Laowa 35mm f/2.8 Zero-D Tilt-Shift 0.5× Macro Announced: Wide-Angle TS with Close-Focus

Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 35mm f/2.8 Zero-D Tilt-Shift 0.5× Macro, a wide-angle tilt-shift lens with close-focus capabilities designed for full-frame mirrorless systems and compatible medium-format mounts.

The new Laowa 35mm f/2.8 Zero-D Tilt-Shift 0.5× Macro has a name as long as its list of capabilities, with Venus Optics saying it combines architectural perspective control, depth-of-field manipulation, and 0.5x macro capabilities into a single, compact powerhouse. It can certainly produce some eye-catching work as the video below shows.

Tilt & Shift Movements

On full-frame bodies, the lens offers ±10° of tilt and ±12mm of shift, while GFX and XCD medium-format users get the same ±10° of tilt and a reduced ±8mm of shift. That gives photographers scope for perspective correction, plane-of-focus control, miniature-style effects, and in-camera management of reflections — all the usual reasons tilt-shift lenses remain essential for architecture and product specialists.

The lens also provides 360° rotation, allowing movements to be aligned to any direction, and Adjustable Tilt-Shift Direction provides flexible composition adjustments with 15° clicks for precise control.

Being part of Laowa’s “Zero-D” series, it's designed to minimize geometric distortion, an important factor when straight lines matter. Laowa also uses an APO optical design to reduce chromatic aberration across the frame. Angle of view is 87.5°.

0.5× Macro for Close-Ups

With a 0.5x maximum magnification and a minimum focusing distance of just 22.8 cm / 9 in (which the company says is the closest in its class for tilt-shift lenses), the lens is also a good choice for macro photography. This close-focus ability, combined with tilt-shift movements, potentially opens new avenues for detailed product shots, creative tabletop photography, and unique close-ups.

The fast f/2.8 aperture provides excellent low-light performance, making it ideal for night scenes, long exposures, and indoor shooting. 

It also features a built-in 77mm Filter Thread, Integrated Arca-Swiss Lens Support for quick and secure mounting to tripods (crucial for precise tilt-shift work), and a Frog-Eye Coating to repel water and dirt. Weight is 1350 g / 47.62 oz.

Pricing and Availability (And Compatibility)

The Laowa 35mm f/2.8 Zero-D Tilt-Shift 0.5× Macro will be available for purchase starting November 25, 2025, through the Venus Optics official website and authorized resellers. Retail price is $1249. Mounts available are E/Z/RF/L/GFX/XCD, with the caveat that the LUMIX S5 II, S1M2, S1R2, S1M2E, and S5M2X are not supported.