Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm
Laowa
73 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Nikon
82 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm
82 out of 100 high confidence 31 reviews
The Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D lens is widely praised for its compact size, sharp image quality, and minimal distortion, making it a favorite for landscape, architecture, and real estate photography. Users appreciate its wide field of view and solid build, though some note vignetting at wide apertures and a few report sample variation or infinity focus issues. Overall, it offers excellent value for an ultra-wide manual lens, especially for APS-C cameras.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Sharp image quality
- Minimal distortion (Zero-D)
- Wide field of view
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Vignetting at wide apertures
- Infinity focus inconsistency
- Sample variation (sharpness)
- Manual focus only
- High price for some
Image quality 12
Build quality 8
Distortion 7
Vignetting 5
Value for money 6
Focus issues 4
Nikon NIKKOR Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Travel
Landscape
Wildlife Sports
Budget
Macro
Portrait
Professional
Street
Video Cinema
Specifications
| Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm | Nikon NIKKOR Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 9 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 9 mm | 140 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 17 |
| Groups | 10 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 2 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| Coating | Frog Eye Coating | Multi-Coated |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | 22-40★ |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.21 kg★ | 0.32 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | stepping motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 120 mm★ | 200 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:7.7 | 1:3 |
Pros & Cons
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm
- Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong optical (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong versatility (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
Pricing
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm0.132score per dollar
vs
Nikon NIKKOR Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR0.094score per dollar
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 9mm offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Winner: Nikon NIKKOR Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Scores 82 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
