A truly wide-angle prime featuring a rectilinear optical design, the black Sony A-mount Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D from Venus Optics is specifically meant to limit distortion for clear and accurate portrayals of landscapes and architectural subjects. The optical construction also incorporates a pair of aspherical elements and three extra-low dispersion elements to control both spherical and chromatic aberrations for improved sharpness and reduced color fringing. A Frog Eye Coating has been applied, too, to repel dust and moisture from the front element of the lens to benefit working in trying environmental conditions. Benefitting the optical attributes, this lens also features a precise manual focus design along with a floating optical system to maintain accurate rendering throughout the focus range, from 7.09" to infinity. Additionally, a petal-shaped lens hood is also incorporated into the lens' design to reduce flare and ghosting when working in strong lighting conditions.
- A-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Three Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
- Two Aspherical Elements
Venus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D Overview
Venus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D Specs
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Venus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D Reviews
Terrible customer service
I used it for real estate for a year. One day it just fell apart. The mount fell off the lens. The mount stayed on my camera and the lens smashed on the ground. Emailed the company repeatedly with zero response.
Astronomically Excellent
I have tested many super wide lenses for Nikon Z mount, and this one performed the best for my astro landscape work. I use it for spherical panoramas, standard panoramas and single photos that include a lot of sky. I find the focusing to be easy, simply zoom in as far as one can to do critical focus on stars or use a bahtinov mask. The infinity mark on the lens barrel is not 100% accurate, but it isn't on any lens I have ever used, so that is not on Laowa. The humidity levels and temperature can affect that in my experience, so it's not always in the same spot on all my lenses. The coma is the lowest among the super wide lenses I tested and is nominal at f/4. Since I shoot at ISo 6400, 12,800 and above this is A-OK. I love it. I enjoy having it in my bag very much.

