Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D shift review

What is the Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D shift and who is it for?

Laowa is soon to launch a superwide tilt-shift lens to match its new 35mm, but if you want to save a bit of cash then the 17mm f/4 Zero-D Shift is a solid option. It’s smaller and lighter than the 35mm, just a stop slower and only has shift to correct verticals.

The superwide perspective is ideal for interiors and architecture where it can be used to not only cram loads into the frame but also stop verticals from leaning. Of course, as a 17mm lens, it’s also very good for general landscapes. It’s not too big or heavy to be carried around all day, and has very smooth all-manual focusing and iris control.

What are the key features of the Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D shift?

A locking knob releases the shift mechanism but it’s adjusted using a large and solid ring on the lens – a bit like a zoom control. This is much easier to get hold of and better to use. And despite its superwide view, it takes 86mm screw-in filters – but you need to buy super-slim ones to ensure you avoid vignetting.

Image quality is very good, even pixel-peeping stills on a large screen. Flare is well controlled, colours are natural and the image offers lots of contrast.

Conclusion

It’s a great-performing lens that provides something Sony, Canon, Nikon and the rest simply don’t for their full-frame mirrorless offerings – and without resorting to the old DLSR tech and adapters.

Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D shift price and availability

The Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D shift is available to buy, with a starting price of £1009.

For more information, visit the Laowa website.