Laowa has unveiled the pricing and availability of what they claim is the world’s widest rectilinear lens for the Fujifilm GFX camera system, the Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D GFX lens.
Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D GFX is a 13.5mm equivalent ultra-wide angle prime specially designed for Fujifilm GFX camera system. The 113°ultra-wide perspective makes it an ideal lens for landscape and architecture shooting.
The optical design consists of 21 elements in 14 groups. The lens also features a 5-blade aperture system to create a pleasing 10-point sunstar rendering. The new 17mm lens is the 4th member of the Laowa “Zero-D” product line-up, which claims to exhibit close-to-zero optical distortion.
Similar to other Laowa wide-angle lenses, the new 17mm f/4 has a very good close-focus capability and it can focus up to 7.9” / 20cm from the object to the sensor.
Venus Optics has managed to compress the size of the Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D to the smallest in its class. The lens measures approximately 4.9 inches (~12.5cm) long and weighing only 1.8 lbs (~800g) with a diameter of 88mm.
Filters are an essential part of landscape photography but most ultra-wide angle lenses in the market feature a protruding front element that makes it impossible to install screw-on filters. The new 17mm f/4 lens is designed to include an 86mm filter thread so filters can be used.
Users can also choose to purchase the optional magnetic filter holder for using with 100mm-wide slot-in filters (No vignetting is seen when used with 2pcs of 100mm-wide filters). The magnetic filter holder will ship in early September.
Pricing & Availability
The lens is currently available to pre-order from authorized resellers and from the Venus Optics official website (http://www.venuslens.net/).
The price is $1,199 USD. Pricing may vary in different countries.
The lens is expected to start shipping in mid-August.
