.

The list price (US) for the 10mm is $799

Or help us by buying at B&H