Name: Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT
Brand: Venus Optics

Technical Specifications of Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT

Overall score

6.0

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Popularity

What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the camera lens.

When it matters: When you want to see which camera lenses attract the most buyer attention and review activity.

Mount & Format

1.0

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Lens type

What it is: The optical category that indicates whether the lens is a prime, zoom, macro, fisheye, or another design.

When it matters: When you are choosing between a prime, zoom, macro, or specialty lens for the kind of subjects you shoot.

Importance: LOW

wide-angle prime

Lens mount

What it is: The mechanical and electronic interface that determines which cameras the lens can be attached to.

When it matters: When camera compatibility and access to the right lens ecosystem are central to your buying decision.

Importance: LOW

Micro Four Thirds

Sensor format coverage

What it is: The largest sensor size the lens is designed to cover without severe vignetting.

When it matters: When you need the lens to fully cover your camera sensor without heavy corner darkening.

Importance: LOW

Micro Four Thirds

Filter thread size

What it is: The diameter of the front filter thread used for screw-in filters and compatible accessories.

When it matters: When you plan to use screw-in filters such as polarizers, ND filters, or protective glass.

Importance: LOW

58 mm

Teleconverter compatibility

What it is: Whether the lens can be used with compatible teleconverters to extend focal length.

When it matters: When you want to extend reach for wildlife or sports without changing to a different long lens.

Importance: HIGH

Optics & Aperture

6.6

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Minimum focal length

What it is: The shortest focal length the lens can provide, which determines its widest framing.

When it matters: When wide framing matters for landscapes, interiors, architecture, or travel shots.

Importance: LOW

6 mm

Maximum focal length

What it is: The longest focal length the lens can reach, which determines its telephoto reach.

When it matters: When you need more reach for wildlife, sports, stage events, or distant details.

Importance: LOW

6 mm

Optical zoom

What it is: The ratio between the longest and shortest focal lengths available in the lens zoom range.

When it matters: When you want one lens to cover a broader range of compositions without swapping glass.

Importance: LOW

Maximum angle of view

What it is: The widest scene the lens can capture at its shortest focal length.

When it matters: When you need to fit more of a room, skyline, or landscape into the frame.

Importance: LOW

121.9 °

Minimum angle of view

What it is: The narrowest scene the lens captures at its longest focal length.

When it matters: When you want tighter framing on faraway subjects without moving closer.

Importance: LOW

121.9 °

Focus & Controls

2.7

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Focus motor

What it is: The autofocus drive system responsible for moving lens elements into focus.

When it matters: When fast, quiet autofocus matters for video, wildlife, street shots, or moving subjects.

Importance: LOW

N/A

Minimum focus distance

What it is: The shortest distance at which the lens can focus on a subject.

When it matters: When you like shooting details, food, flowers, or products from a very short distance.

Importance: MEDIUM

Maximum reproduction ratio

What it is: The highest magnification the lens can achieve when focusing at its closest distance.

When it matters: When close-up magnification matters for macro work, textures, or small product details.

Importance: MEDIUM

Full-time manual focus

What it is: The ability to adjust focus manually without leaving autofocus mode.

When it matters: When you want to fine-tune focus instantly without switching out of autofocus.

Importance: HIGH

Internal focusing

What it is: A focusing design in which internal elements move while the outer barrel length stays unchanged.

When it matters: When you use polarizers, gimbals, or close-up setups that benefit from a lens that does not extend while focusing.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization

4.2

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Optical image stabilization

What it is: A hardware system that shifts optical elements to counteract camera shake and reduce blur.

When it matters: When you want steadier handheld shots and less blur, especially in low light or at longer focal lengths.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization effectiveness (CIPA stops)

What it is: The rated stabilizer benefit, measured in stops, under CIPA testing standards.

When it matters: When you are comparing stabilized lenses and want to know how much handheld shutter-speed advantage they offer.

Importance: HIGH

Build & Handling

6.5

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Weight

What it is: The total mass of the lens, affecting portability and handling balance on the camera body.

When it matters: When you carry a lens all day for travel, hiking, or event coverage and want to keep your kit manageable.

Importance: HIGH

Lens length

What it is: The physical length of the lens body from mount to front edge.

When it matters: When bag space, balance, or front clearance matters in a compact travel or video setup.

