Venus Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL

Nikon Z (DX/FX)

Review

If you're in the market for an ultra-wide-angle lens, the Venus Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL is certainly worth considering for your Nikon Z system. This lens is designed to cater to landscape photographers, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone looking to capture expansive scenes with impressive depth and clarity. Its compact construction and innovative optical design set it apart in the genre of ultra-wide lenses.

Build and Design

The Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL is impressively lightweight, which makes it an excellent option for travel and outdoor photography. Weighing in at just 1.1 pounds (approximately 500 gr), it pairs well with the relatively lightweight Nikon Z bodies. The lens features a solid metal construction that not only adds to its durability but also gives it a premium feel. With a minimum focusing distance of just 0.19 m (7.48 inches), you can achieve stunning close-ups with dramatic perspective distortion, a useful feature for creative compositions.

Optical Performance

The optical performance of this lens is one of its standout features. With 13 elements in 11 groups and 2 aspherical elements, the Laowa 11mm provides edge-to-edge sharpness that is hard to beat. Color fringing is minimal, and chromatic aberration is controlled well, which is vital for landscapes and architecture where straight lines and color fidelity are crucial. Additionally, the lens exhibits great control over distortion, making it one of the best ultra-wide options out there.

Image Quality

When it comes to image quality, the Laowa 11mm impresses with outstanding sharpness throughout the frame. Even when shooting at wide apertures, the details are crisp, and the overall clarity remains exceptional. This lens is particularly remarkable in landscape photography; you'll appreciate how it captures the sweep of wide vistas without sacrificing the details in the foreground. The bokeh, however, is not the primary focus of an ultra-wide-angle lens, and it can come off as somewhat busy in certain conditions.

Usability

This lens does not feature electronic contacts, meaning that it does not support autofocus or automatic aperture control. While this might deter some users, manual focusing offers a level of precision that many photographers swear by, particularly those who often shoot landscapes and architectural images. The focus ring itself is smooth and well-damped, allowing for fine adjustments, which can be a significant advantage when depth of field matters.

Lens Flare and Ghosting

One aspect that can cause concern with ultra-wide-angle lenses is image flare and ghosting, especially when shooting towards a bright light source. The Laowa 11mm has a decent coating that helps mitigate this issue, but minimal flare can still appear in extreme lighting situations. It’s worth testing how this lens interacts with bright light to see if it aligns with your style.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptional sharpness across the frame
• Lightweight and compact design
• Great minimum focusing distance for creative shots
• Limited distortion and chromatic aberration
• Solid build quality

Cons

• Manual focus only may not suit everyone
• Some flare and ghosting in harsh light conditions
• No electronic contacts for automatic adjustments

Verdict

The Venus Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL is a superb choice for anyone serious about ultra-wide photography in the Nikon Z mount system. It offers excellent build quality, outstanding optical performance, and plenty of creative potential, especially for landscapes and architecture. While the lack of autofocus might not be ideal for every photographer, those willing to embrace manual control will find themselves rewarded with stunning images that truly capture the essence of their subjects. Overall, this lens is a fantastic addition for those looking to expand their creative toolkit in ultra-wide photography.