Venus Optics Launches Laowa 15–24mm T8 And 15–35mm T12 Macro Probe Zoom Lenses

Venus Optics has officially released two unusual cinema lenses: the Laowa 15–24mm T8 and 15–35mm T12 Macro Probe Zoom. Tzeh brand’s already famous for probe lenses, and now they’ve made them even more powerful and useful for dramatic and creative macro shots.

Both lenses start at a very wide 15mm field of view (up to 110.5°), which helps exaggerate perspective and depth when shooting close to subjects. That wide-angle combined with macro capability is what gives probe lenses their signature look.

The 15–24mm version is the faster option with a T8 aperture, while the 15–35mm model trades speed for a longer 2.3× zoom range. According to Venus Optics, the lenses are parfocal, meaning focus stays consistent while zooming. If you’re into shooting video, you know how important this is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EupwinX7e_M

Built For Tight Spaces and Creative Angles

One of the defining characteristics of probe lenses is the long tubular barrel. In this case, the lens body stretches to roughly 54 cm, allowing the camera to stay further away from the subject while the lens tip moves into spaces that are otherwise hard to reach. The lens design is especially useful for tabletop productions, food commercials, product shots, nature filming, and any scenario where the camera itself would get in the way.

The lenses can also be used with several interchangeable viewing modules. These include:

• Direct view
• 35° tilt
• 90° angle
• Periscope view

These modules allow you to shoot around obstacles, get close to the ground, or position the lens in ways that would otherwise be impossible with a straight lens. The front section of the lens can also rotate independently, allowing you to adjust framing or reflections without repositioning the entire setup.

Extreme Close Focusing

Both lenses can focus extremely close to subjects. The minimum working distance is just 5mm, which means the lens tip can almost touch the subject while still achieving focus.

Magnification depends on the model. The 15–24mm reaches up to 1.6× magnification, and the 15–35mm goes up to 2.3×. Combined with the wide perspective, this allows you to capture extremely detailed close-ups while still keeping a large portion of the environment in frame.

Specs

	Probe Zoom (15–24mm T8)	Probe Zoom (15–35mm T12)
Format	Full Frame	Full Frame
Focal Length	15–24mm	15–35mm
Aperture Range	T8–32	T12–40
Angle of View	84.1°–110.5°	63.4°–110.5°
Aperture Blades	9	9
Zoom Ratio	1.6×	2.3×
Gear Mod	0.8 MOD	0.8 MOD
Min. Working Distance	5mm	5mm
Max. Magnification	1×–1.6×	1×–2.3×
Focusing Method	Manual Focus	Manual Focus
Front Diameter	Ø32mm	Ø32mm
Weight	~1400g	~1400g
Mounts	PL (interchangeable EF / E / Z / RF / L)	PL (interchangeable EF / E / Z / RF / L)

Pricing and Availability

The Laowa 15–24mm T8 and 15–35mm T12 Macro Probe Zoom lenses are available to order now. They come in PL mount by default, with optional EF, RF, E, Z, and L adapters you can buy separately. with the price starting at $3,499 for a single lens with a single viewing module. The bundles reach up to $21,999 depending on the number of lenses and modules included. Here’s the price breakdown:

	Direct View	90°	Periscope	35° Tilt
15–24mm T8	USD3,499	USD3,799	USD3,899	USD3,699
15–35mm T12	USD3,999	USD4,299	USD4,399	USD4,199
2-lens Bundle
15–24mm T8	USD5,999
15–35mm T12	USD6,999
4-lens Bundle
15–24mm T8	USD10,999
15–35mm T12	USD12,999
8-lens Bundle
15–24mm T8 & 15–35mm T12	USD21,999

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