Laowa has announced 4 new Wide Angle VistaVision Lenses. The new lenses are the 9mm T5.8 VV Cine, 10mm T2.9 Zero-D VV Cine, 12mm T2.9 Lite Zero-D VV Cine, and 14mm T2.6 Zero-D VV Cine.
You can check out my full review of the 9mm T5.8 VV Cine here.
The new Laowa 9mm T5.8 is the widest rectilinear full-frame lens in the cinematography market, it features an impressive 134.8° angle of view (AoV), while the 10mm T2.9 is the widest rectilinear full-frame lens with “Zero-Distortion” feature, offering a 130.3° AoV.
All four lenses are designed to cover Vista Vision camera sensors, supporting a larger array of usable cameras. Featuring a Ø46.31mm image circle for the 9mm T5.8, 10mm T2.9, and 12mm T2.9 lenses, and a Ø46.5mm image circle for the 14mm T2.6, these lenses are fully compatible with larger-format cameras like the Red Raptor 8K VV (Ø46.31mm) and Alexa LF Open Gate (Ø44.71mm).
Key features
- Vista Vision Coverage
- Ultra-Wide Rectilinear Perspective
- Compact and Lightweight Design
- “Zero-Distortion” (10mm, 12mm, 14mm)
- Close Focusing Capability
- Outstanding Image Quality
- Front Filter Thread Compatibility
The 9mm T5.8 and 10mm T2.9 stand as the widest rectilinear non-fisheye full-frame lenses in the cinematography market. With angles of view of 134.8° and 130.3° respectively, these lenses enable filmmakers to capture dynamic shots that were once impossible, particularly in tight or enclosed spaces. The 12mm T2.9 and 14mm T2.6 further extend the wide-angle line up with AOVs of 122° and 117.8°
All four new wide-angle cine lenses render low-distortion images, with the 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm models achieving near-to-zero distortion. This innovative design eliminates the issues cinematographers often face when shooting architecture, interiors, or scenes with straight lines, ensuring accurate framing straight out of the camera.
Weighing just 520–640g (1.15–1.41 lbs), these lenses are exceptionally lightweight and versatile, making them ideal for a wide range of shooting setups, including gimbals, drones, handheld rigs, and other stabilizing equipment.
The four wide-angle cine lenses offer impressive close focusing distances. The 9mm T5.8 and 10mm T2.9 can focus as close as 12 cm (4.72 inches), while the 12mm T2.9 achieves 14 cm (5.51 inches), and the 14mm T2.6 reaches 20 cm (7.87 inches).
Laowa states that these lenses deliver impressive sharpness across the entire frame, from the center to the edges thanks to the exceptional optical design. Additionally, the lenses can capture scenes with minimal chromatic aberration, effectively reducing color fringing around high-contrast edges.
The ability to use 77mm screw-in filters with the 10mm T2.9, 12mm T2.9, and 14mm T2.6 lenses offers significant advantages for filmmakers. This feature allows users to easily attach filters such as ND, polarizer, or UV filters directly onto the lens without the need for additional filter holders or matte boxes.
To accommodate a wide range of cameras and shooting setups, the lenses are available in multiple mount options:
- 9mm T5.8: ARRI PL, Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L mount
- 10mm T2.9: ARRI LPL, Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L mount
- 12mm T2.9: ARRI PL, Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L mount
- 14mm T2.6: ARRI PL, Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF, L mount
The New 12mm T2.9 Lite Zero-D VV Cine is optimized for the latest cameras, and improved in chromatic aberration and sharpness. It is also lighter and more compact, making it compatible with DJI Ronin 4D, and smaller filters are needed. However, the PL mount of the new 12mm T2.9 protrudes further toward the sensors which limits the usage of certain cameras and filters. Users may need to check rear clearance to ensure compatibility with specific cameras or adaptors.
Price & Availability
The four wide-angle lenses are now available for pre-orders via Venus Optics’ official website (https://laowacine.com/) and authorized Laowa resellers.
The price for the 9mm T5.8 VV Cine, 12mm T2.9 Lite Zero-D VV Cine, and 14mm T2.6 Zero-D VV Cine is $1,499 USD, while the 10mm T2.9 Zero-D VV Cine is priced at $1,699 USD.
