Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF fisheye zoom lens designed for APS-C or Micro Four Thirds cameras that has an incredible 180-degree field of view at the shortest end.
Even now in 2026, autofocusing lens design out of the Chinese manufacturers is still in its relative infancy. We have seen some excellent autofocus-equipped prime lenses from companies like Sirui and Viltrox, but who knew that a manufacturer known for making boutique manual-focusing M-mount lenses would be the first to market with a zoom?
ShutterNut... posted a photo:
Yet another camera I once owned but moved on to a new home when I sold off my old camera collection
Laowa has officially unveiled its next-generation Probe Zoom system, which it states is "the world’s widest macro probe lens with the broadest focal range ever made." Designed for cinematic and high-end commercial work, the new 15-24mm T8 and 15-35mm T12 macro lenses expand the company’s well-known probe lineup with a wider focal range, increased flexibility, and a modular design built around extreme close-up imaging.
One of my favorite zoom lenses of all time is the Sony 20-70mm f/4. Just the fact that a versatile range can be coupled with an ultra-wide-angle field-of-view brings a lot of convenience to the camera bag. I don’t mind the moderate f/4 aperture either, and the size and weight are kept to a minimum because of it. So when Canon released a 20-50mm f/4 L PZ lens alongside the R6 V, I was excited to try it out.
Samyang has teased a new Schneider-Kreuznach x LK Samyang lens on its Instagram, and it looks like the new AF 60-180mm f/2.8 zoom lens the companies debuted at CP+ in Japan in late February is getting its full reveal.
Cat’s been out of the bag for a while: I’d rather be operating a switchboard than a megaphone these days.
To that end: I’ve been hosting more Zoom calls for my Patreon crew to hang out together, build community, and talk about their creative and adventurous projects on the regular. It turns out it’s extremely nice to do!
This month we’ve got a real treat: Patron Josh Horton will be giving a presentation about his journey around Cape Horn aboard the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde. Josh joined up as part of Darwin200, an audacious voyage that’s been tracing the original path of HMS Beagle since 2023. They’re doing amazing work, and I’m really looking forward to getting a peek aboard.
The call happens Monday, May 12th at 11am Pacific Time. You can find the Zoom link and everything here. Can’t wait!
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