At CP+ 2025, Venus Optics lifted the veil on 3 Laowa lenses. Designed for full frame (and medium format) mirrorless, the Laowa 35 mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 0.5x Macro, Laowa 15 mm f/4.5 Wide Angle Macro and Laowa 8-15 mm f/2.8 Fisheye lenses will be launched in the coming months.
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Laowa 15 mm f/4.5 Wide Angle Macro
The Laowa 15 mm f/4.5 Wide Angle Macro comes alongside the Laowa 15 mm f/4 Macro. Launched in 2016, this lens made a name for itself by becoming the widest macro lens on the market.
For the moment, certain technical details are unknown. However, the maximum magnification ratio is 0.5x (versus 1x for the 15mm f/4 Macro), and the maximum aperture is f/4.5. The diaphragm is composed of just 5 blades.
Laowa also reports a minimum focusing distance of just 13 cm. Its weight of 308 g seems well under control. We note that the lens is composed of 16 lenses divided into 11 groups (no further details yet).
Here’s a list of the Laowa 15 mm f/4.5 Wide Angle Macro’s features (items marked with an asterisk have not been confirmed by the brand):
- focal length: 15 mm (equivalent to 22.5 mm in APS-C)
- full-frame sensor lens
- max. aperture: f/4.5
- minimum aperture: f/32
- angle of view: 110.5°
- optical construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
- diaphragm: 5 blades
- minimum focusing distance: 13 cm
- image stabilization: no
- tropicalization: no
- max. magnification: 0.5x
- focusing: manual
- filter diameter: N.A.
- dimensions: N.C.
- weight: 308 g
- accessories supplied: N.C.
- compatible mouts: Sony E, Nikon Z, L-Mount
- launch price: N.C.
Laowa 8-15 mm f/2.8 Zoom Fisheye
The Laowa 8-15 mm f/2.8 Zoom Fisheye is a particularly intriguing ultra-wide-angle lens. At its shortest focal length (8 mm), it offers a 180° angle of view and behaves like a fisheye lens, with a circular image and pronounced distortions. This phenomenon gradually disappears as you zoom in. In this respect, it is reminiscent of the AF-S Fisheye Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED zoom, launched in 2017.
Available in Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica L and Canon RF mounts – and, more surprisingly , in Fujifilm G and Hasselblad X mounts – this manual zoom has a max. aperture of f/2.8 and is composed of 13 lenses in 9 groups. Its minimum MAP distance is 16 cm (from the front lens).
While exact dimensions are unknown, we note its 650g weight – as well as its slightly domed front lens, which will prevent the mounting of circular filters.
Here’s a list of features for the Laowa 8-15 mm f/2.8 Zoom Fisheye (items marked with an asterisk have not been confirmed by the brand):
- focal range: 8-15 mm (equivalent to 12-22.5 mm in APS-C and 6.3-11.9 mm in medium format)
- lens for full-frame & medium format sensors
- max. aperture: f/2.8
- minimum aperture: f/22
- angle of view: 180°
- optical construction: 13 elements in 9 groups
- diaphragm: 9 blades
- minimum focusing distance: 16 cm
- image stabilization: no
- tropicalization: no
- max. magnification: 0.23x
- focusing: manual
- filter diameter: N.A.
- dimensions: N.C.
- weight: 650 g
- accessories supplied: N.C.
- Compatible mounts: Sony E, Nikon Z, L-Mount, Canon RF, Fujifilm G, Hasselblad X*.
- launch price: N.C.
Laowa 35 mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 0.5x Macro
Finally, Venus Optics unveils the Laowa 35 mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 0.5x Macro. This atypical lens will sit alongside the Laowa 55 and 100 mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 1x Macro, from which it takes its main attractions.
With its 35 mm focal length (equivalent to 27.65 mm in medium format), this lens is well suited to architectural photography. What’s more, its minimum focusing distance is just 22.8 cm. With its 0.5x magnification ratio (compared with 1x on the 55 and 100 mm, however), it should enable you to capture objects in close-up.
The maximum decentering should reach ± 12 mm and the tilt ± 10°. The lens is designed around 14 lenses in 12 groups. The f/2.8 aperture is ensured by a 15-blade diaphragm. Unsurprisingly, the lens weighs a hefty 1350 g on the scales. Its price should be equivalent to that of the 55 and 100 mm Tilt-Shift macro lenses, which were launched at a price of €1,249.
Here’s a list of specifications for the Laowa 35 mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 0.5x Macro (items marked with an asterisk have not been confirmed by the brand):
- focal length: 35 mm (equivalent to 52.5 mm in APS-C and 27.65 mm in medium format)
- lens for full-frame & medium-format sensors
- max. aperture: f/2.8
- minimum aperture: f/22
- angle of view: 87.5°
- optical construction: 14 elements in 12 groups
- diaphragm: 15 vanes
- minimum focusing distance: 22.8 cm
- image stabilization: no
- tropicalization: no
- max. magnification: 0.5x
- focusing: manual
- filter diameter: N.C.
- dimensions: N.C.
- weight: 1350 g
- accessories supplied: N.C.
- Compatible mounts: Sony E, Nikon Z, L-Mount, Canon RF, Fujifilm G*.
- launch price: N.C.
Prices and availability
The price and availability of the Laowa 35 mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 0.5x Macro, Laowa 15 mm f/4.5 Wide Angle Macro and Laowa 8-15 mm f/2.8 Fisheye have yet to be announced by the manufacturer.
Our first opinion
With these three new, atypical lenses, Venus Optics shows its ambition and continues to surprise us. This 2025 edition of CP+ once again confirms the Chinese manufacturer’s strategy: to develop even more “niche” lenses and appeal to photographers (and videographers) wanting to expand their creative horizons.