Importance: HIGH

Lens diameter

What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.

When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Weather sealing (splashproof)

What it is: Protective sealing intended to resist splashes, dust, and light environmental exposure.

When it matters: When you often shoot outdoors in light rain, dust, or changing conditions.

Importance: HIGH

Metal mount

What it is: A lens mount made of metal rather than plastic for greater durability at the camera connection point.

When it matters: When durability matters because you change lenses often or use heavier gear for work.

Importance: HIGH

Lab Scores

9.0

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DxOMark overall score

What it is: The combined DxOMark lens rating based on lab-tested optical performance.

When it matters: When you want a quick lab-based summary of overall optical performance before comparing lenses in detail.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark sharpness score

What it is: The DxOMark subscore that reflects how much detail the lens can resolve across the frame.

When it matters: When fine detail matters for landscapes, product work, or high-resolution cameras.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark transmission

What it is: The measured light transmission of the lens, expressed as T-stop rather than nominal f-number.

When it matters: When real light loss matters for exposure consistency in studio, cinema, or mixed-lens shoots.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark distortion

What it is: The DxOMark metric that measures how much the lens bends straight lines away from their true shape.

When it matters: When straight lines matter in architecture, interiors, copy work, or product photography.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark vignetting

What it is: The DxOMark measurement of corner darkening relative to the center of the image.

When it matters: When even corner brightness matters for skies, studio backdrops, or clean product shots.

Importance: MEDIUM

Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT vs the average camera lens

Why is Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT better than the average camera lens?

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0.8 lower f-number at telephoto end
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/2 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
What it is: The widest aperture available at the long end of the zoom range, affecting light intake and background blur.
When it matters: When you shoot at the long end in low light or want stronger background blur for portraits and sports.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/2 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.2 vs 2.8
337.4 g lighter
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is lighter than the average camera lens (188 g vs 525.4 g). The average lens weighs 525.4 g.
What it is: The total mass of the lens, affecting portability and handling balance on the camera body.
When it matters: When you carry a lens all day for travel, hiking, or event coverage and want to keep your kit manageable.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is lighter than the average camera lens (188 g vs 525.4 g). The average lens weighs 525.4 g.188 g vs 525.4 g
Has focus distance scale
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a focus distance scale, the average camera lens does not. 48.6% of camera lenses include a focus distance scale.
What it is: A marked scale that shows the approximate focus distance set on the lens.
When it matters: When you pre-focus manually for street, zone focusing, or repeatable tripod setups.
Importance: MEDIUM
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a focus distance scale, the average camera lens does not. 48.6% of camera lenses include a focus distance scale.
40 mm shorter lens
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is shorter than the average camera lens (52 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.
What it is: The physical length of the lens body from mount to front edge.
When it matters: When bag space, balance, or front clearance matters in a compact travel or video setup.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is shorter than the average camera lens (52 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.52 mm vs 92 mm
16 mm narrower lens barrel
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is slimmer than the average camera lens (61 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.
When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.
Importance: MEDIUM
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is slimmer than the average camera lens (61 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.61 mm vs 77 mm
Newer release date
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT was released more recently than the average camera lens.
December 2022
What it is: The date when the lens model was first officially introduced.
When it matters: When you prefer a newer optical design with more modern autofocus, coatings, or stabilization features.
Importance: LOW
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT was released more recently than the average camera lens.2022 vs 2016
2 more low-dispersion elements
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has more low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (4 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
What it is: Optical elements designed to reduce color fringing by controlling how different wavelengths focus.
When it matters: When you want cleaner edges and less color fringing in high-contrast scenes.
Importance: MEDIUM
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has more low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (4 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.4 vs 2
0.8 lower f-number at telephoto end
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/2 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
2 more low-dispersion elements
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has more low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (4 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
Has focus distance scale
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a focus distance scale, the average camera lens does not. 48.6% of camera lenses include a focus distance scale.
337.4 g lighter
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is lighter than the average camera lens (188 g vs 525.4 g). The average lens weighs 525.4 g.
40 mm shorter lens
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is shorter than the average camera lens (52 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.
16 mm narrower lens barrel
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is slimmer than the average camera lens (61 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
Newer release date
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT was released more recently than the average camera lens.

