CameraReview

Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8

Brightin Star · 12 mm · f/2.8

Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8

Score Breakdown

This product does not have an overall score yet.

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UNSCORED
What We Like
+Fast STM autofocus with smooth, quiet operation in milliseconds
+Exceptional 122.5° ultra-wide field of view with minimal distortion for a 12mm prime
+Bright f/2.8 aperture ideal for low-light and astrophotography
+Sophisticated 15-element optical design effectively controls flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberration
+Compact and lightweight at 499g with professional control features
+Significantly undercuts competitor pricing at $659.99
Worth Knowing
−Heavy vignetting requiring significant post-correction (approximately +74 adjustment)
−Corner sharpness drops noticeably from the center and midframe performance
−Bulbous front element prevents front filter use; rear filter slot required
−Third-party lens without native Sony electronic distortion corrections

General

About This Lens
The Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 is an ultra-wide-angle lens designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, offering a combination of an expansive field of view, autofocus performance, and a distortion-controlled optical design. It features a next-gen STM motor that delivers fast, precise, near-silent autofocus, aspherical elements that ensure accurate geometry and edge-to-edge sharpness, intuitive controls with AF/MF switch and customizable FN button, and durable construction with an integrated petal hood and rear sealing for dust and moisture resistance. Both the autofocus and optical performances are solid, with an initial launch price of $609.99 USD, undercutting the Laowa AF 12mm F2.8 by about $90.
BrandBrightin Star
Release Year2026
Production Status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Lens Mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Nikon Z
System
ⓘ
Indicates which camera system the lens is designed to attach to.
Nikon Z
Maximum Format
ⓘ
Largest sensor size compatible with the lens.
Full Frame

Physical

Lens Weight499 g
Lens Diameter
ⓘ
Width of the lens at its widest point
70 mm
Lens Length
ⓘ
How long the lens is from front to back.
96.6 mm

Optics

Focal Range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
12 mm
Aperture Range
ⓘ
Largest aperture at the lens's shortest focal length to longest focal length (aperture range start - end)
2.8
Focal Length Angle of View122.5°
Flange Focal Distance
ⓘ
Distance from lens mount to sensor.
16 mm
Blades
ⓘ
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
7020
Zoom Lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
No
Closest Focusing Distance
ⓘ
Minimum distance for a subject to be in focus.
24 cm01500
Autofocus ModeYes
Manual ModeYes