Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF Lens Announced – A Super Wide-Angle for Mirrorless Cameras

Lens News

by Alexandra ThompsonOctober 13^th, 2023

Venus Optics have just introduced their newest lens, the Laowa 8-16mm f3.5-5 Zoom CF. This compact, super wide-angle zoom lens offers a field of view ranging from 82.8 degrees to 120.9 degrees. Designed specifically for mirrorless cameras, this could be a great lens for capturing creative wide-angle shots. So let’s take a closer look at this super wide-angle zoom lens!

Laowa just released their Laowa Aurogon FF 10-50X NA0.5 Supermicro APO lenses – some serious microscopic lenses for FF – and now they’re already back with a super wide-angle zoom.

Tailored specifically for mirrorless cameras, this lens boasts a compact and lightweight design, tipping the scales at just 463 grams (1.02 pounds) without its lens hood or front and rear caps. Its lightweight construction makes it perfect for travel, and if you’re looking for a versatile, budget-friendly lens to have some serious fun with then the Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF lens might be a good choice.

Much like the rest of Laowa’s wide-angle lens lineup, the Laowa 8-16mm f3.5-5 Zoom CF offers excellent control over optical distortion. It performs exceptionally well in close-range focusing, with a minimum distance of just 20cm. Maximum magnification is 0.125X. The housing is constructed from metal.

86mm filter thread for additional filters

The manual focus lens is composed of 16 elements arranged in 12 groups, incorporating two aspherical and two ED elements. The 5-blade aperture creates a distinctive 10-point Sunstar effect. The lens of the Laowa 8-16mm f3.5-5 Zoom CF even accommodates an 86mm filter thread despite its compact size, so you can attach extra accessories like polarizers or ND filters for long exposures. The front lens has Frog Eye Coating (FEC) to help shield it from water and dust.

De-clicking option on the aperture ring

Videographers will appreciate the aperture ring’s de-clicking option, which guarantees smooth aperture adjustments while shooting video.

Specifications for the Laowa 8-16mm f3.5-5 Zoom CF

• Format: APS-C
• Focal distance: 8-16mm
• Aperture Range: f3.5(5)-16
• Angle of View: 82.8°-120.9°
• Lens Structure: 16 elements/12 groups (Aspherical element*2, ED elements*2)
• Aperture Blades: 5
• Minimum Shooting Distance: 20cm / 7.87in
• Max. Magnification: 0.125X
• Focusing: MF
• Filter Thread: ø86mm
• Dimensions: 3.48 x 3.48’’ / 88.4 x 88.53 mm
• Weight: 1.02 lb / 463g (without lens hood and both front cap and rear cap)
• Mounts: Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, EF-M

Pricing and availability

The lens is available for the Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and Canon EF-M mounts. The Laowa 8-16mm f3.5-5 Zoom CF can be ordered now for $549 / €679. For more information, please visit the Laowa website.

What do you think of this zoom lens from Laowa? What other zoom lenses do you like to use? Let us know in the comment section beneath the article!