Laowa has unveiled the 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF Zoom Fisheye, a palm-sized manual zoom for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras that shifts from a 180° circular fisheye at the wide end to a diagonal fisheye at 10mm. Priced at USD 399 and weighing only 338g (11.9oz), the parfocal “muffin-lens” packs a constant f/2.8 aperture and a 10cm (3.9in) minimum focusing distance into a body measuring just Ø68.9 x 59.3mm (2.71 x 2.33in).
Venus Optics has been busy expanding its specialty optics lineup over the past year, including the full-frame Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 Zoom Fisheye and the autofocus-equipped Laowa 200mm f/2. The new 4.5-10mm scales the dual-fisheye concept down to smaller sensor formats, aimed at hybrid shooters, action sports filmmakers, vloggers, and FPV operators who want both fisheye looks in a single, swap-free package.
Two fisheye perspectives in one barrel
The headline feature is the ability to switch between two distinct fisheye perspectives by simply rotating the zoom ring. At 4.5mm, the lens projects a circular image with a roughly 180° angle of view, the classic look used for crystal-ball compositions, immersive astrophotography, and 360° stitching. Push the zoom toward 10mm, and the projection fills the APS-C or MFT frame, delivering a diagonal fisheye effect with the characteristic curvature that has long been associated with skate, surf, and BMX videography. Laowa rates the full zoom range at 175 to 180° angle of view, with a 2.2x zoom ratio.
Shooters who prefer a rectilinear look can also de-fish the 10mm output in post-production. According to Laowa, that workflow yields a wider effective field of view than a comparable 10mm rectilinear prime, though the trade-off is the usual cropping and stretching artifacts that come with software correction.
Two fisheye perspectives in one barrel. Credit: Jimmy ChanParfocal design and constant aperture
Laowa describes the optical design as truly parfocal, meaning focus should hold across the entire 4.5 to 10mm range without re-racking mid-shot. If that claim holds up in real-world use, it opens up smooth in-shot zoom moves that are normally out of reach for a manual zoom in this price bracket, particularly useful for dynamic action sequences or one-take social content. As always with parfocal claims, we want to verify the behavior on a production set before taking it as a given.
The constant f/2.8 aperture across the zoom range supports consistent exposure when pulling focal length, and gives the lens some usable headroom for handheld night work or interior shoots. The iris stops down to f/22 and uses a 7-blade diaphragm. Optically, the design uses 13 elements arranged in 9 groups.
Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF Zoom Fisheye. Credit: LaowaClose focus and compact form factor
Minimum focusing distance comes in at 10cm (3.9in) with a maximum magnification of 0.27x. Combined with the extreme angle of view, that close-focus capability lets you press the front element right up to a subject for the exaggerated bug-eye look that fisheyes are known for, while still keeping the entire surrounding environment inside the frame.
Physically, the lens measures Ø68.9 x 59.3mm (2.71 x 2.33in) and weighs 338g (11.9oz / 0.74lb). That puts it firmly in the pancake-plus category that Laowa calls a “muffin-lens,” which makes it a credible option for compact APS-C and MFT bodies, gimbal rigs, and FPV drone payloads where every gram counts. There is no front filter thread, which is typical for fisheye optics with bulging front elements. Focus is manual only, in keeping with most of Laowa’s specialty fisheye lineup.
Credit: John.S. Mounts and intended audience
The lens ships in seven mounts: Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L-Mount, FUJIFILM X, Canon EF-M, and Micro Four Thirds. The image circle is sized for APS-C and MFT, so use on full-frame bodies will require an APS-C or Super 35 crop mode and will not deliver the 180° circular look at the wide end on full-frame coverage.
The combination of manual focus, fisheye projection, and APS-C/MFT-only coverage means it is a creative optic aimed at filmmakers and photographers who already know what they want a fisheye for: action POV, music videos, skate and BMX, FPV-style movement, architectural interiors, and stylized close-ups. For that audience, the combination of dual fisheye looks, constant f/2.8, parfocal behavior, and a sub-340g body at USD 399 is an unusually concentrated package, especially compared with stacking two separate fisheye primes to cover the same range. Worth noting that Venus Optics already offers the full-frame 8-15mm f/2.8 fisheye zoom for larger sensor systems, so the 4.5-10mm slots in as the small-sensor counterpart in that growing dual-fisheye family.
Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF Zoom Fisheye. Credit: Feng niao TalkshowPricing and availability
The Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF Zoom Fisheye is listed at USD 399, and is available now through the Venus Optics website and B&H.
Are you tempted by a dual-look fisheye zoom for your APS-C or MFT setup, or do you stick with prime fisheyes for your work? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!