Laowa - 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF Zoom Fisheye L Mount

The Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF Zoom Fisheye (model VE451028L) is a groundbreaking ultra-wide zoom lens designed for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. Developed by Venus Optics, this compact manual-focus lens delivers two distinct fisheye effects in a single, portable body – transitioning seamlessly from a dramatic 180° circular fisheye at 4.5mm to a frame-filling diagonal fisheye at 10mm. With a constant f/2.8 aperture, parfocal zoom design, and an impressive 10cm minimum focusing distance, this lens unlocks creative possibilities for photographers, videographers, action sports shooters, and content creators who demand versatility without compromising portability. Weighing just 338g and measuring only Ø68.9 x 59.3mm, it is the ideal companion for travel, gimbal, drone, and handheld shooting. Priced at an accessible USD 399 MSRP, the Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF redefines what a fisheye lens can be.

Key Features
Dual Fisheye Perspectives in One Lens
The defining feature of the Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF is its ability to deliver two distinct fisheye looks without changing lenses. At the 4.5mm wide end, the lens projects a complete circular fisheye image with a sweeping 180° angle of view – perfect for crystal-ball compositions, immersive astrophotography, and 360° panorama stitching. As you rotate the zoom ring toward 10mm, the projection fills the entire APS-C or MFT frame, producing a diagonal fisheye perspective with characteristic curvature – the classic look favored by skate, surf, BMX, and action sports videographers. The 2.2x zoom ratio gives you flexible framing options on the fly, eliminating the need to carry multiple lenses.

Constant f/2.8 Aperture for Consistent Exposure
The lens maintains a bright f/2.8 aperture across the entire 4.5-10mm zoom range, ensuring consistent exposure when adjusting focal length. This constant aperture is essential for seamless video production, allowing smooth zoom transitions without exposure shifts. The wide f/2.8 maximum aperture also provides excellent low-light performance for indoor shooting, night scenes, astrophotography, and action photography, giving creators more flexibility with shutter speed and ISO settings while minimizing image quality loss. The aperture ring stops down to f/22 with a 7-blade iris for smooth bokeh rendering.

Parfocal Zoom Design
Engineered as a true parfocal lens, the Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF maintains critical focus across the entire zoom range. This means you can zoom in or out during a shot without needing to refocus – a feature typically found in much more expensive cinema lenses. For video creators, this unlocks smooth in-shot zoom moves, dynamic action sequences, and efficient one-take social content production. The parfocal design streamlines workflow on set, reducing downtime and allowing creators to focus on composition rather than technical adjustments.

10cm Minimum Focusing Distance
With a minimum focusing distance of just 10cm (3.9 inches), the lens allows you to get incredibly close to your subject while still capturing the vast surrounding environment. This creates an exaggerated perspective with bold foreground emphasis and dramatic spatial depth, resulting in highly dynamic and immersive compositions. Whether you are shooting close-up detail shots, creative macro-style imagery, or storytelling sequences that demand strong foreground-background relationships, the close-focusing capability adds another dimension to your creative toolkit.

Ultra-Compact and Lightweight Construction
Despite its ultra-wide zoom capability, the Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF is exceptionally compact and lightweight. Measuring just Ø68.9 x 59.3mm (2.71 x 2.33 inches) and weighing only 338g (11.9oz), the lens is roughly the size of a muffin – earning it the nickname “muffin-lens” among early adopters. This portable design makes it perfect for travel photography, handheld shooting, and daily content creation. The lightweight construction also ensures excellent balance on gimbals and drones, making it an ideal choice for FPV operators and aerial cinematographers.

Available Mount Options
The Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF is available in a wide range of mounts to suit most mirrorless camera systems: Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF-M, Leica L-Mount, and Micro Four Thirds (MFT).