Laowa 12mm f/2.8 to be the Widest Rectilinear f/2.8 Lens
Chinese lens maker Venus Optics is set to launch a new lens called the Laowa 12mm f/2.8. It will be the world’s widest rectilinear f/2.8 lens.
Canon launched a world’s widest rectilinear lens last year, but the Canon 11-24mm f/4L has a fixed maximum aperture of f/4, so Venus Optics’ new lens is a full stop faster.
The downside is that it’s a manual focus lens, while Canon’s offering has autofocus.
Other specs include multiple extra low dispersion and aspherical elements, 16 elements in 10 groups, a 121.96° angle of view, a 7-blade aperture, a minimum focusing distance of 18cm (~7.09in), and a weight of 1.34lb (609g).
Here are some sample photos captured with the lens:
Photographer Nicky Bay got his hands on a preview unit of the lens. It has a full metal finish and a solid construction.
“Did it get me interested in landscape and astro-photography?,” Bay writes. “Yes, it is a really fun and sharp lens to have with features that addresses the needs of many landscape and astro photographers!”
Here’s a short 1.5-minute video he made as a preview for the lens (you can also read a longer writeup on his blog):
Venus Optics will be officially launching the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 on July 30th, 2016, with a Kickstarter campaign to take preorders. Available mounts include Canon EF, Nikon AI, Sony A, Pentax K, and Sony E. Stay tuned.
Image credits: Sample photographs courtesy Venus Optics
