Laowa 12mm f2.8 Lite Zero-D Ultra Wide-Angle FF Lens

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF lens represents a complete redesign of our legendary 12mm Zero-D for the mirrorless era. Optimised with autofocus for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts, improved optics, and a dramatically smaller housing weighing only 377g.
Sporting a bright f/2.8 aperture, 14cm close focus distance and an ultra-wide 122° field of view with close to zero distortion; perfect for architecture, landscape, astrophotography and creative wide-angle work.

Key Specifications

• Lens Mount(s): Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, or L mount
  
• Sensor Coverage: Full Frame
  
• Focal Length (FoV): 12mm (122º)
  
• Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
  
• Focus Type* / Aperture Blades**:
  
  • Autofocus / 5-blade (Sony E or Nikon Z)
    
  • Manual Focus / 5-blade (Canon RF or L mount)
    
• Minimum Focus Distance: 14cm / 5.51"
  
• Maximum Magnification: 0.21X
  
• Filter Thread: 72mm
  
• Dimensions: Ø77.2 x 78.6mm / Ø3.04” x 3.09” (Sony E)
  
• Weight: 377g / 0.83lbs (Sony E)

* Note: AF versions have a faint operational sound that may be audible during focusing when the aperture is stopped down. This is a normal characteristic of the lens and does not impact optical performance or functionality.

** Note: Manual-Focus variants, equipped with 14 aperture blades can be imported on request in any of the 4 mount options. The 14-blade iris has a reduced sunstar effect and smoother bokeh.

Redesigned from the ground up for mirrorless systems, the 12mm Lite Zero-D delivers improved optical performance in a significantly more compact and lightweight design. The new optical formula enhances edge-to-edge sharpness whilst reducing chromatic aberration, while maintaining the legendary Zero-D distortion control that made the original a bestseller. At just 377g on Sony E mount, this represents a substantial weight reduction without compromising image quality.

Autofocus capability on Sony E and Nikon Z mounts brings modern convenience to ultra-wide photography, whilst the bright f/2.8 aperture excels in low-light conditions from astrophotography to architectural interiors. The extremely close 14cm focus distance opens creative possibilities for dramatic wide-angle close-ups, and the standard 72mm filter thread accommodates circular polarisers and ND filters without additional adapters.

Perfect for landscape photographers seeking expansive vistas and architectural or real-estate photographers requiring distortion-free buildings & interiors. Astro-photographers would benefit from the well controlled coma at f/2.8, which disappears completely at f/4, capturing impressive night skies. The 5-blade aperture creates distinctive 10-point sunstars, whilst the compact form factor makes it ideal for gimbal work, travel photography, and any situation where portability matters as much as optical performance.

Notable features

• Ultra-Wide 122° FOV on Full Frame sensors
  
• Near-Zero Distortion (Zero-D) design
  
• Fast & accurate Auto-Focus (Sony E & Nikon Z)
  
• Bright f/2.8 maximum aperture
  
• Ultra-close 14cm focusing distance
  
• Exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness
  
• Smooth bokeh transitions
  
• Striking 10-point sunstars
  
• Standard 72mm filter thread
  
• Compact & lightweight design (377g on Sony E)

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF strikes a sweet spot between dramatic wide-angles and practicality. It captures expansive perspectives that make ultra-wide lenses so compelling, without making the subject too small in the frame. The final image rendering gives a more natural-looking size of the subject, vs the background. A Goldilocks lens for capturing the vastness and impact of waterfalls, stars, interiors and more. When you need impressive wide-angle results with just the right amount of 'drama', this is your lens.

© Chen Jie Yang

© asavitckii

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF carries forward the Laowa legacy, offering an impressive 122° ultra-wide rectilinear angle of view on full-frame cameras. As one of the widest non-fisheye lenses available, it stands unmatched in the mirrorless market.

© Bastian Kratzke

The "Zero-D" design ensures minimal distortion, allowing you to capture scenes with true-to-life accuracy, without correction in post. It's an ideal choice for architecture and real estate photography, where a natural, undistorted look is essential.

© Shi Li Mou Ren

© Bastian Kratzke

Built for portability, this lens is lightweight and compact, weighing just around 0.83 lb / 377g (AF Sony E mount), making it easy to take wherever your creativity leads. It's perfect for pairing with gimbals, drones, or street photography whenever you want to avoid the burden of heavy gear.

© asavitckii

As the second autofocus lens in Laowa's lineup, the 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D delivers fast, precise focus tracking for both Sony E and Nikon Z mounts. It combines the convenience of reliable autofocus with the exceptional optical quality Laowa is known for, ensuring you never miss a moment.

*RF and L mount are fully manual

© qiufanzi

The large f/2.8 aperture delivers outstanding performance in low-light environments and allows greater flexibility in shutter speed settings. It also enables a beautifully shallow depth of field—ideal for night scenes, astrophotography, and creative bokeh.

© Christopher Frost

This lens offers a close focusing distance of just 14cm (5.5 inches), allowing you to easily capture striking images up close and explore the possibilities of wide-angle macro photography.

The original 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D was highly praised for its image quality. However, the new 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF takes it even further, with improved sharpness and reduced chromatic aberration. This impressive image quality benefits landscape, architecture, and astrophotographers who demand edge-to-edge clarity.

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D comes with a built-in 72mm filter thread, giving you the flexibility to easily use various filters, such as CPL or ND filters, to create your desired photographic effects.

With its 5-blade aperture, this lens creates a distinctive 10-point sunstar effect, adding a striking visual element to your photos.

© asavitckii

Sample Images

© John Hanson

© asavitckii

© Chen Jie Yang

© Jimmy Chan