Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D
The Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8 is a 19mm f/2.8 lens designed for Lens Board (Technical Camera) mount cameras. Used copies start from $759 on GearFocus, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D
Used Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8 Listings on GearFocus
Lens Overview — Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8
Key Features — Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8
19mm Large Format Prime: Fixed 19mm focal length delivers a wide field of view across the large format image circle, well-suited to architectural and landscape work.
Zero-D Distortion Control: Near-zero optical distortion keeps straight lines accurate across the frame, critical for architecture, interiors, and technical photography.
f/2.8 Maximum Aperture: Relatively fast aperture for a large format wide-angle lens, providing usable light-gathering capability even in lower-light conditions.
Lens Board Mount: Designed for technical cameras using a standard lens board mount, compatible with systems from manufacturers like Cambo, Arca-Swiss, and similar platforms.
Manual Focus Design: Manual-only focus operation suits the deliberate, precise workflow typical of large format and technical camera shooting.
77mm Filter Thread: Standard 77mm front thread makes it straightforward to attach widely available screw-on filters for exposure control, polarization, or color work.
Lens Specifications — Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Astrophotography |
| Lens Type | Wide-Angle |
| Format | Large Format |
| Zoom/Prime | Prime |
| Focal Length | 19mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Camera System | Mirrorless |
| Lens Mount | Lens Board (Technical Camera) |
| Autofocus | No |
| Focus Type | Manual |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Filter Thread | 77mm |
Description — Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8
The Venus Optics Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D is a large format wide-angle prime lens built specifically for technical cameras using a Lens Board mount. With a fixed focal length of 19mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, it is designed for photographers who work deliberately and methodically with large format mirrorless systems. The lens is manual focus only, with no autofocus capability, which suits the precise, controlled workflow that technical camera photography demands.
It weighs 546g and accepts 77mm screw-on filters, providing straightforward integration with standard filter systems. There is no image stabilization on board, so a sturdy tripod setup is the natural complement to this lens. The large format designation makes this a specialized tool for photographers who require the image quality and perspective control that only large format optics can deliver at a 19mm wide-angle focal length.
Pros — Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8
- ✓Wide-angle 19mm focal length (specifications: minFocalLength/maxFocalLength: 19) offers a broad field of view for large format shooting
- ✓Fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 (specifications: maximumAperture: 2.8) for a large format lens
- ✓Standard 77mm filter thread (specifications: filterThreadSize: 77) for easy compatibility with common filter systems
Cons — Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8
- ✗Manual focus only (specifications: focusType: Manual, autoFocus: false) — no autofocus option for fast-paced shooting
- ✗No image stabilization (specifications: imageStabilization: None) requires stable support for sharp results
- ✗Lens Board mount (specifications: mount.lens: Lens Board (Technical Camera)) limits compatibility to technical camera systems only
Videos — Venus Optics 19mm f/2.8
Laowa GF 19mm F2.8 Review — DPReview TV