---

title: "Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D"
description: "Ultra-wide angle rectilinear lens featuring minimal distortion design, ideal for landscape and architectural photography with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness."
brand: Laowa
mount: L-Mount
focal_length: 12
aperture: 2.8
angle_of_view: 122
lens_type: Prime
lens_category: ["Ultra-Wide Angle"]
weight: 609
year: 2016
weather_sealed: false
image_stabilization: false
price: 849
focus: "Manual"
filter_size: None
max_magn: 0.2
close_focus: 0.18
sku: "VE1228L"
diameter: 75
length: 83

date: 2025-09-11
draft: false
author: Jan Wedekind

featured_image: /lenses/laowa/laowa-12mm-f2-8-zero-d.png

---

The Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D is Venus Optics' flagship ultra-wide angle lens, specifically designed to eliminate the barrel distortion that typically plagues such wide lenses. The "Zero-D" designation refers to its rectilinear optical design that renders straight lines as truly straight, making it ideal for architectural and landscape photography where geometric accuracy is paramount.

**Key Features:**
- Ultra-wide 12mm focal length with 122° angle of view on full-frame
- Rectilinear design with minimal barrel distortion ("Zero Distortion")
- Advanced optical construction: 16 elements in 10 groups
- Three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements for reduced chromatic aberration
- Two aspherical elements to control spherical aberrations
- Frog Eye Coating for dust and moisture resistance
- Manual focus with floating optical system
- Built-in petal-shaped lens hood
- 7-blade aperture for smooth bokeh


[Official Website](https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-12mm-f2-8-zero-d/)

**Reviews:**

* phillippreeve.net: [REVIEW: LAOWA 12MM 2.8 AF](https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-laowa-12mm-2-8-af/), BastianK, Jun 2025
* lenstip.com: [Venus Optics LAOWA 12 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D](https://www.lenstip.com/551.1-Lens_review-Venus_Optics_LAOWA_12_mm_f_2.8_ZERO-D_-Introduction.html), Jan 2019
* [B&H Photo Customer Reviews](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1672893-REG/venus_optics_ve1228l_laowa_12mm_f_2_8_zero_d.html/reviews) - 92 user reviews, highly rated
* Dustin Abbot: [Laowa AF 12mm F2.8 Zero D Review (Z-Mount)](https://dustinabbott.net/2025/07/laowa-af-12mm-f2-8-zero-d-review-z-mount/), Jul 2025

**YouTube:**

* Search for reviews on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=LAOWA+12+mm+f%2F2.8+ZERO-D+review)