Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF launched, a new mirrorless version of an existing DSLR lens

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is an ultra-wide full frame mirrorless lens in Sony, Nikon, Canon and L mount versions, though only the Sony and Nikon versions have autofocus – the Canon and L mount versions are manual focus only.

This is not the first time we’ve seen this lens, as it was already available in a DSLR version for multiple systems as a physically larger manual focus lens.

The 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is not the widest Laowa full frame lens, however, as that honor belongs to the remarkable Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF. This lens too comes in autofocus versions for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts and manual only for Canon RF and L mount. We have to assume Canon is playing hard to get (it doesn’t like competing third-party lenses) and perhaps the L-mount alliance too.

The new 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is probably wide enough for most users, though – remember this is a full frame lens. It offers an angle of view of 122°, and that is wiiiide! It weighs just 377g (Sony E-mount), and while the manual focus RF and L-mount versions don’t get AF, they do get a rounded 10-blade iris (good for rounded bokeh) versus the 5-blade iris in the Sony E and Nikon Z AF versions (good for sunstars).

The Zero-D in the name stands for ‘zero distortion’ and the new lens also features an integrated 72mm filter mount, a 14cm minimum focus distance and improved image quality over the original version, particularly in the corners.

Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF specifications

Format: Full Frame
Focal Length: 12mm
Aperture: f/2.8-22
Angle of View: 122°
Lens construction: 16 elements in 9 groups
Aperture Blades: 5/14
Minimum focus distance: 14mm
Maximum magnification: 0.21x
Focus Mode: MF/ AF (depending on mount)
Filter Thread: 72mm
Dimensions: 77mm x 76.5mm

Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF price and availability

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is available for pre-order at B&H (US), with UK pricing and availability TBC.

• Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF $699 at B&H (Sony E mount – check you choose the right mount/focus/iris blade option)