Laowa Teases Fast Ultra-Wide Zoom With Filter-Friendly Front Element

Every fast ultra-wide zoom competing on the full-frame mirrorless market carries the same compromise: no filter thread. The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art, Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM and Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 all rely on bulbous, protruding front elements that physically rule out standard screw-on filters. Venus Optics appears to be betting that enough landscape, architecture and astro photographers have noticed.

A teaser Venus Optics released on March 30 showed a Laowa-branded zoom with three physical control rings and a flat front element designed to accept normal screw-in filters. The teaser arrived the same day Thypoch officially announced its 24-50mm f/2.8 full-frame autofocus zoom, a timing that drew immediate attention across photography communities.

Before posting the teaser, Venus Optics ran a public survey offering three focal-range options, all at f/2.8. The 16-35mm with a 77mm filter thread led with 29% of the vote and 157 responses, followed by a 14-24mm also at 77mm filter diameter at 25% and 136 votes, and a 12-20mm requiring an 86mm filter thread at 25% and 135 votes. The gap between all three options was narrow. The two 77mm-compatible options align with the filter kit most shooters already carry, which could tip the final specification toward a 14-24mm or 16-35mm range rather than the more technically ambitious 12-20mm, which demands a larger 86mm ring to maintain filter compatibility across that field of view.

The lens teaser confirms three tactile rings covering aperture, zoom and focus, indicating Venus Optics is targeting stills photographers alongside video users who prefer physical control. Autofocus is expected given the mirrorless positioning, with Sony E-mount appearing to be the primary platform and Nikon Z, Canon RF and L-mount in discussion for additional compatibility. A release window of late April or May 2026 is the current expectation.

Anyone currently weighing a purchase in this category should wait. The Sigma 12-24mm f/4 Art runs around $1,600 and carries no filter thread; the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM sits near $3,000 and shares the same limitation. If Laowa delivers a filter-compatible f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom at its characteristic aggressive price point, that calculation changes substantially for shooters who rely on screw-in neutral-density and polarizing filters for daylight work.

Nothing is confirmed until Venus Optics publishes official specifications. The focal range, final aperture and mount lineup all remain open questions. FCC and equivalent regulatory filings typically surface weeks before a formal product announcement, and retailer placeholder listings on B&H or Adorama often appear ahead of official press releases. Any update to the Venus Optics teaser that drops the question mark from "12-20mm f/2.8?" and replaces it with a confirmed range would be the clearest signal that a full announcement is imminent. Given Venus Optics' output pace in early 2026, including multiple new macro probe and autofocus prime launches, an April reveal ahead of a May ship date is the most plausible window.