Laowa Probe Lens Teased – Ultra Wide 15mm, and 2.3X Zoom

Lens News

by Heath McKnightToday

Laowa has teased their new Probe Zoom lens featuring 15mm and a 2.3X zoom range. Probe lenses are ideal for macro cinematography and photography, and the unusual shape and design of the lens allow for extremely close shots of its subjects and offer a “bug POV” for creative purposes. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

Laowa released their first probe lens in 2018, a 24mm f/14 Probe featuring a ‘snorkel’ design. By 2022, they introduced the 24mm T14 2X Periprobe lens with an interchangeable 90° front element. My colleague Nino Leitner reviewed both lenses; you can read his review of the 24mm  f/14 Probe lens here and the 24m T14 Periprobe lens review here.

Meanwhile, in 2023, Laowa unveiled the 24mm T8 2X Macro Pro2be three-lens set, featuring a cine lens-style design and a faster T stop. The three lenses include a 35° View Lens, a Direct View Lens, and a Periscope Lens. The Laowa Pro2be can be purchased as a set, or each lens can be purchased individually.

Now Laowa is giving cinematographers and macro filmmaking and photography enthusiasts a sneak peek at their next probe lens, the ultra-wide 15mm 2.3X Probe Zoom.

Laowa Probe Zoom Lens – what we know so far

Laowa has only released a few details about the new ultra-wide 15mm Probe Zoom lens. What we know is that the lens will offer three distinct views: direct, 35° tilt, and periscope. Having a zoom allows for easier adjustments when shooting macro. Judging by the image tease released by Laowa, they could be following the route they took with the Pro2be lens and releasing three separate lenses.

• 15mm at the widest.
• Par-focus 2.3x zoom range (about 15-35mm range).
• Up to 2X magnification.
• Direct, Periscope, and 35° Tilt, resulting in dynamic angles and creative options.
• Overall sharpness for high imaging quality.
• The tubular barrel is waterproof, making this a versatile lens that can be used in multiple environments.

Price and availability 

Laowa is promising more details with an official unveiling soon. The price hasn’t been revealed yet, either, but the 15mm 2.3X Probe Zoom will be available to ship during Q2 of 2025. To give an idea of the pricing of their most recent probe lens, the three-piece Laowa 24mm T8 2X Macro Pro2be Lens retails for $8,499 for all three lenses, while each ranges in price from $2,849 to $3,349.

The timing of Laowa’s tease of their new 15mm ultra-wide probe zoom lens is interesting. On the same day, DZOFILM introduced its own wide-angle zoom probe lens, the X-Tract 18-28mm T8. As with the Laowa probe lenses, the X-Tract’s ‘snorkel’ design allows it to access more hard-to-reach places. The DZOFILM probe zoom lens will retail for $3,499. Check out the details here.

Are you currently using a probe lens to film macro scenes? What are your thoughts on Laowa’s Probe Zoom lens? Please let us know in the comments below!