Venus Optics Releases Laowa’s First Shift Lenses for Full Frame
Laowa has introduced two new wide-angle shift lenses designed specifically for cinema applications: the 15mm T4.8 Zero-D Shift Cine and the 20mm T4.1 Zero-D Shift Cine. These are Laowa’s first dedicated shift lenses for cinematography, catering to professionals in architecture, VFX, and large-format filmmaking.
These lenses provide wide-angle perspectives with optical shift functionality, allowing users to correct converging vertical lines without tilting the camera. This feature is particularly beneficial for shooting tall buildings, tight interiors, and VFX work that requires precise geometry alignment. As part of Laowa’s Zero-D series, both lenses minimize optical distortion, ensuring straight architectural lines without requiring post-production correction.
With an image circle of 65.2mm, the lenses are designed to cover high-end cinema sensors, making them compatible with cameras such as the RED V-Raptor 8K VV, ARRI Alexa 65, and Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65. The 15mm and 20mm models offer a maximum shift of ±11mm on full-frame sensors and ±9mm on Vista Vision sensors.
Close focusing capabilities further enhance their versatility, with the 15mm lens focusing as close as 20cm and the 20mm lens reaching 25cm. This makes them suitable for close-up shots while maintaining a wide perspective. Both lenses feature fully manual cine housings with geared rings for focus, aperture, and shift adjustments, all equipped with standard 0.8 mod cine gears to ensure compatibility with follow focus systems and remote controls.
While both lenses ship in PL mount, they support interchangeable mounts for EF, RF, E, Z, and L systems, making them adaptable across various camera setups. The 15mm T4.8 Zero-D Shift Cine consists of 17 elements in 11 groups, measures 119.2mm by 93.4mm, and weighs 1,150 grams. It offers a 110-degree angle of view, which increases to 130.4 degrees when shifted. The 20mm T4.1 Zero-D Shift Cine features 16 elements in 11 groups, has dimensions of 114mm by 100mm, and weighs 1,140 grams. Its angle of view is 94.4 degrees, expanding to 117 degrees when shifted.
The Laowa 15mm T4.8 and 20mm T4.1 Zero-D Shift Cine lenses are available now for $2000 with additional interchangeable mount bayonets at $50 each.