Why is Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT worse than the average camera lens?

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4 fewer aperture blades
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has fewer aperture blades than the average camera lens (5 vs 9). The average lens has 9 aperture blades.
No rounded blades
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not use rounded aperture blades, the average camera lens does. 88.8% of camera lenses use rounded aperture blades.
5 blades.
No full-time manual focus
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support full-time manual focus, the average camera lens does. 68.4% of camera lenses support full-time manual focus.
No internal focusing
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support internal focusing, the average camera lens does. 83.7% of camera lenses support internal focusing.
Not weather-sealed
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
Not weather-sealed
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
What it is: Protective sealing intended to resist splashes, dust, and light environmental exposure.
When it matters: When you often shoot outdoors in light rain, dust, or changing conditions.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
4 fewer aperture blades
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has fewer aperture blades than the average camera lens (5 vs 9). The average lens has 9 aperture blades.
What it is: The number of diaphragm blades that shape the aperture opening and influence blur rendering.
When it matters: When the look of out-of-focus highlights matters in portraits, close-ups, or cinematic video.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has fewer aperture blades than the average camera lens (5 vs 9). The average lens has 9 aperture blades.5 vs 9
No full-time manual focus
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support full-time manual focus, the average camera lens does. 68.4% of camera lenses support full-time manual focus.
What it is: The ability to adjust focus manually without leaving autofocus mode.
When it matters: When you want to fine-tune focus instantly without switching out of autofocus.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support full-time manual focus, the average camera lens does. 68.4% of camera lenses support full-time manual focus.
No rounded blades
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not use rounded aperture blades, the average camera lens does. 88.8% of camera lenses use rounded aperture blades.
5 blades.
What it is: A blade design that keeps the aperture opening more circular for smoother out-of-focus highlights.
When it matters: When you care about smoother bokeh and rounder highlight shapes in blurred backgrounds.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not use rounded aperture blades, the average camera lens does. 88.8% of camera lenses use rounded aperture blades.
No internal focusing
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support internal focusing, the average camera lens does. 83.7% of camera lenses support internal focusing.
What it is: A focusing design in which internal elements move while the outer barrel length stays unchanged.
When it matters: When you use polarizers, gimbals, or close-up setups that benefit from a lens that does not extend while focusing.
Importance: HIGH
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT does not support internal focusing, the average camera lens does. 83.7% of camera lenses support internal focusing.
12.8% worse value for money
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a worse value-for-money score than the average camera lens (6.51 vs 7.346).
What it is: An indicator that combines the camera lens's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters: When you want to know how much overall quality you get for the price.
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a worse value-for-money score than the average camera lens (6.51 vs 7.346).6.51 vs 7.35
8.6% lower user score
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a lower user score than the average camera lens (7.45 vs 8.091).
What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the camera lens.
When it matters: When real-world owner satisfaction and review volume matter to your decision.
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT has a lower user score than the average camera lens (7.45 vs 8.091).7.45 vs 8.09
86% less popular
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is less popular than the average camera lens (3.43 vs 6.383).
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the camera lens.
When it matters: When you want to see which camera lenses attract the most buyer attention and review activity.
Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT is less popular than the average camera lens (3.43 vs 6.383).3.43 vs 6.38

Expert reviews

opticallimits.com

01/03/2023

Summary of the review

Laowa 6mm f/2 Zero-D MFT Review - OpticalLimits

The Laowa 6mm f/2 Zero-D MFT is an ultra-wide, manual-focus prime lens for Micro Four Thirds systems that delivers a dramatic 112° field of view and unique close-up capabilities down to 9cm. In terms of optical performance, the lens produces highly impressive center sharpness even at f/2, which becomes truly excellent alongside very sharp corners when stopped down to the f/2.8–f/5.6 sweet spot. True to its "Zero-D" moniker, geometric distortion is remarkably low for such a wide focal length. Furthermore, its choice of 5 straight aperture blades allows it to render beautifully defined sun stars starting early at f/2.8. Mechanically, it features an excellent, compact all-metal body with a buttery smooth focus ring and electronic contacts that seamlessly transmit EXIF data and enable aperture control through the camera body. However, the lens does suffer from a few notable drawbacks. It exhibits very high raw vignetting, peaking at 3.1 EV at f/2 and remaining at ~1.9 EV even when stopped down, requiring software auto-correction to tame the heavy light falloff. Lateral chromatic aberrations (color shadowing) are also a bit high and...

