When you hear the name Laowa, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Normally, and I’ll say this with the utmost respect, weird lenses. Laowa always goes against the norms, choosing innovation over following trends. They consistently deliver tools that at first seem niche or strange, but quickly prove themselves as must-haves once you see the results. I’ve always appreciated that approach. It’s a bit like that middle-school idea that not trying to be popular ends up making you stand out anyway.
Now comes the Laowa 8-15mm T2.9 Fisheye Zoom, their latest ultra-wide cine lens, and a potential game-changer for AR and VR creators. This lens fills a noticeable gap left by a certain lens with a red ring, which was widely used in immersive production workflows. The question is whether this new Laowa offering is simply trying to replicate what came before, or if it’s pushing things forward on its own terms.
From Concept to Construction
The concept for this lens was first introduced two years ago when Stephen Neff, a Laowa team member, pitched the idea directly to Mr. Li at Venus Optics. While I didn’t ask Stephen directly if the goal was to replace the Canon version, it’s a pretty safe assumption. Regardless, the effort Laowa put into developing this lens speaks volumes about their engineering capability and commitment to innovation. This isn’t just a substitute. It’s an upgrade that brings added functionality and versatility.
One of the standout features of the Laowa 8-15mm is its ability to produce two distinct fisheye looks. At 8mm, it delivers a 180-degree angle of view, creating a full circular image on full-frame sensors. This makes it ideal for VR, AR, and virtual production environments where full field coverage is essential. At 15mm, it covers the full frame while still offering that distinct warped perspective fisheyes are known for. Whether you’re shooting music videos, fashion, or sports content, there’s no shortage of creative possibilities.
It’s tiny too. At around 1.3lbs this is one of the smallest FF cine zooms on the market. Every marketing pamphlet for compact cine lenses mention gimbals or drones, but I actually don’t think it is cliché here.
Side note: it is so incredibly fun to see a fisheye. That’s a given. But I myself, had never seen one projected and to see the image bent across from the floor to ceiling was a joy.
A Needed Replacement
While the Laowa 8-15mm may take inspiration from the Canon original, the focal zoom range is where the similarities end. The Laowa in many ways it surpasses it. The Canon 8-15mm f/4 was a solid performer and served its purpose well. We performed many conversions of that lens for customers over the years, and it rarely let anyone down. But it was limited. The Laowa 8-15mm Fisheye Zoom adds additional functionality:
- An extra stop of light. T2.9 vs the F4 of the Canon.
- Mount options. You can use it across practically every cine platform on the market.
- Independent aperture ring.
- Robust cine housing and gearing for enhanced durability and usability on set.
Below is a chart that compares features between the Laowa and Canon fisheye lenses.
| LENS | LAOWA 8-15MM T2.9 FF ZOOM FISHEYE | CANON 8-15MM F4 (Discontinued) |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | FF | FF |
| Aperture | T2.9-22 | F4-22 |
| Focus Rotation | 70° | N/A |
| Zoom Rotation | 75° | N/A |
| Min. Focus | 6.3″/16cm | 5.91″/15cm |
| Mount | PL (E, RF, Z, L, X) | EF |
| Weight | 590g | 540g |
Conclusion
The Laowa 8-15mm T2.9 Fisheye Zoom is the real deal. Is it a focal length that world has never seen? No. Is it a much better rendition that completely fills the needs of the artists that need it? Absolutely. And for those artists, it is available for preorder now at $1,399.00. Delivery should be toward end of June.