Venus Optics Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 L Mount camera lens

Ultra-wide zoom for L-mount

The Venus Optics Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is a full-frame zoom lens built for Sigma, Panasonic and Leica L-mount cameras. It covers a 10-18mm focal range with a maximum aperture of f/4.5 at the wide end and f/5.6 at 18mm. The optical design uses 14 elements in 10 groups to deliver sharpness across the frame. At 9.1 cm long and 496 g (1.09 lbs), it is made for travel and landscape work.

Landscape and architecture shooters

This lens suits photographers who need the widest rectilinear zoom available for L-mount, especially for expansive landscapes, interiors and architectural detail. The 130° angle of view at 10 mm and 102° at 18 mm give dramatic perspective. Buyers who need faster apertures for low-light or astrophotography, or who require autofocus, should look at other options because this is a manual-focus design with a variable f/4.5-5.6 aperture.

Straightforward manual-focus mounting

The lens mounts directly on any L-mount body with no adapter required. Focus and aperture are controlled by hand using the lens rings, and the 37 mm rear filter thread accepts gel or screw-in ND filters for long exposures. The five straight aperture blades create 10-point sunstars when stopped down. The main difficulty for new users is learning to zone-focus and set hyperfocal distance manually, which takes practice with ultra-wide depth of field.