Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine

Venus Optics Laowa Ultra-Wide Angle and Zero Distortion

One of the standout features of the Laowa 12mm T/2.9 is its ultra-wide focal length combined with a Zero-D optical design. At 12mm, the lens offers a massive field of view, allowing for expansive shots that capture large scenes with incredible clarity. This feature is particularly crucial for architectural photography and videography, where distortion can lead to unnatural perspectives. The result is a wide-angle lens that maintains the accuracy of straight lines and structures, offering a professional-quality look.

Fast T/2.9 Aperture

With a fast T/2.9 aperture, the Laowa 12mm lens provides excellent low-light performance and allows for greater creative control over depth of field. A wider aperture helps achieve beautiful background blur (bokeh) and gives cinematographers the flexibility to isolate subjects from the background, even in dim environments. This is especially useful when shooting indoors or in challenging lighting conditions. The fast aperture also ensures that the lens performs well in low-light situations, making it an invaluable tool for both daylight and nighttime filming.

Cinema-Grade Build and Performance

 The lens includes standard 0.8 pitch gears on both the aperture and focus rings, allowing smooth and precise control during video shoots. These gears are compatible with follow-focus systems and other filmmaking equipment, making it easy to maintain accurate focus transitions during production. Additionally, the manual focus and aperture rings provide tactile feedback and full creative control, ensuring that cinematographers can achieve their desired shots with precision.

Optical Quality and Design

The Laowa 12mm T/2.9 Zero-D features a sophisticated optical design consisting of 12 elements in 10 groups, including low dispersion elements to reduce chromatic aberrations. This results in sharper, more contrast-rich images, with improved color accuracy and minimal color fringing. The lens construction effectively controls optical imperfections, such as flare and ghosting, thanks to Venus Optics’ advanced coating technology. This allows filmmakers to capture high-quality footage even in challenging lighting conditions, such as backlighting or bright highlights.