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Fast and wide: Laowa unveils an 8-15mm F2.8 zoom fisheye lens

Fast and wide: Laowa unveils an 8-15mm F2.8 zoom fisheye lens

Yahoo14 hours ago

Laowa is well known for its unique lenses, offering photographers tools that allow them to stretch their creativity. Now, the company has added another lens to its lineup, announcing the 8-15mm F2.8 full-frame fisheye zoom lens. The lens is manual focus only, but it offers a fast and constant F2.8 aperture for a wide range of full-frame cameras.
The Laowa 8-15mm F2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye has what the company calls a "dual fisheye effect." At the wide end, the lens delivers a 180° angle of view, resulting in a circular image with black edges. However, when zoomed in to 15mm, the lens provides a diagonal fisheye image, which fills the entire rectangular frame without black corners.
Sample gallery
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Photos: Laowa
Laowa built the lens with 13 elements in 9 groups and a nine-blade aperture diaphragm. The company promises edge-to-edge clarity. The fast aperture is ideal for low-light conditions, and Laowa also promises beautiful bokeh for greater creative control. It can focus as close as 16cm (6.3"), enabling dramatically exaggerated subjects when up close. It is manual focus only, though.
It's a relatively compact lens, with the RF mount version measuring 94.5mm (3.7") long. It weighs approximately 650g (1.43lbs). It's available in E, Z, L and RF mount versions.
The Laowa 8-15mm F2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye is available for purchase as of today for $699. Pricing may vary in other countries.
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Press release:
Anhui China, June 6, 2025 – Introducing the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye, a one-of-a-kind addition to Laowa's innovative lens lineup. Designed for photographers and content creators seeking bold, creative perspectives, this lens delivers a dual fisheye effect with a versatile zoom range and an ultra-fast constant f/2.8 aperture. Compatible with full-frame cameras, this lens offers unparalleled flexibility for capturing expansive landscapes, compact cities, action sports, and 360° panoramas.
Dual Fisheye Effect
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye Lens delivers a versatile dual fisheye effect,seamlessly transitioning between two distinct visual styles on full-frame cameras. At the8mm end, the lens produces a circular fisheye effect, capturing a 180° field of view. Atthe 15mm end, it transitions to a full-frame rectangular fisheye effect, filling the entiresensor with the characteristic fisheye distortion. The zoom capability allows creators toswitch between these effects without changing lenses, enhancing flexibility forphotography and videography applications.
Max. 180° circular fisheye
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye Lens offers an extra-wide view, delivering asweeping 180° angle of view at its 8mm focal length on full-frame cameras. Thisexpansive perspective captures vast scenes in a single frame, producing a dramaticcircular fisheye effect with pronounced curvature, ideal for creative effects,astrophotography, and 360° panoramas.
Diagonal fisheye
As the lens zooms to 15mm, the angle of view narrows slightly, filling the full-framesensor with a diagonal fisheye image that retains a wide, distorted perspective. Ideal forimmersive landscapes, astrophotography,
Constant Fast Aperture
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye Lens boasts a constant T2.9 aperturethroughout its zoom range, ensuring consistent exposure and depth of field control. Thisfast aperture excels in low-light situations, delivering outstanding performance fornighttime shoots or dimly lit environments, while also providing beautiful bokeh forcreative flexibility in crafting immersive fisheye visuals.
Close Focusing Distance
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye Lens features a minimum focusing distanceof 16cm (6.3'), enabling photographers and videographers to capture subjects at closerange with striking visual impact. This close focusing capability enhances the lens'sfisheye distortion, delivering an exaggerated point of view (POV). Additionally, the closefocus mimics a bugeye effect, creating a playful, almost cartoonish distortion wheresubjects appear disproportionately large, adding a unique and bold aesthetic to imagesand videos.
Full Frame Coverage
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye Lens offers full-frame coverage, unlockingthe full potential of high-resolution cameras. It delivers a true 180° circular fisheye effectat 8mm and a rectangular fisheye at 15mm, ensuring edge-to-edge clarity andmaximum angle of view without cropping.
Ultra Compact
Dimensions
94.5MM X Ø76.4MM (CANON RF
MOUNT)
Weights
~650G (1.43 LBS, EXCLUDING CAPS)
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye Lens is remarkably compact. This portabledesign makes it one of the smallest and lightest full-frame fisheye zoom lenses with aconstant f/2.8 aperture, ideal for travel, adventure, and handheld shooting. Perfect forlandscape photographers, vloggers, and drone-based creators, this lens delivers boldfisheye visuals without the bulk, enhancing mobility and convenience for on-the-gocontent creation.
Pricing & Availability
LAOWA 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye is available to purchase via Venus Opticsofficial website (Home - LAOWA Camera Lenses) and authorized resellers from the 6thJune, 2025.
The US price for LAOWA 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye is $699. Pricing varies in different countries.
Product Page
LAOWA 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye:
https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-8-15mm-f-2-8-ff-zoom-fisheye-2
Sample images
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BLfVOj-wyHWfE4-94ay7py9RkzcwHHx8?usp=sharing
Product Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBjXQJ4aYtA&feature=youtu.be
Specification
Product name
LAOWA 8-15mm F2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye
Format Compatability
Full Frame
Focal Length
8-15mm
Aperture
F2.8-22
Angle of view
175°-180°
Lens Structure
13 elements in 9 groups
Aperture Blades
9
Focus Throw
70°
Zoom Throw
76°
Aperture Throw
42°
Focus Scale
Dual Scale
Min. Focusing Distance
16cm
Max. Magnification
0.23x
Focus Mode
Manual Focus
Dimensions
94.5mm*Ø76.4mm (measured in RF mount)
Weight
~650g
Mounts
E / Z / L / RF
Price
USD699

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