Laowa 15mm f/5 Cookie FF II
Laowa · 15 mm · f/5
Score Breakdown
Scores combine our editorial testing with published lab data.
37
SCORE /100
What We Like
+Exceptional compactness and portability at just 158g, designed as a pancake-style ultra-wide lens
+Ultra-wide 110° angle of view in a tiny form factor ideal for travel and street photography
+Excellent build quality with clean, sharp optical performance and minimal chromatic aberration
+Excellent sunburst effects with 5-blade aperture (10-stroke sunstars from f/5.6 to f/22)
+Extremely close 12cm minimum focus distance enables creative macro-wide angle compositions
+Affordable at approximately $399-400 with strong value proposition
Worth Knowing
−Noticeable wavy distortion not corrected in-camera, requiring software correction for architecture
−Significant vignetting (2.6-3.2 EV), which is typical of compact ultra-wide lenses but still substantial
−Manual focus only with smooth but low-resistance focus ring that some find inadequate
−Slow f/5.0 aperture limits handheld low-light performance without higher ISO settings
General | |
|---|---|
About This LensThe Laowa 15mm f/5 Cookie FF is a remarkable compact ultra-wide-angle pancake lens delivering a 110° field of view in a lightweight 158g package. It offers superb image quality with exceptional build quality, making it an excellent choice for travel and street photographers. However, the lens exhibits noticeable wavy distortion and significant vignetting typical of compact ultra-wide lenses, which may require post-processing correction depending on subject matter. | |
| Brand | Laowa |
| Release Year | 2024 |
Production Status ⓘCurrent status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued). |  In Production |
Version ⓘThe iteration or release number of a particular lens model. | II |
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 |
Physical64/100 | |
| Lens Weight | 158 g |
Lens Diameter ⓘWidth of the lens at its widest point | 67.1 mm |
Lens Length ⓘHow long the lens is from front to back. | 42 mm |
Front Filter Compatible ⓘSome lenses are compatible with front filters, some are compatible with back filters and some are compatible with both. Front filters are usually more convenient to add and remove. |  Yes |
Front Filter Size ⓘDiameter of attachable filters. | 39 mm |
Optics43/100 | |
Focal Range ⓘShortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end ) | 15 mm |
Aperture Range ⓘLargest aperture at the lens's shortest focal length to longest focal length (aperture range start - end) | 5 |
| Focal Length Angle of View | 110.4° |
Flange Focal Distance ⓘDistance from lens mount to sensor. | 16 mm |
Diaphragm Type ⓘStructure and design of the aperture |  Manual |
Blades ⓘNumber of diaphragm blades in aperture | 5020 |
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. | 12 cm01500 |
Maximum Magnification ⓘLargest size a subject can be reproduced | 0.2x |
| Autofocus Mode | No |
| Manual Mode |  Yes |
| Manual Focusing Ring |  Yes |
Features | |
Weather Sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. | No |
Fluorine Coating ⓘCoating to repel water and oil from lens elements. | No |
| Built In Lens Hood | No |
| Lens Hood Type |  Rectangular |
Teleconverter ⓘA teleconverter (extender) is an extra piece of equipment that fits between the lens and the camera body to enhance magnification | No |
| Image Stabilization | No |
Construction31/100 | |
Elements ⓘLens elements refer to individual pieces of glass within the lens. | 13 |
| Groups | 9 |
Aspherical Elements ⓘThe number of aspherical lens elements which can help correct aberrations such as spherical aberration. | 2 |
Bi Aspherical Elements ⓘElements with two non-spherical surfaces | 0 |
Low Dispersion ⓘElements that reduce chromatic aberration | 4 |
Super Low Dispersion ⓘAdvanced elements further reducing chromatic aberration | 0 |
CA Reduction ⓘBuilt-in features to reduce chromatic aberration | 0 |