K i t Z o n e
Verdict
The Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D is an easy
recommendation. It offers enviable image quality,
with an even more enviable aperture – and
its distortion control makes it suitable for
professional architectural work.4.5 Outstanding
4.0Features4.5Performance5.0Valueandscape lenses like the Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D
don’t get the same column inches as their glitzy
portrait lens counterparts. However, this rectilinear
lens is worthy of plenty of headlines, combining
a huge 110° angle of view with a fast aperture
that’s significantly brighter and cheaper than rival lenses,
such as the massive Canon EF 11-24mm F/4L USM.
It’s a manual-focus lens, and it doesn’t have weather sealing or
electrical contacts, but it can stand toe-to-toe with its bigger budget
counterparts in terms of performance. It’s both a compact and
impressively sturdy lens, pairing brilliantly with mirrorless cameras.Performance
The Laowa 15mm performed well in the field. While the distance
scale shouldn’t be taken as gospel when it comes to working
out depth of field, this is very much an “f/8 and be there” lens
if you focus to infinity, thanks to the increased depth of field
of such an extreme wide-angle.
With a significant throw on the focus ring, you have pinpoint
control over focus when you need it – and mirrorless camera aids
like magnification and focus peaking really help when framing up.
Images do exhibit vignetting, as you’d expect of a lens with this
kind of curvature, but that’s an optical inevitability of physics
rather than any real shortcoming of the design – and it’s
nothing that a couple of clicks in Photoshop can’t fix.
While its obvious applications are in landscape and architecture,
the Laowa 15mm is a formidable street photography and travel lens.
The ability to push right in close to subjects, or to pull right out to
get a near-fisheye view of a scene, makes it something that begs
to be put to creative use – and that f/2 aperture on a lens this
wide makes it pleasant and practical to use. James ArtaiusL
1
The lens isn’t weather-
sealed, but a coating
on the front element
stops raindrops from
welling up.2
The focus ring is
smooth and well-
damped, enabling
precision operation
without the worry of
nudging it out of focus.3
You can instantly
de-click the aperture
ring with a simple
switch – a big win
for videographers.Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D
£849/$849
Delivering a fast aperture and
remarkable distortion control
Mounts available: Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony FE
Full-frame compatible: Ye s
Effective focal length: 15mm
Image stabiliser: No
Minimum focus distance: 0.15m
Manual focus override: N/A (manual focus only)
Focus limit switches: No
Internal zoom: N/A
Internal focus: Ye s
Filter size: 72mm
Iris blades: 7
Weather seals: No
Supplied accessories: Hood
Dimensions (dia x length): 66 x 82mm
Weight: 500g4.0Build &
handling213Sharpness
It’s inevitable that an ultra-wide lens will struggle
to produce high corner-sharpness scores.Fringing 0.33
The Laowa’s level of fringing isn’t distracting, and
should only be noticeable under close scrutiny.Distortion -0.72
Slight barrel distortion is visible, but a score of less
than 1 is still highly impressive for such a wide lens.Sharpness05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000f/1.4 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22
Centre Middle EdgeWide-angle prime Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D