Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm
This manual-focus 9mm f/2.8 prime delivers an ultra-wide 13.5mm-equivalent view, near-zero distortion, and weather sealing in a lightweight 215-gram body. A 12cm minimum focus distance pairs with the bright aperture to enable creative close-up and astrophotography perspectives unusual for this focal length. It’s best suited for L-mount landscape and architecture photographers who value a compact, rectilinear ultra-wide for travel, street shots, and low-light scenes.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews — so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 19 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 9 |
| Focal Length Max | 9 |
| Elements | 15 |
| Groups | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | Frog Eye Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | 22 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Canon RF |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.5 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 49 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 120 |
| Max Magnification | 1:7.7 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR | Viltrox 13mm F1.4 f/1.4 E STM Auto Focus Ultra Wide Angle | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 9mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-400mm | 13mm | 28-200mm |
| Max Aperture | 22 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/1.4 | f/4 |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony E | Fuji X | Nikon Z | Sony E | L-Mount |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 215 | 615 | 92 | 726 | 415 | 413 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | STM | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | Wide-Angle | macro |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm | 14 | 15.7 | 89.7 | 90.5 | 86.1 | 24.4 | 34.2 | 61.8 | 36 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.5 | 84.3 | 59 | 85.9 | 98.9 | 76.9 | 99.6 | 78 | 99.1 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.3 | 74.9 | 96.6 | 87.7 | 74.6 | 76.9 | 99.2 | 83.1 | 81.3 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Compare | 86.9 | 77.8 | 51.6 | 81.3 | 97 | 71.2 | 98.9 | 83.1 | 98.3 |
| Viltrox 13mm F1.4 f/1.4 E STM Auto Focus Ultra Wide Angle Compare | 86.9 | 96.6 | 42.1 | 89.4 | 82.6 | 96.4 | 34.2 | 74 | 81.3 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare | 54.5 | 77.8 | 74.5 | 70.8 | 91.2 | 71.2 | 95.6 | 62.2 | 99.5 |