lenstip.com

14/03/2023

Summary of the review

LensTip.com

in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside You sent: 1 tab and said: 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside Venus Optics LAOWA 6 mm f/2 Zero-D MFT review - Image resolution - LensTip.com 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside

micro43italia.it

20/02/2023

Summary of the review

Laowa 6mm f/2.0 Zero-D MFT - Micro 4/3 Italy

The Laowa 6mm f/2.0 Zero D MFT is an ultra-wide rectilinear lens designed for the Micro Four Thirds system, delivering a massive 121.9° angle of view (12mm full-frame equivalent) in an incredibly compact and lightweight metal build. A major upgrade highlighted in this review is the inclusion of electronic contacts, which allow for EXIF data transfer, camera-body aperture control, and automatic focus-peaking activation—features missing from older Laowa models. The lack of a manual aperture ring makes the lens highly ergonomic, ensuring natural finger placement near the built-in metal lens hood while focusing. It features a standard 58mm front filter thread and boasts a remarkably close minimum focusing distance of just 9cm, making it highly versatile for creative tight-space compositions and indoor photography. In terms of performance, the reviewer praises its excellent center sharpness even wide open at f/2.0, with exceptional, "spectacular" sharpness across the entire frame when stopped down to around f/5.6. Vignetting is light, gradual, and easy to correct in post-processing. However, the lens is not without its drawbacks; notable chromatic aberration (purple fringing) was observed in high-contrast indoor...

bertolinimarco.it

19/11/2023

Summary of the review

Venus Laowa 6mm f/2 Zero-D MFT Review

The Venus Laowa 6mm f/2 Zero-D MFT is a compact, ultra-wide-angle manual focus lens designed for Micro 4/3 systems, weighing just 188g and featuring a 58mm filter thread. Tested primarily in nature and wide-angle macro-photography, the lens provides an expansive 121.9° angle of view and boasts an impressively short minimum focusing distance of just 9 cm with a 0.18x reproduction ratio. It is built with electronic contacts that allow aperture control directly from the camera body, and it delivers highly detailed, sharp images with pleasant colours and well-controlled chromatic aberrations, especially at apertures ranging from wide open up to f/11. The review highlights several core strengths and weaknesses of the lens. The main advantages (pros) include its excellent image quality, small and lightweight form factor, a smooth and precise manual focus ring, and built-in electronic contacts for aperture control, making it highly effective for environmental close-up photography. On the downside (cons), the reviewer noted noticeable image distortion along the outer edges when shooting at the minimum focusing distance, requiring users to keep key subjects centered. Additionally, the lack of autofocus...

focus-review.com

21/12/2022

Summary of the review

Laowa 6mm F2 Zero-D MFT Review: Extreme Ultra-Wide Lens for Micro Four Thirds

The Laowa 6mm F2 Zero-D MFT is an exceptionally compact and lightweight rectilinear ultra-wide-angle lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras, offering a massive 122-degree angle of view without fisheye distortion. Unlike older or cine versions, this photography-centric model features built-in electronic contacts. These contacts automatically transmit crucial EXIF data to the camera body, ensuring that in-camera image stabilisation works optimally and allowing users to change the aperture directly through the camera rather than via a manual lens ring. Built with a robust all-metal housing and a smooth, mechanically linked focus ring, the lens boasts a minimum focusing distance of just 9 cm and a 5-blade aperture that creates distinctive 10-point sunstars when stopped down. Optically, it performs impressively with sharp center resolution even at its wide-open F2 maximum aperture, making it an excellent tool for architectural, interior, astro, and landscape photography. The core advantages of this lens include its extreme 121.9° focal breadth, excellent low-light capabilities at F2, and negligible optical distortion achieved purely through optical design rather than software manipulation. Furthermore, its tiny footprint (61x52mm), 188-gram lightweight build,...

Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT Review | 54 Data compared

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Technical Specifications of Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT

Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT vs the average camera lens

Why is Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT better than the average camera lens?

Why is Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT worse than the average camera lens?

Graphic comparison of Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT and

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Venus Optics Laowa 6mm F 2 Zero-D MFT?

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Expert reviews

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