Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye § 03 Head to head
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye vs Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT
Olympus 8mm f/1.8 is 0.3 stops brighter maximum aperture. Laowa 7.5mm f/2 has a wider field of view.
Both lenses are made for the Micro Four Thirds mount: the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye is an 8mm f/1.8 prime, and the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT is a 7.5mm f/2 prime. On paper the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT comes out ahead, 5 advantages to 3, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye 
Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT 01
Key differences
Why is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye better than the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT?
- 0.3 stops brighter maximum aperture (f/1.8 vs f/2)
- Longer reach (8mm vs 7.5mm)
- Is weather sealed
Why is the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT better than the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye?
- Wider field of view (7.5mm vs 8mm)
- 145 g lighter (170 g vs 315 g)
- 7 mm shorter (55 mm vs 62 mm long)
- Has a physical aperture ring
- Newer design (2017 vs 2015)
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Which should you buy?
- landscape For landscape photography, the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT has the edge: it goes wider, to 7.5mm against 8mm.
- architecture For architecture, the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT has the edge: it goes wider, to 7.5mm against 8mm.
- low-light For low-light shooting, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye has the edge: its f/1.8 aperture gathers more light than f/2.
- astrophotography For astrophotography, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye has the edge: its f/1.8 aperture gathers more light than f/2.
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Specification
| Specification | Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye | Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 8mm | 7.5mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.8 ◆ | f/2 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Lens type | Prime lens | Ultra-wide-angle prime lens |
| Format | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weight | 315 g (11.11 oz) | 170 g (6 oz) ◆ |
| Dimensions | 80 x 62 mm | 50 mm (diameter) x 55 mm (length) |
| Minimum focusing distance | 0.12 m (4.72 inches) | 0.12 m (4.72 inches) |
| Maximum magnification | — | 0.11x |
| Image stabilization | No | No |
| Weather sealing | Yes ◆ | No |
| Aperture ring | No | Yes (manual) |
| Aperture blades | 7 | 7 |
| Optical construction | 17 elements / 15 groups | 13 elements in 9 groups (including 2 aspherical elements and 3 extra-low dispersion elements) |
| Filter size | — | 46 mm |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Price | $1,299.99 list price | — |
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Size
- A · Olympus
- B · Venus
- 62 × 80 mm
- 55 × 50 mm
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye is 7 mm longer and 145 g heavier than the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT.
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Sample frames
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye
Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT
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Video reviews
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Questions
- Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye or the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT?
- The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye opens to f/1.8, against f/2 on the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT, 0.3 stops brighter.
- Which is lighter, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye or the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT?
- The Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT weighs 170 g, 145 g less than the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye (315 g).
- Do the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye and the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT have image stabilization?
- No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.
- Is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye or the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT better for landscape photography?
- For landscape photography, the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT has the edge: it goes wider, to 7.5mm against 8mm.
- Is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 8 mm f/1.8 ED PRO Fisheye or the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT better for architecture?
- For architecture, the Venus Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT has the edge: it goes wider, to 7.5mm against 8mm.
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