Laowa announces CF 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift lens

Venus Optics has announced the new Laowa CF 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift lens, the world's first zoom lens with shift.

Equivalent to an 18-36mm lens on a full-frame camera, the APS-C only CF 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift lens is a fully manual lens and can focus as closely as 0.15 metres.

The lens supports shifts of +/- 7mm for perspective control, but it's worth noting that its not a tilt-shift lens - it’s just a shift lens.

This means you’re able to adjust the perspective, but not manipulate the focal plane or depth of field.

Despite this, the lens should be useful for architecture and landscape photographers with its relatively wide field of view and ability to keep vertical lines straight, even when shooting at an angle.

The lens will be available for Sony E, Leica L, Canon RF, Fuji X and Nikon Z, and is made up of 15 elements in 11 groups. It has nine aperture blades and weighs 575g. It accepts 77mm screw-on filters.

Currently the lens is only available in China, but we'd expect it to arrive locally soon. It has a retail price of a fairly affordable 4,980 yuan ($1,000 AUD).