Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
The Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is a 10–18mm f/4.5 lens designed for Sony E mount cameras. Used copies start from $489.6 on GearFocus, with buyer protection on every purchase.

Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
Used Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Listings on GearFocus
Lens Overview — Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
Key Features — Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
10-18mm Full-Frame Zoom: Covers an ultra-wide focal length range on full-frame Sony E-mount bodies, suitable for architecture, interiors, and landscapes.
Sony E Mount: Designed specifically for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras such as the A7 and A9 series with no crop factor penalty.
f/4.5-5.6 Maximum Aperture: Opens to f/4.5 at the wide end, providing reasonable light gathering for a zoom lens in this focal length range.
Manual Focus Only: Fully manual focus operation suits deliberate shooting styles such as tripod-based landscape, architectural, or astrophotography work.
37mm Filter Thread: Unusually small filter thread size keeps the cost of wide-angle filters and accessories significantly lower than comparable lenses.
Compact 496g Build: Relatively lightweight for a full-frame wide-angle zoom, making it a practical choice for travel and location shooting.
Lens Specifications — Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Travel, Astrophotography |
| Lens Type | Zoom |
| Format | Full Frame |
| Zoom/Prime | Zoom |
| Focal Length | 10–18mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/4.5 |
| Camera System | Mirrorless |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Autofocus | No |
| Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Filter Thread | 37mm |
Description — Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
The Venus Optics Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is a wide-angle zoom lens built for Sony E mount mirrorless cameras with full-frame coverage. Its focal length range of 10mm to 18mm provides an expansive wide-angle view, making it an appealing choice for landscape, architectural, and creative wide-angle photography. With a maximum aperture of f/4.5, the lens gathers a reasonable amount of light across its zoom range.
Focusing is entirely manual, putting full creative control in the photographer's hands — ideal for measured, deliberate shooting styles. The lens weighs 496g and accepts 37mm filters, keeping the overall system footprint small and accessory costs low. There is no image stabilization, so a steady hand or stable support is recommended.
Designed exclusively for the Sony E mirrorless system, this lens is a strong consideration for full-frame Sony shooters seeking a compact, manual wide-angle zoom.
Pros — Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
- ✓Ultra-wide zoom range from 10mm to 18mm covers a broad wide-angle perspective on full-frame Sony E mount bodies
- ✓Full-frame coverage (lensFormat: Full Frame) means no crop factor concerns for Sony full-frame mirrorless users
- ✓Compact 37mm filter thread size keeps filter accessories affordable and easy to source
Cons — Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
- ✗Manual focus only — no autofocus support, which limits usability in fast-moving or documentary shooting scenarios
- ✗No image stabilization, requiring careful technique or stabilized support at slower shutter speeds
- ✗Maximum aperture of f/4.5 at the wide end is modest, limiting low-light performance
Videos — Venus Optics 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
Venus Optics 'Laowa' 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C) — Christopher Frost









