Venus Optics has launched the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D, which it says is the world’s widest f/2 native lens for Sony full-frame E-mount cameras.
The Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D is the widest f/2 rectilinear lens on the market with a native E mount and doesn’t require adapters, Venus Optics says.
The new Laowa prime lens weighs just 500g and measures 8cm long. Inside, it’s constructed of 12 elements in 9 groups with 2 pcs of aspherical elements and 3 pcs of Extra-low dispersion elements.
Venus Optics says that the Laowa 15mm f/2 also avoids the dome-shaped front element design that many other ultra-wide-angle lenses employ, meaning that landscape photographers can easily mount filters.
The Laowa 15mm f/2 offers a 72mm filter thread allowing photographers to use screw-on filters.
In particular, the new Laowa lens is aimed at astrophotography, offering a 110-degree angle of view to capture the night sky.
Other features include a close focusing distance of 15cm and a specially designed aperture switch that allows users to quickly switch between click-less and clicked aperture.
The Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D is the second addition to Venus Optics’ Close-to-Zero distortion lens line-up, joining the 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D launched last year.
These lenses are designed to remove the optical distortion that commonly exists in wide-angle lenses at infinity focus.
The Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D price tag is $849 and is currently available to pre-order from the Venus Optics website. A release date is expected in late August or early September.