Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6

The Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 is a M-mount lens for Leica rangefinder cameras. Leica price index ↗

Reference maintained by Thomas Boots

Focal Length: 12mm

Aperture: 𝑓/5.6

Release Year (from): 2022

Diameter: 84 mm

Length: 70 mm

Minimum Focus Distance: 0.15m

Elements in Groups: 15/11

Aperture Blades: 5

Mount: M

Material Weight: Metal, 497g

Colors: Black

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Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6

A zoom lens is an unusual sight on the Leica M system, which has been built almost entirely around fixed focal lengths, and the Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 is one of the few exceptions. Built by Venus Optics, it began as a compact full-frame ultra-wide zoom for mirrorless mounts and was also offered in a Leica M version, giving M shooters a 12mm to 24mm range in a single barrel [1][2]. The lens is fully manual, with a fixed maximum aperture of f/5.6 across the zoom range, and Venus Optics positioned its slow speed as a deliberate trade for small size and low cost, reasoning that ultra-wide work is usually done stopped down anyway [1].

Optically the lens uses 15 elements in 11 groups, including two aspherical elements and three extra-low dispersion elements, and although it does not belong to Venus Optics's Zero-D family it is described as keeping distortion well controlled for architecture and interiors [2]. The barrel is all metal with three control rings for zoom, focus, and aperture; the aperture ring is clicked from f/5.6 to f/22 with a short throw, while the zoom and focus rings turn smoothly with enough resistance to resist drifting [1]. The five-bladed diaphragm is promoted for its ten-point sunstars when stopped down [2]. The lens focuses very close, to about 0.15 m, which puts the front element roughly an inch from the subject and allows near-macro framing at the wide end [1][2]. The M-mount version is rangefinder-coupled, distinguishing it within the Laowa lineup, although as a manual ultra-wide it is generally used with live view or scale focusing in practice [3]. It carries a 77mm filter thread used together with the supplied screw-on hood and filter ring [1].

The 12-24mm f/5.6 was sold across Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, and Leica M mounts, with the M version priced slightly higher than the others and the physical length varying by mount [1][2]. It has no electronic contacts, so no EXIF data is transmitted, and it is not weather-sealed [1]. Venus Optics later introduced a separate zoom-shift version of the 12-24mm, a different product that should not be confused with this fixed lens [2].

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers describe a lens that is capable but not class-leading on outright sharpness, with results that improve markedly when stopped down [1][4]. It is sharpest around the middle apertures, roughly f/8 to f/11, and unusually for an ultra-wide Laowa this performance is fairly consistent from 12mm to 24mm rather than peaking only at the widest setting [1].

Sharpness Wide open at f/5.6 the lens loses contrast and softens, while stopping down to the f/8 to f/11 range restores both contrast and detail; corners remain comparatively soft across apertures [1].

Contrast and color Color rendering drew positive comment, though a slight green cast can appear at the wide end that is easily corrected with a white balance adjustment in post [1][4].

Distortion and vignetting Distortion is modest, near neutral around 14mm to 15mm and showing slight pincushion past about 18mm, all readily corrected in software; noticeable vignetting and edge falloff are present, especially wide open [1].

Aberrations and flare Chromatic aberration is reported as minimal in the corners, with occasional flare near the center of the frame in some conditions; the five-blade aperture yields well-defined sunstars when stopped down [1][2].

History

Development and Launch Venus Optics announced the 12-24mm f/5.6 in July 2022 as a compact, fixed-aperture, manual-focus zoom for full-frame cameras, available from launch in Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, and Leica M mounts [2]. The company emphasized small size and a low price relative to faster f/2.8 ultra-wide zooms as the lens's main appeal [1][2].

Special editions No major factory special editions of this lens are widely documented; the principal variations are the different lens mounts. A distinct zoom-shift version of the 12-24mm f/5.6 was released later as a separate product [2].

Collector Notes The Leica M variant is the one of interest to M users and is offered as a rangefinder-coupled, six-element-free manual lens with no electronic contacts [3]. Buyers should confirm the lens is the fixed 12-24mm and not the later zoom-shift model, and verify that the supplied screw-in 77mm filter ring and metal hood and caps are present, since the filter thread is part of that detachable ring rather than the front of the optic [1][2].