Venus Launches First Constant-Aperture Full-Frame Zoom

2022.07.07

This morning Venus Optics unveiled their first Constat-Aperture Zoom for Full-Frame cameras. A new extremely wide lens with dim constant aperture allowed them to make a uniquely light product.

The new Laowa 12-24mm F/5.6 Zoom captures close to the widest field-of-view possible with a zoom lens with Full-Frame coverage, up to 121°. This is one of only three zoom lenses made by Venus Optics, including an even wider variable-aperture model and a constant aperture zoom for APS-C sensors. There are very rectilinear zoom lenses that can capture such extreme field-of-view and no constant-aperture version is as light as this one.

This zoom lens is completely mechanical with a dedicated aperture-ring that spans F/5.6-22 across the focal-range, a mechanical zoom ring, plus the requisite focus-ring. The front of the lens has a bayonet mount for the slim included lens hood which accommodates standard 77mm screw-on filters. These are the only extreme wide-angle lenses that accept front-mounted filters.

©2022 Bastian Kratzke - Image courtesy of Venus Optics

Venus Optics claims that the optical design of the 12-24mm F/5.6 Zoom produces minimal distortion. Incredibly for an extreme wide-angle, this model achieves a maximum magnification of 0.4X by focusing right in front of the lens, just 15cm from the focal-plane, allowing for truly dramatic perspective!

The Laowa 12-24mm F/5.6 Zoom is unusually affordable at $700 USD. The lens is being produced for Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon RF mounts and is already available.

• Lens