Venus Optics has introduced the Laowa 35mm f/2.8 Zero-D Tilt-Shift 0.5x Macro, a manual-focus lens designed to combine a wide-angle field of view with tilt-shift movements and close-focus capability. The lens is built for full-frame mirrorless systems in Z, E, RF, and L mounts, and is also offered for Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD medium-format cameras, where certain movements are reduced due to the larger sensor area.

The optical construction consists of 14 elements in 12 groups, including an apochromatic configuration intended to suppress chromatic aberrations, and the company states that its Zero-D designation corresponds to minimal geometric distortion. A 15-blade aperture diaphragm is used throughout the range. The lens focuses as close as 22.8 centimeters, providing 0.5× magnification on full-frame systems; this is the shortest close-focus distance currently offered among tilt-shift lenses of similar focal length.

On a full-frame camera body, the Laowa 35mm f/2.8 allows ±10 degrees of tilt and ±12 millimeters of shift. When mounted on GFX or XCD bodies, tilt remains unchanged but shift is limited to ±8 millimeters to avoid vignetting. These movements enable plane-of-focus control, perspective correction, and other adjustments associated with architectural, studio, and panoramic photography. The large image circle also allows for perspective manipulation without requiring camera tilt, which reduces converging lines when photographing tall structures. In macro-oriented applications, tilt adjustments can extend the depth of field across subjects positioned at different distances.

The body incorporates multiple mechanical controls, including independent tilt and shift mechanisms and a rotating mount that locks at 15-degree increments, allowing alignment of movements in any direction. The 77mm filter thread supports standard filter use, and an integrated Arca-Swiss tripod foot provides stable mounting for precision work. The lens weighs 1,350 grams and includes no electronic communication with the camera, meaning aperture control and focus are entirely manual and EXIF data is not recorded. The front element features the company’s water- and dust-resistant Frog-Eye coating.

Here are some sample pictures, courtesy of Laowa: