Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF 16mm
Its 8-16mm zoom range (12.8-25.6mm full-frame equivalent) on APS-C sensors comes in a lightweight 463g body, employing two aspherical elements to control distortion. Uniquely, it accepts standard 86mm threaded filters directly, eliminating the need for bulky filter holders on an ultrawide lens. This manual-focus lens suits landscape and travel photographers wanting a portable ultrawide zoom, though its slow f/3.5-5 aperture and absent stabilization hinder low-light and video work.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong macro (84th percentile) 84th
- Strong optical (76th percentile) 76th
- Strong versatility (72nd percentile) 72nd
Cons
- Below average social proof (3rd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (9th percentile)
- Below average af (13th percentile)
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 2 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 8 |
| Focal Length Max | 16 |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 5 |
Build
| Mount | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 86 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 200 |
| Max Magnification | 1:8.33 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF 16mm | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 8-16mm | 17-70mm | 17-28mm | 16-28mm | 12-60mm | 28-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Mount | Nikon Z | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Canon RF |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 463 | 544 | 450 | 450 | 320 | 495 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | RXD | Stepping Motor | Stepping AF Motor | linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF 16mm | 12.8 | 9.2 | 59.8 | 83.7 | 76.2 | 42.2 | 63.3 | 71.5 | 3.3 | 37.8 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 53.7 | 87.4 | 69.6 | 85.9 | 91 | 84.6 | 63.3 | 89.3 | 85.1 | 83.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87.4 | 87.4 | 75.9 | 85.9 | 88 | 84.6 | 90.8 | 67.3 | 68.8 | 37.8 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Compare | 87.4 | 87.4 | 75.9 | 77.8 | 97.2 | 84.6 | 75.5 | 68 | 62.7 | 37.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98.1 | 87.4 | 84.6 | 51.9 | 91 | 84.6 | 44.2 | 93.1 | 67.8 | 83.4 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 87.4 | 24.1 | 72.6 | 80 | 86.2 | 21 | 98.1 | 76.9 | 89.3 | 98.6 |
Price
Value & Pricing
B&H Photo 5 offers From $549
Price History
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
