Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D § 03 Head to head
Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D vs Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 is 12 mm shorter. Viltrox 9mm f/2.8 is 40 g lighter.
Both lenses are made for the Sony E mount: the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D is a 9mm f/2.8 prime, and the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air is a 9mm f/2.8 prime. On paper they trade blows, with 4 advantages each.
Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 
Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air 01
Key differences
Why is the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D better than the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air?
- 12 mm shorter (53 mm vs 65 mm long)
- Focuses 1 cm closer (0.12 m vs 0.13 m)
- Has a physical aperture ring
- Smaller filter thread (49 mm vs 58 mm)
Why is the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air better than the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D?
- 40 g lighter (175 g vs 215 g)
- Higher maximum magnification (0.15x vs 0.13x)
- Covers a larger sensor format (full-frame vs APS-C)
- Newer design (2025 vs 2018)
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Which should you buy?
- landscape For landscape photography, the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air has the edge: it is 40 g lighter to carry.
- architecture For architecture, the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air has the edge: it is 40 g lighter to carry.
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Specification
| Specification | Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D | Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 9mm | 9mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/16 |
| Lens type | Ultra-wide-angle prime lens | Prime lens |
| Format | APS-C | Full frame |
| Weight | 215 g (7.6 oz) | 175 g ◆ |
| Dimensions | 60 mm (diameter) x 53 mm (length) | 56.4 x 65 mm |
| Minimum focusing distance | 12 cm (4.72 inches) ◆ | 0.13 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.13x | 0.15x ◆ |
| Image stabilization | No | No |
| Weather sealing | No | — |
| Aperture ring | Yes (manual) | No |
| Aperture blades | 7 | 7 |
| Optical construction | 15 elements in 10 groups (including 2 aspherical elements and 3 extra-low dispersion elements) | 13 elements / 11 groups |
| Filter size | 49 mm ◆ | 58 mm |
| Lens mount | Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Sony E, Micro Four Thirds, DJI DL | Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X |
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Price | — | $199 list price |
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Size
- A · Venus
- B · Viltrox
- 53 × 60 mm
- 65 × 56.4 mm
The Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air is 12 mm longer and 40 g lighter than the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D.
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Sample frames
Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D
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Video reviews
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Questions
- Which is lighter, the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D or the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air?
- The Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air weighs 175 g, 40 g less than the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D (215 g).
- Which focuses closer, the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D or the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air?
- The Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D focuses down to 0.12 m, against 0.13 m for the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air.
- Do the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D and the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air have image stabilization?
- No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.
- Is the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D or the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air better for landscape photography?
- For landscape photography, the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air has the edge: it is 40 g lighter to carry.
- Is the Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D or the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air better for architecture?
- For architecture, the Viltrox AF 9 mm f/2.8 Air has the edge: it is 40 g lighter to carry.
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