Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
Announced June 6, 2025
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Venus Optics Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 Fisheye is a versatile zoom lens that allows photographers to switch between circular and full-frame fisheye effects. It offers impressive sharpness and a premium metal build at an attractive price point, though it requires manual operation and lacks electronic communication with the camera.
Weighted from 10 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent image sharpness across the frame
- Premium metal build quality
- Versatile zoom range combining circular and full-frame fisheye effects
- Affordable pricing
- Bright f/2.8 maximum aperture
Cons
- Fully manual operation without electronic communication or EXIF data
- Flare and coma issues in challenging lighting
- Weight and handling concerns
- Lack of filter support
- Lack of weather sealing
- Launch price $699 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 8-15mm f/2.8
- Mount & coverage Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L-Mount, Fujifilm G, Hasselblad X Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 16 cm (0.23x)
- Autofocus motor Manual focus only
- Weight & size 650g · 76.4 x 94.5 mm (3.01 x 3.72 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 10 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 7.5/10
If you want to see the world like a fish, and want to zoom while you're doing it, the Laowa 8-15mm makes the most sense.
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I find the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 Fisheye an easy lens to recommend if you're into fisheye photography or videography.
- OpticalLimits 7/10
If you are a fan and own a full-frame fisheye lens, you may sometimes wish for a circular fisheye lens - and vice versa. And that's the value proposition of the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye, which offers the best of both fisheye worlds here.
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[...] I loved this lens. It's really versatile and can get your imagination pretty pumped up.
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This Laowa lens is impressively sharp, even wide open—especially at the wider end of its zoom range—with minimal chromatic aberration. It also offers an extremely close minimum focusing distance and comes at an attractive price for what it delivers.
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Even so, I feel that the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye is a genuine 2-in-1 lens, delivering both circular and diagonal fisheye effects at either end of its zoom range respectively. I love that the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye keeps my creative options fully open.
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[...] I think as long as you don't mind this lens is a bit bigger and heavier than the typical prime fisheye lenses, if you are in the market for a high quality fisheye lens, this Laowa is an excellent choice, and you don't have to make that hard decision to choose [...]
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Having tried a few different Nikon Z-mount fisheyes lately, I quite like this one. For the style of shooting I’ve been doing with it — on-the-go travel-style shooting — I’ve found it to work well.
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[I]n conclusion, what do I think of this lens? Well, actually, I absolutely loved it.
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Would I recommend this lens? Definitely! It’s an absolutely great lens for what it does.
